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) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶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 -------------- YEMENI BAATHIST COMES HOME -------------- ¶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 SIPDIS 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. -------------- NOT BRAVE, NOT GENEROUS -------------- ¶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 SIPDIS 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. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶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