Assad lost another piece of territory:
Syrian rebels seized a key military base with artillery stockpiles in the country's east Thursday, strengthening their hold in an oil-rich strategic province bordering Iraq, activists said.
The rebels have been making advances in the Deir el-Zour province recently, and the capture of the base followed the seizure of a military airport in the same area last week.
Activist groups and a local fighter told The Associated Press the Mayadeen base fell in the morning hours, after a three-week siege.
As Assad's too-small forces flail away in the west, the east is slipping away.
How soon before these troops are needed?
Czech troops are in Jordan, providing technical expertise in case Syria's massive stockpile of chemical weapons is somehow unleashed by the Assad regime, rebels, or terrorists.
The Czechs have a leading role in NATO in this area. (Tip to Instapundit)
Recall also we had a special forces convention in Jordan not too long ago.
The end of the beginning, I'd say.