Syria is geographically located in the Middle East and borders Iraq to the east, Turkey to the north, Israel to the south, and Mediterranean Sea to the west. It is 183, 900 square kilometers in area (Foreign Commonwealth office, 2009). The Syrias terrain is typically a desert, and is a habitat to a number of drought resistant plants like boxwood, wild olive, and myrtle. The country has very little wildlife and remote areas are highly occupied with foxes, hyenas, eagles, buzzards, and lizards. Western region located near Mediterranean has the highest concentration of population in this country. Damascus is the capital city of Syria and remains the largest city. It is located along Barada River and encompasses a favorable location in a productive area adjacent to the desert. Historically, this city was used as commercial center and refueling stop for several traders who made trips through the desert (Charles, 1990). This paper addresses the pertinent cultural, climatic, as well as international relationships of Syria that are substantial for anticipated military deployment.
Knowing the culture of a particular country is quite imperative, as this enables individuals (military officers) to strictly adhere to the norms and traditions of the host country. Syria is culturally gifted, and encompasses strong ethical and moral values which are placed on religion, family, self discipline, respect, and education. Approximately 74 of the Syrian citizens are Sunni Muslims, 6 belong to Druze, Alawite plus other Muslim sects, and ten percent of the population is Christian (Foreign Commonwealth office, 2009). As in a number of Arabic countries, religion makes a fundamental part of the countrys culture. The religious communities are basically self-contained societal systems which influence much of day to day life of their followers and receive their primary devotion, loyalty, and allegiance. The religious communities independence is a definite divisive force in this society. However, Muslim religion offers the pivotal cultural and symbolic orientation for approximately 85 of countrys population (Foreign Commonwealth office, 2009). Therefore, the military team to be deployed in Syria need to be aware of these cultural values to avoid any conflict whatsoever.
They ought to discern that Syrian population values religion above all other cultural elements and that Islamic religion is the most dominant in the country. Military officers to be deployed must as well embrace the Islamic culture and shun activities which may perhaps conflict with the doctrines and beliefs on this popular religion.
In addition to culture, climatic or environmental conditions are very important in deployment of military officers in any country. Being conversant with the climatic conditions of a particular place enables preparation for the anticipated conditions prior to deployment process. The Syrias climate is largely Mediterranean, though it does experience a lengthy dry season from the month of May to October. Summer rain is too scarce in the country, although it sporadically appears in the extreme North West region. On the coastal region summers are characterized by high humidity and elevated temperatures, with a mean of 290C daily, whereas the mild winters record a mean of 100C daily. Besides, the only areas in Syria where summers are always cool are locations with an attitude of above 600 meters (Foreign Commonwealth office, 2009). Bludan, Mashta al Helou, and Slunfeh are local favorites. When approaching the Syrian Desert and the steppe, the climate steadily becomes more and more arid, with colder and more tremendous winters and drier, hotter summers.
Yearly rainfall in the Western Mountains and coast ranges from 762 to 1020mm. Further inland, as one approaches eastwards, rainfall decreases suddenly. The steppe between Damascus and Aleppo receives approximately 255 to 510 mm of rainfall every year (Foreign Commonwealth office, 2009). Rain in Syria is usually variable from one year to the other, especially in the autumn and spring months.
For instance, in the1999-2000 season, the country never received much rain and thus water reserves were quite low. Since Syrias summer seasons are always characterized with hot and dry conditions, with little or no rainfall, military officers to be deployed in this country should be prepared to live with these conditions (Foreign Commonwealth office, 2009). The temperatures of about 290C daily are very high, especially when the military officers to be deployed are from the United States, where such high temperatures are rarely experienced. This can adversely affect the deployment process as well as military operation, as officers would be forced to first adapt to conditions before undertaking any other activity. The country has winter seasons as well, and these seasons are very cold. Officers to be deployed should equip themselves with clothing against cold. This would not be a major challenge, if the military officers are from United States, since they are used to such lower temperatures and adapting would not take much of their time.
International relationship of a country is very important in fostering peace and unity across borders. In the recent years Syria has ensured national security for its citizens, through augmenting influence among its neighbor countries, and realizing a comprehensive Israel- Arab peace settlement. At several points in its history, the country has seen vituperative tension with its Arab neighbors, such as Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, and Turkey (Charles, 1990). Today, its relation has considerably improved with some of these states. However, its relation with other neighbor countries has just slightly improved. The relationship between Syria and Arab world was strained when the country supported Iran in Iraq-Iran war of 1980. Following the end of this war in 1988, Syria began a gradually process of reintegration with other members of Arab world. Since then, the country has shown a commendable international relationship not only with the Arab world, but with other nations as well (Foreign Commonwealth office, 2009). In deploying military officers in a foreign country, information on international relation is inevitable, as it enables the officers to identify the major adversaries of the country and thus, curbing any potent attack.
Syrias cultural values of morals and ethics are placed largely on the religion, family, discipline, and respect. The majority of people in Syria are Muslims and thus, Islamic religion is the determining factor in a number of social as well as societal issues in the country. Therefore, military deployment in this country ought to respect the religious structures of Islamic religion in order to flourish in their operations. Syria has got two major seasons of summer and winter. Summer seasons are highly characterized by hot and dry conditions, with an average temperature of about 29oC daily. Winter seasons are characterized by cold conditions, with a mean temperature of approximately 10oC. Deployment process should put these climatic conditions into consideration in order to deter any interference in their planned operations. Finally, over the years, Syrias international relation has not been a good one. Its currently struggling to correct this through gradual negotiations and understanding with different states of the world.
Knowing the culture of a particular country is quite imperative, as this enables individuals (military officers) to strictly adhere to the norms and traditions of the host country. Syria is culturally gifted, and encompasses strong ethical and moral values which are placed on religion, family, self discipline, respect, and education. Approximately 74 of the Syrian citizens are Sunni Muslims, 6 belong to Druze, Alawite plus other Muslim sects, and ten percent of the population is Christian (Foreign Commonwealth office, 2009). As in a number of Arabic countries, religion makes a fundamental part of the countrys culture. The religious communities are basically self-contained societal systems which influence much of day to day life of their followers and receive their primary devotion, loyalty, and allegiance. The religious communities independence is a definite divisive force in this society. However, Muslim religion offers the pivotal cultural and symbolic orientation for approximately 85 of countrys population (Foreign Commonwealth office, 2009). Therefore, the military team to be deployed in Syria need to be aware of these cultural values to avoid any conflict whatsoever.
They ought to discern that Syrian population values religion above all other cultural elements and that Islamic religion is the most dominant in the country. Military officers to be deployed must as well embrace the Islamic culture and shun activities which may perhaps conflict with the doctrines and beliefs on this popular religion.
In addition to culture, climatic or environmental conditions are very important in deployment of military officers in any country. Being conversant with the climatic conditions of a particular place enables preparation for the anticipated conditions prior to deployment process. The Syrias climate is largely Mediterranean, though it does experience a lengthy dry season from the month of May to October. Summer rain is too scarce in the country, although it sporadically appears in the extreme North West region. On the coastal region summers are characterized by high humidity and elevated temperatures, with a mean of 290C daily, whereas the mild winters record a mean of 100C daily. Besides, the only areas in Syria where summers are always cool are locations with an attitude of above 600 meters (Foreign Commonwealth office, 2009). Bludan, Mashta al Helou, and Slunfeh are local favorites. When approaching the Syrian Desert and the steppe, the climate steadily becomes more and more arid, with colder and more tremendous winters and drier, hotter summers.
Yearly rainfall in the Western Mountains and coast ranges from 762 to 1020mm. Further inland, as one approaches eastwards, rainfall decreases suddenly. The steppe between Damascus and Aleppo receives approximately 255 to 510 mm of rainfall every year (Foreign Commonwealth office, 2009). Rain in Syria is usually variable from one year to the other, especially in the autumn and spring months.
For instance, in the1999-2000 season, the country never received much rain and thus water reserves were quite low. Since Syrias summer seasons are always characterized with hot and dry conditions, with little or no rainfall, military officers to be deployed in this country should be prepared to live with these conditions (Foreign Commonwealth office, 2009). The temperatures of about 290C daily are very high, especially when the military officers to be deployed are from the United States, where such high temperatures are rarely experienced. This can adversely affect the deployment process as well as military operation, as officers would be forced to first adapt to conditions before undertaking any other activity. The country has winter seasons as well, and these seasons are very cold. Officers to be deployed should equip themselves with clothing against cold. This would not be a major challenge, if the military officers are from United States, since they are used to such lower temperatures and adapting would not take much of their time.
International relationship of a country is very important in fostering peace and unity across borders. In the recent years Syria has ensured national security for its citizens, through augmenting influence among its neighbor countries, and realizing a comprehensive Israel- Arab peace settlement. At several points in its history, the country has seen vituperative tension with its Arab neighbors, such as Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, and Turkey (Charles, 1990). Today, its relation has considerably improved with some of these states. However, its relation with other neighbor countries has just slightly improved. The relationship between Syria and Arab world was strained when the country supported Iran in Iraq-Iran war of 1980. Following the end of this war in 1988, Syria began a gradually process of reintegration with other members of Arab world. Since then, the country has shown a commendable international relationship not only with the Arab world, but with other nations as well (Foreign Commonwealth office, 2009). In deploying military officers in a foreign country, information on international relation is inevitable, as it enables the officers to identify the major adversaries of the country and thus, curbing any potent attack.
Syrias cultural values of morals and ethics are placed largely on the religion, family, discipline, and respect. The majority of people in Syria are Muslims and thus, Islamic religion is the determining factor in a number of social as well as societal issues in the country. Therefore, military deployment in this country ought to respect the religious structures of Islamic religion in order to flourish in their operations. Syria has got two major seasons of summer and winter. Summer seasons are highly characterized by hot and dry conditions, with an average temperature of about 29oC daily. Winter seasons are characterized by cold conditions, with a mean temperature of approximately 10oC. Deployment process should put these climatic conditions into consideration in order to deter any interference in their planned operations. Finally, over the years, Syrias international relation has not been a good one. Its currently struggling to correct this through gradual negotiations and understanding with different states of the world.
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