May 9, 1998, Golan Heights, east bank of Lake Tiberias, Syrian Army 5th Division's position.
Brigadier General Hassan stood atop the tank, holding binoculars, watching the western shore of the lake.
The United States' camp was already set up.
White tents, orderly formations, helicopters taking off and landing repeatedly, like a tireless swarm of worker bees.
Two kilometers further south is the Mexican camp. The tents are green, slightly smaller than those of the United States, but arranged even more neatly. In the center of the camp stands a gigantic Mexican flag, its green, white, and red colors flapping loudly in the wind.
An aide climbed onto the tank, handing over a dispatch.
"Commander, orders from Damascus. We are to withdraw five kilometers to create conditions for negotiations."
Hassan did not take it. He looked at the Mexican flag on the western shore of the lake.
"Negotiations? Negotiate what? That we've lost five thousand men and then retreat to where we started?"
