Wikileaks: Washington focus: "To Tarnish Bashar's image domestically & in the Arab world and complicate his attempts to portray himself as a "Sunni" Arab leader"

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000348

SUBJECT: SARG PRESSURE POINTS 

2. (C) As Washington focuses on means to pressure the SARG over it's Lebanon policy, we offer the following six specific areas that we see as having the most impact on current SARG thinking. The SARG is reassessing its position on Lebanon and timely actions on some or all of the following areas may have a tangible effect....  -- Use PD tools to emphasize the Shia/Iranian aspect of Syrian support for Hizballah. -- Emphasize the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIC) on Lebanon and accelerate implementation. -- Focus on Syria's current economic vulnerability, perhaps by pressuring Iraqis to reject economic cooperation absent far greater security cooperation from Syria. -- Send messages through countries with strong influence on Syria: Turkey, UAE, Kuwait and India. Tell UAE, Kuwait and India to cancel Bashar's plans for June visits.... ... ... 3. (C) While being careful to avoid crossing the line into encouraging sectarianism, Post strongly urges more focus on Syria's close relationship with Iran and Hizballah as Shia focused on attacking the Arab world. We believe talking points should emphasize IRGC's material support for Hizballah's violent attacks on Arabs. The message that Syria is simply doing the bidding of Shia Iran will tarnish Bashar's image domestically and in the Arab world and complicate his attempts to portray himself as a "Sunni" Arab leader. Syria's refusal to constructively participate in the Arab League's mission in Lebanon (even though Syria is titular President of the Arab League this year) also provides a vulnerability for PD exploitation. These themes would strengthen Egypt and Saudi Arabia's own messages on these subjects.... "