US embassy cable - 05MANAMA319

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