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