Syria/Saudi Arabia, Syria/Iraq, Lebanon, Palestinian

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000847 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PA, NEA/ARN, INR/IC/CD, INR/R/MR:STHIBEAULT AND JMCCARTER, VOA NEWS CA, NEA/PPD:CBOURGEOIS, AZAIBACK, AND AFERNANDEZ, IIP/G/NEA-SA MDAVIDSON WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC CENTCOM FOR CCPA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY SUBJECT: Syria/Saudi Arabia, Syria/Iraq, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Cold War (8/17-19) ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers on August 19 featured a statement by an official source expressing regret over a Saudi official statement regarding statements attributed to VP Shara, which "were unrightfully changed," stressing at the same time Syria's insistence on not being dragged into disputes that do not serve anybody except enemies of the two countries and enemies of the Arab nation. The source indicated that "allegations that the Vice President had used impolite words against the Saudi Kingdom, were groundless," reiterating that the Syrian leadership and Syrian people "are keen to maintain best relations with the leadership and brotherly people of the Saudi Kingdom, and to work together on mending the rift in inter Arab relations and to activate them to face the dangerous challenges targeting stability and security of the region." The source added that "it was no secret in and outside the region, that Syria has always been working to achieve efficient Arab solidarity, and this is confirmed by the Arab League, and Syria's positions at the successive Arab summits, and commitment to the implementation of these summits' decisions, providing the conditions for their success." The source went on to say that "it was also no secret that Syria has borne a heavy burden because of her Arab commitment,... articularly following the occupation of Iraq, and its catastrophic repercussions on the unity and security of Iraq, and doubting its Arab identity, when Syria played a host to no less than 1.5 million displaced Iraqis without complaining, or receiving aid from anyone. The statement added that "no one could ignore that Palestine is the central cause..." On Syrian-Iraqi relations, papers reported that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is scheduled to start an official three-day visit to Syria on Monday August 20 upon the invitation of PM Mohammad Naji Otri. Al-Maliki, accompanied by an official and technical delegation, is due to hold talks with Syrian leaders, including President Asad, VP Shara and PM Otri, on means to develop bilateral cooperation in various fields. Talks will also focus on the current security and political situation in Iraq, bilateral cooperation and the file of Iraqi refugees in Syria. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "An official Syrian source expresses regret over a statement by the Saudi Government: No impolite words were uttered against the Saudi Kingdom... We are keen to maintain better relations with it... We work to achieve efficient Arab solidarity... Syria bears a heavy burden because of her pan-Arab commitment... The Palestinian cause is a central issue to Syria and to Arabs... Syrian efforts paved the way for the Mecca Accord" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/19) "Upon the invitation of Syrian Prime Minister Ottri, Iraqi Prime Minister al-Malki arrives in Damascus next Monday on an official visit" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/19) "A sit-in in front of the UN mission headquarters in Damascus in solidarity with prisoners of occupied Golan and Farhat and Shams" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/19) "A sit-in in Sidon holds the ruling team responsible for current crises in Lebanon. Lebanese Nationalist factions: US Ambassador Feltman and US Secretary of State Rice are blocking any efforts on Lebanese reconciliation. Speaker of Lebanese Parliament Berri: A national unity Government paves the way for presidential elections" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/19) "Violent clashes in Nahr al-Bared. Nationalist factions: We will not allow the governing team to lead Lebanon towards the unknown" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 8/19) "Amid Lebanese political conflict, the opposition adheres to reconciliation. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Berri: Election of a President without a two-thirds quorum is a piracy" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/18) "President Bush acknowledges his failure in Iraq. New York Times: The White House is working to reschedule withdrawal of US troops from Iraq" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/19) "Iraqi political leaders meet to discus their political crisis. Occupation forces close 18 Iraqi publications 'to promote democracy'" (Independent al-Watan, 8/19) "The occupation forces wage retaliatory raids against Iraqis ... The killing of three US soldiers raises the death toll to 3705" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/18) "Israeli forces attack two refugee camps in Nablus. Israel resumes assassination of Palestinian activists in the West Bank" (Independent al-Watan, 8/19) " Strategic Russian warplanes conduct sorties over the Atlantic and Pacific ocean. NATO warplanes keep surveillance" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 8/19) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "The Secret World Government" -------------- Isam Dari, Chief Editor of government-owned Tishreen, wrote (8/18): "A dangerous book by Cherep Spiridovich, an officer in the Russian army, entitled "The Secret World Government," was published in the 1920's about the tactics of world Zionism to control the world.... "Eight decades after the publication of the book, developments have proven that the author was right, with the only difference that the government controlling the world is no longer secret. "The US Administration, which is the official front for the neoconservative network, interferes in the affairs of other countries in a direct and exposed way, while the 'secret world government' is doing this secretly.... "It is no secret to anyone these days that neoconservatives are the new preachers for Zionism, as they believe in Biblical and Talmudic myths that have nothing to do with the essence of the Jewish faith." "Neoconservatives, who cannot be separated from the administration of President George Bush, are the ones who are drawing up policies, preparing plans, and making decisions 'secretly' before they turn into declared official policies implemented by their executive tools, such as President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and even Vice President Dick Cheney, who is a member of the neoconservative network.... "With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the withdrawing European role, the secret world government no longer needed secrecy. It found that the circumstances were in its favor so it publicly announced its hostility toward humanity and began to interfere openly in the big and small affairs of sovereign states, not hesitating to use the strike military force to demolish the existing structures here and there and redraw maps in line with the ideas in which this team believes. "The Bush administration launches wars and encourages terrorism while claiming to fight it.... This administration also takes the side of killers and terrorists and turns a blind eye to their military nuclear programs while it wants to deprive other countries of their right to possess nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.... "This administration is not ashamed to hint that the Pakistani president must give up his post, for example, or to reject the election of this person or that as president of Lebanon, or to adopt hostile positions toward international liberation movements and describe them as terrorists, or to torpedo the will of the Palestinian people, who elected their government through the ballot box. This administration does not feel ashamed when it considers a government change by free and democratic means to be an encroachment upon the American national security, or when it calls big and influential countries to account if any of their officials meets with an official from a country that this administration antagonizes and works to isolate...." -------------- "Who Is Instructed by the Other?" -------------- Ahmad Dawwa, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (8/17): "Lebanese Army Commander General Michel Sulayman stated recently that Fatah-al-Islam is affiliated with Al-Qaeda, not with the Syrian intelligence, and that what Americans offered to the Lebanese Army were words and promises and little ammunition. "Sulayman's remarks about Fatah al-Islam refute the accusations that both Americans and the March 14 group in Lebanon leveled against Syria.... Where will the weapons that the American planes shipped to Lebanon go...? "Was the alleged support for the Lebanese Army a cover to transfer the weapons to other parties...? "Shipping weapons to Lebanon under the cover of supporting the Lebanese Army was a fact, and it was publicly announced by the Bush administration through Secretary of State Rice, who loves to combine diplomacy and saber-rattling. If those weapons were not delivered to the party that was theoretically meant to receive them, were they shipped to be in the service of American creative chaos in Lebanon and the region...? "We wonder if General Sulayman will be spared the attacks and accusations of the March 14 team after speaking the truth about Fatah al-Islam and the American aid to the Lebanese Army." -------------- "The Lying Cord Is Short" -------------- Mundhir Khalil Id, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (8/17): "Recent bombings in Mosul and other areas in Iraq, in which hundreds of Iraqis were killed, showed the falsehood of US President Bush's allegations and refuted the claims by his generals that the occupation forces have begun to make security progress in Iraq.... "Bush, who lost his mind after the recent resignation of his chief adviser, Karl Rove, turned all of Iraq into a mass grave for Iraqis as a result of the increasing mistakes of his administration, his intransigent refusal to withdraw American troops from that country, and his insistence on prevailing over terrorism that Iraq would not have experienced without the occupation of the country and the presence of the invading forces there...." Corbin