Syrian-US Relations Still In Strain

Tom Dine, fmr. exec. dir. AIPAC, via the Pulse, here

"The absence of Syria in President Obama's message of reengagement and reconciliation with the global Muslim world in Cairo last week reconfirmed the fact that Syrian-U.S. relations continue to be strained.  Those countries mentioned were not altogether pleased with what the President said, but at least the entities received recognition in this most important presentation of American policy direction, the speech articulating direct concern of and by the U.S.   Like most places in the Middle East, eyewitnesses report that Syria's younger generation watched and listened intently to last week's 45-minute speech, but the strain was not eased.  Damascus and Washington have displayed so much testiness toward each other for the past decade and each competing in a test of wills, rapproachement in the Obama Age is moving today at a glacial pace.

... The Israelis remain confounded by Obama's consistent demand for a cessation of settlement construction, specific dismantlements among and around settlements plus a two-state resolution to the longtime Palestinian and Israeli conflict.  The Palestinians are simultaneously stuck in another conflict, the Fatah and Hamas fratricidal hot and cold stand-off, ... Despite American objections, Iran forges ahead producing nuclear fuel and increasing installed centrifuges and Iranian policy figures remain unclear, indeed confused, by the meaning of Obama's call for engagement. ....  The Egyptians live precariously with an authoritarian albeit sick and aging ruler, whom the American President consciously never named in the speech at Cairo University; ... The Saudis know they are needed to help resolve conflicts, but are too anxious and anemic to come forward, visibly get their hands dirty,...

The Syrians, since the inauguration of Barack Obama, are perplexed, wondering why the Americans do not unilaterally erase the sanctions punishment inflicted on them during the Bush era, or lift Syria from the State Department list of states that sponsor terrorism, or send an ambassador back to the American Embassy in Damascus, endorse Syrian sovereignty over the Golan Heights, or publicly recognize Syria's primary position in this unstable, insecure arena of conflict.  They wonder, too, why up until now Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Clinton, and Special Envoy Mitchell have been in the region, but not come to Damascus.  However, Clinton has met her Syrian counterpart, Foreign Minister al-Mu'allem, in Sharm al-Sheikh and Istanbul, and talked to her counterpart on the telephone in which he said Syria would welcome a visit from the U.S. Central Command to discuss Iraq.  Regarding George Mitchell, now that the Lebanese election has occurred, he will be visiting Syria reluctantly yet soon to discuss the Arab-Israeli peace process and a renewal of Syrian-Israeli negotiations.

In moments of illusion, Syria's top leadership believes if Obama would only pull the right strings, peace could be achieved throughout the Middle East and Syria, as a friend recently expressed, would be treated as an ally, not an outlaw.

Since the Obama Administration came into office in January, it has approached the Syrian regime with a certain coolness and caution. ... Today, the U.S. sees Syria as promoter and supporter of terrorism, host of the leaderships of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad.  In brief, the prospects of coming off the official terrorist list in the near future are nil.  Syria has covertly tried to develop supplies for if not its own nuclear weopanry, accused again by the IAEA of such activity this weekend.  Syria, according to American forces, continues to support anti-American violence in Iraq and thus a delegation of military officials to discuss joint efforts to shut off Arab and other insurgents operations inside Iraq is a necessity.   Friction between Syria and Lebanon is an ongoing concern, and the election results will not ease the strain in American and Saudi views of Syrian activity and influence inside Lebanon's body politique.  Achieving respectful behavior toward Beirut is a problem on which the Americans remain greatly concerned and focused. 

Challenges in today's bilateral relationship abound, each side seeing reality differently, each side awash in mistrust toward the other, each side's perceptions increasing an already deep and wide chasm, each side not ready to take difficult steps to achieve a rapproachement.  Returning to normal relations is the goal, but stuck as the relationship is, taking steps toward improvement are few, finding diplomatic common ground is limited, the speed of current moves is at a glacial pace.  Both sides need to work on overcoming mistrust and agree on a clarity of purpose.  Like other conflicts in the region, now is the time to commence taking painful and painful steps to creating a positive relationship."