MGLE01: AL-ASAD TO BAHRAIN KING ON WITHDRAWAL: I

S E C R E T MANAMA 000319 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2015 TAGS: PREL BA SY LE SUBJECT: MGLE01: AL-ASAD TO BAHRAIN KING ON WITHDRAWAL: I AM NOT SADDAM HUSSEIN REF: STATE 39018 Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe. Reason: 1.4 (B)(D) ¶1. (C) The Ambassador, during a March 6 meeting with King Hamad, delivered reftel talking points, stressing our view that Syrian President Al-Asad's announcement on withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon was insufficient and that the international community must make it clear that a complete and immediate withdrawal is required. 2 (S) The King, confirming press reports that he had called Al-Asad after the March 5 speech, told the Ambassador that he (the King) had chosen his words carefully, congratulating Al-Asad for indicating in his speech that he "really" intended to withdraw the Syrian military from Lebanon. Al-Asad responded by assuring the King that he was not Saddam Hussein (who stubbornly refused to withdraw from Kuwait),and that he did fully intend to withdraw. King Hamad said he was encouraged by the tone of Al-Asad's comments to him, but cautious enough to know that the words had to be followed up with action. Al-Asad told him that he would be meeting with President Lahoud on Monday to discuss the withdrawal, and there was certainly the possibility, the King stated, that the two would agree to something less than a full withdrawal. Because of that possibility, the King added, the palace had already drafted and passed to Foreign Minister Shaykh Mohammed a follow-up message to the Syrians to be used if the Syrian response was unsatisfactory. It was the King's deep hope that the Syrian withdrawal would be completed before this month's Arab Summit. ¶3. (C) Speaking more broadly, the King spoke approvingly of trends in the region, most notably democratic stirrings in Lebanon, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. This would not have happened without the strong leadership of President Bush, he stated. MONROE