Posted on 04/30/2003 3:09:59 PM PDT by MadIvan
COLIN POWELL, the US Secretary of State, is expected to put pressure on the Syrian Government to drop its support for militant anti-Israel groups and abandon its alleged pursuit of weapons of mass destruction when he arrives in Damascus tomorrow.
The Syrians, stung by a recent barrage of criticism and warnings from Washington, are, however, in no mood to yield to American diktats. They, and some diplomats in Damascus, believe that the Bush Administration is riding roughshod over Syrian sensibilities and complicating the efforts of President Assad for domestic reform and modernisation.
A European diplomat said. If he (Mr Assad) feels hes being humiliated from outside, like with these public demands from the Americans, then he has to retreat into old nationalist rhetoric, otherwise he will appear weak to the people.
Mr Assads staunch opposition to the American-led invasion of Iraq reflected the anti-war sentiment in Syria, where pan-Arab pride runs deep. Syrians and other Arabs have viewed him as the only Arab leader willing to publicly challenge the Americans.
Washington turned on Damascus midway through the war, accusing the Syrians of harbouring fugitives from Saddam Husseins regime, smuggling weapons into Iraq and allowing Arab volunteers to enter Iraq to fight coalition forces. Syria reacted defensively, denying the charges outright. It apparently took the personal intervention of President Chirac of France, who has close ties with Mr Assad, to persuade Damascus to take Washingtons threats seriously. The border with Iraq was closed and Iraqi refugees were turned away.
The Syrians are rattled by what happened in Iraq and the pressure from the Americans . . . but they cannot be seen caving in to US demands, a diplomat said.
Syrians are still fuming over a visit last weekend to Damascus by Tom Lantos, a leading American congressman and long-time critic of Syria. Mr Lantos publicly chastised the Syrian Government, declaring that it had made an historic mistake in supporting Iraq and that the time is long overdue to correct the course of Syrian policy. He delivered to Mr Assad a list of demands that Damascus should fulfil if Syria is to forge a new relationship with the United States.
Washington has told Syria and Iran not to interfere in US nation-building efforts in Iraq. But for Syrians, such warnings merely emphasise the lack of understanding Washington has about Arabs.
Farouq al-Sharaa, the Syrian Foreign Minister, said: There has been a dangerous misunderstanding between the American Administration and Damascus. This misunderstanding stems from the inability of the United States to understand the region.
Syria has indicated a willingness to engage with Washington, toning down its opposition to the road map charting the path to Palestinian statehood. But on the more fundamental issues, such as Syrias support for groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, diplomats and analysts believe that Syria is unlikely to bend to Washingtons demands, especially if nothing concrete is being offered in return.
Its like we are being ordered to not only drop our guns but to bend down and kiss the Americans feet. All we get in exchange is a promise of a smile, a Syrian analyst said.
Regards, Ivan
More from the "Have you hugged a dictator lately?" crowd.
Nonsense. We simply have decided to quit giving the Syrians the easy out, quit looking the other way and quit accepting their lies. No misunderstanding here. Except on the part of the Syrians concerning American resolve perhaps.
Prairie
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