ASAD SITREP 03: BASHAR PROMOTED TO COMMANDER-

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 002985

NICOSIA FOR ILMG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/11/10
TAGS: PGOV PINR SY
SUBJECT: ASAD SITREP 03: BASHAR PROMOTED TO COMMANDER-
IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES; KHADDAM
SIGNS DECREES BUT IS NOT ACTING PRESIDENT

CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR RYAN C. CROCKER, REASON 1.5 (B)
AND (D)


1. (U) SYRIAN TELEVISION REPORTED THE AFTERNOON OF 6/11
THAT VICE PRESIDENT KHADDAM HAD SIGNED DECREE NUMBERS 9
AND 10, PROMOTING COLONEL BASHAR AL-ASAD TO THE RANK OF
GENERAL AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES.


2. (C) THE MOST OBVIOUS EFFECT OF THIS IS THAT BASHAR
HAS NOW OFFICIALLY ASSUMED ONE OF THE PRESIDENT'S "THREE
HATS," I.E. HEAD OF THE ARMED FORCES, HEAD OF THE PARTY,
AND HEAD OF STATE. BASHAR IS EXPECTED TO BECOME HEAD OF
THE BA'TH PARTY AT THE PARTY CONGRESS, STILL EXPECTED TO
TAKE PLACE JUNE 17-22, AND HEAD OF STATE AFTER A PUBLIC
REFERENDUM WHICH COULD BE HELD AS EARLY AS JUNE 25.


3. (C) THIS DEVELOPMENT ALSO POINTS MORE CLEARLY TO HOW
WE BELIEVE THE DECISION-MAKING GROUP IS HANDLING THE
ISSUE OF "WHO'S IN CHARGE." NO INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN
APPOINTED ACTING PRESIDENT, ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT IS
STICKING AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO CONSTITUTIONAL PRACTICE
AND THUS KHADDAM, AS FIRST VICE PRESIDENT, IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR SIGNING DECREES. HOWEVER, WE NOTE THAT
KHADDAM IS NOT BEING REFERRED TO AS ACTING PRESIDENT,
NOR HAS HE MADE ANY PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE
GOVERNMENT. THIS IS LIKELY DELIBERATE. THE DECISION-
MAKING GROUP AT THIS POINT IS LIKELY COMPRISED OF
BASHAR, 'ASIF SHAWQAT, FM SHARA, DEFMIN TALAS, AND
PERHAPS OTHERS. KHADDAM IS APPARENTLY COOPERATING AS
TITULAR SIGNER OF DECREES UNTIL BASHAR CAN TAKE OVER
OFFICIALLY.


CROCKER