BAATHIST PARTY ANIMAL RETURNS TO YEMEN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001118

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2013
TAGS: PREL YE DOMESTIC POLITICS
SUBJECT: BAATHIST PARTY ANIMAL RETURNS TO YEMEN


Classified By: DCM ALAN G. MISENHEIMER FOR REASON 1.5 (D)

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) Qassem Salam, the Secretary General of Yemen's Arab
Socialist Baath Party slunk back from Baghdad in late April.
In a May 6 interview with a London Arab paper, he claimed
ROYG President Salih had recently praised Saddam Hussein as a
"brave struggler". The MFA declares a complete mis-quote,
and insists Salam is headed for the political sunset. End
Summary

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YEMENI BAATHIST COMES HOME
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2. U) In a meeting on other subjects (reported septel),the
DCM queried Abul al-Saleem al-Awadhi, MFA Director of the
Americas Desk, about statements made by Qassem Salam,
secretary-general of Yemen's Arab Socialist Baath Party (the

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Iraqi,as opposed to Syrian, wing of the party). Qassem
Salam, who was resident in Iraq, fled Baghdad on April 12.


3. (U) Salam's May 6 interview with London's Al-Arab
al-Alamiyah gained some local and international media
attention when he claimed knowledge that Saddam Hussein was
still alive, preparing to organize "tough, decisive,
historic" resistance to coalition forces,


4. (U) While these delusions may be Salam's last gasp at
attention, he also referred to a meeting he had with ROYG
President Ali Abdullah Salih after returning from Baghdad.
Salam claimed that President Salih was, Quote: pained by what
happened...and stressed his conviction that Saddam Hussain
was a brave and generous struggler...however, like any other
leader, he had his mistakes and positive points. End Quote.

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NOT BRAVE, NOT GENEROUS
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5. (C) When the DCM asked for clarification of these
remarks, al-Awadhi quickly responded that they were
inaccurate. President Salih had not praised Saddam Hussain,
although he may well be pained by the situation of the Iraqi
people. Qassem Salam had misinterpreted his words. In
addition, the President had received Qassem Salam only as the
Secretary General of a registered political party that was

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fielding candidates in Yemen's approaching parliamentary
elections.


5. (C) The DCM pointed out that the presidential meeting had
given Salam both prestige and opportunities for mischief,
al-Awadhi assured him that it was unlikely to be repeated.
The Iraqi wing of the Baath Socialist party had not won a
single seat in the elections, and Salam would soon fade away.
After a short nostalgic review of the Baath Party's long ago
days of intellectual respectability under party founder
Michel Aflaq, Al Awadhi reiterated his point: President Salih
is not at all "pained" by the fate of Saddam Hussain.
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COMMENT
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6. (c) Qassem Salam is a fading figure, and his quotes
regarding President Salih's views on Saddam's moral character
were never credible. Nevertheless, we believe it was
worthwhile to remind the ROYG that the USG will be paying
attention to the fate of the (never terribly relevant) Iraqi
Baath Party in Yemen. We predict Qassem Salam will not be
meeting again soon with President Salih or finding a
political spotlight in Yemen.
HULL