Syria opposition to U.S. power
Name: Zhao Lu Student ID：s07308
Research paper supervisor:Dr.Seku Conde
Minzu University of China
2007-2008 Academic Year
Abstract:U.S. considers Syria as one of the supporting terrorism countries in the world, thus their diplomatic relations always tense. During three periods of Gulf War, 911 incident and Iraq war, Syria’s attitudes to U.S. are different. It changes according Syria’s benefits in Middle East. Although most of time, U.S. treat Syria severely, Syria still sticks to his Principle. But sometimes Syria also may give up some principle, avoiding U.S. Sanctions.
Anyway, this paper argues how Syria Flexible opposite U.S. power.
Key words: Syria U.S. Middle East process
INTRODUCTION:
Syria plays an important role in the Middle East peace process, especially in the Arab-Israeli peace negotiations and the Iraq rebuilding after war. So U.S. pays attention to Syria changes very much. But Syria supports the Terrorism organizations, supplies funds for them. In addition, Syria hatreds Israeli for the history reason, thus Syria and U.S. preparedness each other, has a tense relation.
Now U.S. trapped in the Iraq war, can’t get out. The white house wants to takes measures to use Iran and Syria helping Iraq recovering. But it is hard to achieve, because U.S. won’t believe the two countries which are considered as evil core. And U.S. still can’t bear the two countries benefit from Iraq .So Syria and U.S. relation always on the low level.
In my opinion, Syria and U.S. will cooperate on Iraq issue, but it won’t happen at once. After all, they have very complex relation, and involve much interest.
ⅠSyria introduction
Syrian Arab Republic, short for Syria, located in Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey, is a long history country. Arab take up 90.3%[1], other ethnic groups include Kurds, Armenians. Sunni Muslim are the most, 70%. Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I, Syria was administered by the French until independence in 1946. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. Since 1976, Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon, ostensibly in a peacekeeping capacity. In recent years, Syria and Israel have held occasional peace talks over the return of the Golan Heights. There are about 38,200 people living in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
ⅡThe diplomatic relation changes to U.S.
1 Gulf War period
In the cold war period, Syria and U.S. had a long cold relation, because Syria was alliance with the Soviet Union. But Gulf war was a big change to the Syria-U.S. relations. During the war, Syria broke the silence, openly supported American military to defeat the Iraq. Syria firm opposition to Iraq was not accident, because of their old grudges. In the Iran-Iraq war, Syria was the only Arab country which supported Iran, leading to break diplomatic relations with Iraq. After the cease-fire between Iran and Iraq, Iraq therefore supported the opposition forces in Lebanon and desire to weaken the restrictions and against Syria. Syria hoped that by the Gulf crisis greatly weaken the Iraq, and made it not to threat against its neighbors. So they reached a consensus on opposing the Iraq misappropriation of Kuwait. On the Arab emergency summit meeting Syria damned Iraq and immediately decided to send 20000 troops into Saudi Arabia. During the crisis, President Bush several times called on the situation to exchange of views, coordinate positions and multiple benefits with Syrian President Hafez al-Assad. Though the war, Syria got political benefits: Frequent contacts with United States and the Europe country, relations improved significantly. For example, in 11.1994 President Bush with President Hafez al-Assad Summit meeting in Geneva for the first time in years.[2] This action improved the Syrian relations with the United States, thereby avoiding the Syrian diplomatic backup dilemma after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Syria Relations with the United States still had been in the state of predicament .So Syria and U.S. improved diplomatic relations in this period. Syria not only in the current checks and balanced in the region to limit Iraq's forces, but also in the future the establishment of regional security played a important role.
2 911 incident
After 911incident occurred, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad called U.S. President George W. Bush to express condolences and support U.S. terrorists justice struggle. Also, U.S. gave a certain sure about Syria cooperation in counter-terrorism.
In addition, Syria had also reportedly shared some intelligence with the United States about Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network, even as Assad’s regime continues to sponsor terrorist groups. Syria Liberia to the United States Government had repeatedly assured that Syria will take all possible measures to protect U.S. citizens in Syria and facilities against terrorism Attacks. Syria strengthened the police to protect the U.S. Embassy. Syrian had to stop including the news media and the mosque, any place to openly support the 'base' organization of the symptoms. However, U.S.-Syria diplomatic relations remain at low levels despite Syrian government had taken so many measures.
Nevertheless, the United States is still designated Syria as one of the seven countries in the world which support terrorism. In U.S. State Department: "2001 global terrorism situation report" provides that: "support for terrorism faced by the countries of the consequences: in some countries has been established to support international terrorist of (that is, a certain country was included in the 'terrorist list'), will be the U.S. government's four major sanctions: (1) prohibits the same arms-related exports and sales, (2) to control dual-use goods may greatly strengthen the country's military support for terrorism capacity, or support of terrorist capabilities of goods or services exports must notify Congress 30 days in advance, (3) Ban providing financial assistance (4) the imposition of various financial and other restrictions. " So after 911 incident, Syria-U.S. relation still tense.
3 Iraq war
Before this war, Syria expressed another attitude different from Gulf war. As Iraq's northern neighbor, Syria strongly opposed the U.S. pretext of fighting terrorism in Iraq .Syria considered that United States claimed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction but lack of evidence. Because the United Nations inspection team in Iraq found no such weapons. And Syrian strongly persuaded Arab countries to stop the United States military striking against Iraq. If the United States established a pro-US regime in Iraq, then Syria will be very isolated on the geopolitical situation
At last, U.S. bypassing the United Nations, launched the war in Iraq. Syrian-US relations suddenly more tense. This time, Syria claimed that the war to Iraq was illegal in violation of international law and practice and in every occasion opposed U.S. fire to Iraq. But American urged Syrian leaders made every effort to block the border to prevent Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's followers fled to Syria. Syria was forced to the pressure, decided to cooperate limitedly with U.S. April 14, 2003, Syria government announced the closure of all borders in Iraq and Syria, banned the Iraqis without the Syrian visa entering Syria. Syria wouldn’t provide asylum for Iraqis war criminals.[3] Although there are still large differences between the two sides, but the Syrian- U.S. tense relations had eased. However, Syria on the issue of Iraq's principled stance has not changed. August 14, President Bashar saw the visit of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State said, "Syria will never recognize the Iraqi Governing Council" and called on U.S. forces to withdraw out of Iraq, the Iraqi affairs should be decided by the Iraqi people themselves.
After the war, U.S. began the Middle East "road map" peace plan and "Greater Middle East democracy" plan, aimed to transform Middle East. Besides the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, there are Syria-Israeli conflict (in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Israel occupied the Golan Heights of Syria). So American solved the problem by forcing the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, this protected Israeli safety.
Syrian troops in Lebanon, in 1975 after the outbreak of civil war in Lebanon, the Arab League delegate Syria the right to send 3.15 million military personnel,[4] "the Arab deterrent force" in the name of the troops stationed in Lebanon, but other Arab countries all withdrawal of the peacekeeping force in succession, only Syrian presence in Lebanon continued. [5]Syrian troops in Lebanon had three purposes: (1) between Syria and Lebanon established and maintained a "special relationship." Syrian President Bashar al-Assad stressed that Syria, Lebanon and "the history of the indivisibility" , Through the form of treaty relations can ensure that Syria's influence (2) From the Syrian national security considerations, attempt to become the Syria-Lebanon against the buffer zone, the Lebanese do not want to make a "divided" or "leftists in power" situation, to avoid the mouth of the Israeli aggression against Lebanon .(3) The use of decisive influence in Lebanon, Syria increased in the Arab world and the Middle East on the issue of the right to speak, to be resolved Israel annexed the Golan Heights. The occupation of Israel on Lebanon has provided the long-term reasons to Syrian presence in Lebanon. The Arab countries understood and supported Syria. But June 2000, Israel's unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon made the Syrian military presence in Lebanon lost its legitimate reasons, and the parties asked the Syrian troop withdrawal, [...]
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