(S/NF) KUDOS FOR REPORTING ON THE SYRIAN CABINET

S E C R E T STATE 074781

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2034
TAGS: PINR PGOV SY
SUBJECT: (S/NF) KUDOS FOR REPORTING ON THE SYRIAN CABINET
SHUFFLE (C-ME9-01534)

REF: DAMASCUS 000309

Classified By: MICHAEL P. OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).


1. (C/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS CONGRATULATE EMBASSY DAMASCUS
FOR ITS EXCELLENT REPORTING ON PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASAD'S
CABINET SHUFFLE. THIS REPORTING IS UNIQUE, HIGHLY VALUED,
AND WILL BE USED TO ENSURE WASHINGTON POLICYMAKERS HAVE A
COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEW CABINET AND ITS
IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR INTERESTS IN SYRIA AND THE REGION.


2. (C/NF) ANALYSTS APPRECIATED REF (PRESIDENT ASAD'S
CABINET SHUFFLE) BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION AND INSIGHTS INTO
SYRIAN VIEWS OF THE NEW APPOINTMENTS. INFORMATION ON
MID-LEVEL SYRIAN OFFICIALS WAS VERY HELPFUL AS WELL, AND IS
DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN ELSEWHERE. WITHOUT THIS INPUT, ANALYSTS
WOULD HAVE HAD VERY LIMITED INFORMATION ON THE NEW CABINET
MEMBERS.


3. (C/NF) ANALYSTS VERY MUCH VALUE THIS TYPE OF REPORTING
AND WOULD APPRECIATE FURTHER INFORMATION, POST'S TIME AND
RESOURCES PERMITTING, ON CURRENT MEMBERSHIP OF KEY
INSTITUTIONS, SUCH AS THE BA'TH REGIONAL AND CENTRAL COMMANDS
AND THE SYRIAN COMPUTER SOCIETY, PARTICULARLY THE CURRENT
HEADS OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS. MANY THANKS.
CLINTON