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Powell set to press Assad over arms and militants
The Times ^ | May 1, 2003 | Nicholas Blanford

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 he’s 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 Assad’s 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 Hussein’s 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 Washington’s 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 Syria’s support for groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, diplomats and analysts believe that Syria is unlikely to bend to Washington’s demands, especially if nothing concrete is being offered in return.

“It’s 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.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: assad; blair; bush; iraq; syria; terrorists; uk; us; war
Too bad about "loss of face" - cave or die, gobshite.

Regards, Ivan


1 posted on 04/30/2003 3:10:00 PM PDT by MadIvan
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To: alnick; knews_hound; faithincowboys; hillary's_fat_a**; redbaiter; MizSterious; Krodg; ...
Bump!
2 posted on 04/30/2003 3:10:12 PM PDT by MadIvan
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To: MadIvan
A European diplomat said. “If he (Mr Assad) feels he’s 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.

More from the "Have you hugged a dictator lately?" crowd.

3 posted on 04/30/2003 3:15:56 PM PDT by vbmoneyspender
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To: vbmoneyspender
Better the enemy you know...
If we squeeze his nuts too hard, his own people will take him out and replace him with worse.
4 posted on 04/30/2003 3:21:04 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
Isn't that the same argument for keeping Arafat in power and, once a upon a time, Saddam Hussein?
5 posted on 04/30/2003 3:25:06 PM PDT by vbmoneyspender
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To: MadIvan
This misunderstanding stems from the inability of the United States to understand the region.”

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

6 posted on 04/30/2003 3:27:19 PM PDT by prairiebreeze ("We will not deny, ignore or pass our problems on to other Presidents." --GWBush)
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To: MadIvan
To Assad: Deal with Powell or deal with Rumsfeld."
7 posted on 04/30/2003 3:36:28 PM PDT by blam
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To: vbmoneyspender
Syria should be nominated to the UN Human Rights Commission; they're qualified.
8 posted on 04/30/2003 3:38:29 PM PDT by headsonpikes
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To: MadIvan
The really rough foreplay with Assad Jr., by SOS Powell, Rummy and President Bush continues to get rougher each week.

This time, it is hard to tell if we have a good cop or just 3 real tough guys doing their thing.
9 posted on 04/30/2003 5:18:51 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (Being a Monthly Donor to Free Republic is the Right Thing to do!)
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To: vbmoneyspender
Assad is getting the same foreplay and hugs that OBL and Soddomite got.

If you think this is hugging, you have a problem with reality!
10 posted on 04/30/2003 5:20:40 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (Being a Monthly Donor to Free Republic is the Right Thing to do!)
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To: vbmoneyspender
Not really.
When they boil up stupid, like little Kim in NK is also doing, it becomes time to break some necks.
11 posted on 04/30/2003 6:44:51 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Grampa Dave
I take it you didn't read the quote from the European diplomat.
12 posted on 04/30/2003 9:46:35 PM PDT by vbmoneyspender
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To: vbmoneyspender
Thanks, I missed the quotes. You are right, that is old Europe in its best hug a dictator mode. That is all the UN does now, is hug and protect dictators to make money for the UN.
13 posted on 05/01/2003 4:17:03 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Being a Monthly Donor to Free Republic is the Right Thing to do!)
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