"Looking to the East, Saad said that the regimes in Syria and Iran are the biggest obstacles to peace in the region. The USG has tried for years to bring about a "change in regime behavior" in Syria, to no avail. Saad argued that nothing is really being done about Syria. Israel, he claims, protects Syria due to its fear of the unknown. "Better the enemy you know than the enemy you don't know," is how Saad views the Israeli position on the Asad regime. 11. (S/NF) Saad urged that now is a golden opportunity for the international community to "weaken" Bashar. The USG needs a clear, new policy to isolate Syria. "My belief is, if you don't isolate Syria, if you don't put a blockade, they will never change." By subduing Syria, you remove Iran's main bridge for playing the troublemaker in Lebanon and Palestine. "If you weaken Syria," Saad suggested, "then Iran has to work alone." The Saudis and other Arab states have all had enough of young Bashar, according to Saad, and no longer want to try a conciliatory approach to the Syrian regime. After Bashar's recent speech threatening civil war in Lebanon, they are no longer interested in "talking" with Damascus. Saad said he had hear this directly from the Saudis, and that Prince Bandar is delivering this message in Washington now (Comment. It is also interesting that Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal made similar comments, but about Iran specifically, during an 8/22 meeting with Ambassador Oberwetter, as reported in reftel. End Note)."The Saudis and Egyptians have turned. Look into that."
When Talwar asked what the United States could do to increase the pressure on Syria, Saad suggested forging ahead on the special tribunal with international character on the Hariri
assassination and organizing international sanctions on Syria. 12. (S/NF) Getting a little more animated as the conversation continued, Saad argued that the Syrian regime needs to be gotten rid of entirely. "This regime has always lived on conflict. It will only stop if we get rid of the regime." Saying that he had tried to play nice with Syria over the past year and a half since March 14, even asking PM Siniora to go to Damascus (as Saad put it), he asked what had this approach achieved for Lebanon. "What did it get us?" exclaimed Saad, "These people don't want us. They want (former PM) Omar Karami. People who will follow orders." 13. (S/NF) If the regime were to fall in Syria, who would be there to fill in the vacuum? Perplexed that the Alawites, who make up only 7-8 per cent of Syria, could rule so exclusively as "a family business" over a vast Sunni majority, Saad suggested that the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, in partnership with ex-regime figures like Abdel Halim Khaddam and Hikmet Shehabi ("though he's still close to the regime"), could step into the void. Saad claimed that the Syrian Brotherhood is similar in character to Turkey's moderate Islamists. "They would accept a Christian or a woman as President. They accept civil government. It's like Turkey in Syria. They even support peace with Israel." Saying that he maintains close contact with Khaddam (in Paris) and Syrian Muslim Brotherhood leader-in-exile Ali Bayanuni (in London), Saad urged us to "talk to Bayanuni. See what he's like. You will see wonders.""
assassination and organizing international sanctions on Syria. 12. (S/NF) Getting a little more animated as the conversation continued, Saad argued that the Syrian regime needs to be gotten rid of entirely. "This regime has always lived on conflict. It will only stop if we get rid of the regime." Saying that he had tried to play nice with Syria over the past year and a half since March 14, even asking PM Siniora to go to Damascus (as Saad put it), he asked what had this approach achieved for Lebanon. "What did it get us?" exclaimed Saad, "These people don't want us. They want (former PM) Omar Karami. People who will follow orders." 13. (S/NF) If the regime were to fall in Syria, who would be there to fill in the vacuum? Perplexed that the Alawites, who make up only 7-8 per cent of Syria, could rule so exclusively as "a family business" over a vast Sunni majority, Saad suggested that the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, in partnership with ex-regime figures like Abdel Halim Khaddam and Hikmet Shehabi ("though he's still close to the regime"), could step into the void. Saad claimed that the Syrian Brotherhood is similar in character to Turkey's moderate Islamists. "They would accept a Christian or a woman as President. They accept civil government. It's like Turkey in Syria. They even support peace with Israel." Saying that he maintains close contact with Khaddam (in Paris) and Syrian Muslim Brotherhood leader-in-exile Ali Bayanuni (in London), Saad urged us to "talk to Bayanuni. See what he's like. You will see wonders.""
