 Assad, on the contrary, called for greater pragmatism in decision-making.The conflict between Assad and Jadid became the talk of the army and the party, with a "duality of power" noted between them.Shortly after the failed attempt to expel Assad from the Regional Command, he began to consolidate his position in the military establishment—for example, by replacing Chief of Staff Ahmad al-Suwaydani with his friend Mustafa Tlass.