Interview with Amb. Imad Moustapha

Syria does not fear any imminent US military escalation against itself, though
it fears the Bush administration may yet launch a strike against Iran…
 Syria sees itself as the only power that has good relations with all
the parties inside Iraq, and is very willing to use this position to help
mediate and moderate intra-Iraqi disputes…  It calls for a reconciliation
process in Iraq in which “all parties should be involved, without exception,
but in which none would dominate the others”; and for a regional peace process
involving Iraq, all of its neighbors, and the US…  Syria’s relations
with many portions of US society, including the US Congress, have improved
considerably in the last 18 months, “But the only ‘fortress’ resisting engagement
with us is the administration”….

These were some of the main points in an informal, one-hour interview I held
January 26 with Ambassador Imad Moustapha, in his embassy in Washington DC’s
Kalorama district.

Moustapha drew a strong contrast between the standoff-ish and sullen
attitude the Bush administration presents towards Syria today and the behavior of an earlier US administration, during a period
of much greater substantive tension between the two parties, back in 1983:

Back then, US Navy vessels were directly shelling Syrian military
positions in Lebanon, and the US Air Force was attacking our positions in
the Bekaa valley.  You remember, we shot down a  US flyer on that
occasion…  But despite the continuation of that direct military engagement
between us, the Reagan administration still engaged with us diplomatically,
with the mission of Ambassador Philip Habib, who came to Damascus a number
of times.  But now, they won’t even talk to us?

Regarding his embassy’s relations with other sections of US society, he said
he feels he has had some real success reaching out to people in Congress,
the media, and civil society “including Jewish-American groups.”  He
recalled that several members of Congress visited Syria over the recent winter
break, and noted in particular that the meeting that ISG co-chair James Baker
held in Damascus with Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem last September had
been very successful.  

Mouallem was very clear with Baker.  He told him that
Syria wants to cooperate on resolving the differences inside Iraq– for its
own reasons.  We are not seeking any ‘deal’ to link that issue to Lebanon…

And then, see the strong degree to which we’ve restored our relations with
the government in Iraq.  We have just been having this long and very
productive visit to Syria by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, in the course
of which he signed a large number of interior and security agreements with
Damascus.  And this was at exactly the same time that Secretary Rice
was criticising us so strongly on Capitol Hill for our allegedly unhelpful
interference inside Iraq?  Her criticisms don’t seem to make much sense.

… No, I am not concerned about a possible American imminent escalation
against Syria.  But I do worry that the administration might do something
against Iran-– to try to save face and to reawaken patriotic feelings
among the Americans.

This would be disastrous.

Moustapha expressed significant concern about the eruption of Sunni-Shiite
sectarianism in the Arab world.  “Many Arabs see this as a direct result
of the US invasion and occupation of Iraq .  What happened there was
the dismantling of the state… and then religious, sectarian, and tribal
leaders were the only ones able to provide the most needed sense of some
security in the neighborhoods.”

He said the number of Iraqi refugees in Syria had now reached “nearly one
million”.  He described a visit he had made to one of the numerous,
completely new private universities that have been springing up in Syria
in recent years.  “But this one was different.  This was a completely
Iraqi institution, totally run by Iraqi professors and administrators…
 And there’s another one in Jordan,. too.”

I suggested that these institutions must be bringing great benefits to their
host countries.  But he said, “No,  the main thing is that it’s
a disaster for Iraq!  Iraq was always such a great center of Arab higher
edication!  My father got his degree there… so many other Arabs did.
 And now, it is all becoming destroyed.”

We had a short discussion about the recent reports on a possibly productive
Syrian-Israeli “back-channel” negotiation that occurred between 2004 and
July 2006.  Moustapha said the contacts in question never had any authorization
or standing with the government he represents.  “Syria’s position is
well-known and consistent,” he said.  “I have to tell you we have people
coming to us all the time and offering to conduct some such  private
negotiation.  But we don’t need it.  Our offer to resume the negotiations
at the open, official level with Israel is clear, and it’s on the table.”

He talked a little about his government’s relations with many of the different
parties and groups inside today’s Iraq.  He started by recalling how
many of the politicians who emerged in the immediate post-Saddam era had
had long ties with Syria, having spent a good portion of their previous years
of exile in Damascus.  “Seventeen of the 25 members of the Interim Governing
Council established by Paul Bremer once carried Syrian diplomatic passports!” 
After the US invasion of Iraq, many of those Iraqi politicians had turned
their back on Damascus to some degree– “But now, even those who disdained
us for a while are coming back into a relationship with us.”

Moustapha noted that Moqtada al-Sadr had a very good visit to Syria in early
2005, “and later, he became a kingmaker in the political system in Baghdad.”
 He stressed that in his view, Sadr was very far from being any kind
of an Iranian puppet.

He concluded by laying out his proposal for an all-party reconciliation process
inside Iraq, to be parallelled by a regional process involving all Iraq’s
neighbors and the United States.  “This wouldn’t solve all the
problems,” he conceded.  “But it would certainly change the reginal
dynamics.”

I asked whether he saw a role for the UN in convening such a process.  “The
UN can’t act unless the US allows it to,” he said.

…  The above account has been written in great haste.  I’ve had
a lot of work to do in the past few days, and I’ve also been packing and
preparing for a three-month trip away from home that will take me to Cairo,
various other Middle Eastern places, London, and France.  We leave on that
trip less than two hours from now.  But I did want to get this account
of the discussion with Amb. Moustapha posted onto the blog before I leave.

He is a smart and engaging man.  (Heck, he even has his own blog, which
makes some interesting reading.)  He shows a good understanding of the
different trends in the US policymaking elite, and seems to represent his
government’s positions accurately and persuasively.  From talking to
him, I got the sense that he– and most likely also the government he represents–
has a degree of quiet self-confidence about the government’s own survival
and prospects, but considerable concern for the possibility of further, more
damaging deteriorations in Iraq, or a US attack on Iran.  I have to
say he was pretty scathing about the prospects for the US occupation force
in Iraq, and the prospects of President Bush’s latest “surge” plan in particular.
 At one point he noted wryly: “Look , they don’t even seem to be able
to control Haifa Street, which is just a kilometer or so away from the Green
Zone.  How on earth do they hope to control the whole country?”

16 thoughts on “Interview with Amb. Imad Moustapha”

  2. Vadim, old son, if you’re there – or here – how about shedding some light on that Arabic to English “translator” that you referred to a couple of days ago. Is there a URL?
    Muchos Gracias

  5. Re: “Iraq was always such a great center of Arab higher education! My father got his degree there… so many other Arabs did. And now, it is all becoming destroyed.”
    A good Saudi friend said this to me in the early 70s: “Good Arabic texts are written in Cairo, printed in Beirut, and read in Baghdad.”

  6. Thanks Helena for publishing this interview. Unfortunately we in America do not get to hear the otherside’s view points while being bombarded by the latest hysteria against our perceived enemies by the steno coporate media. Much to the detriment of informed debate and analysis that the public can understand the issues.

  9. Iraq was always such a great center of Arab higher edication! My father got his degree there… so many other Arabs did. And now, it is all becoming destroyed.”
    That’s one of the things US chosen Iraq from the rest of the Axis of Evils, they chosen the weakest state due to 13 years of inhuman sanction that caused a huge damage to Iraqis as human and society, and also for the state which brought to its knees and less threaten to US comparing with N. Korea to bring Iraq down where they are really know that if Iraq goes (Eastern Gate For ME) the ME will be in US packet….
    There are many viewpoints and stories in regards of Israelis and their interests in ME in same vein with US interests.
    But beer in mind Iraq destroyed many times in Babylonians time, then Hulako “Mongolians” came and now New Hulako these days.

  10. ab initio,
    Yes, we too here in Israel also don’t get to hear what Imad Moustapha has to say as often as we should. Last November, Channel 10’s Gil Tamari attempted to ask Moustapha a question about Syrian positions toward Israel during an appearance at NYU. Mr. Moustapha refused to answer and then refused to speak with Tamari off-camera after the event.
    But I would point out that, at the beginning of the war this past summer, I happened to be in the US. As I recall, Imad Moustapha made almost daily appearances on CNN.

  11. The Israeli war on Lebanon was unjustified and destructive for both ordinary Lebanese civilians and for Israeli military deterrence. If only Israel and the US listened to practically everyone else, including the Syrians, perhaps over 1,000 Lebanese would not have needed to die, Hezbollah would not be on the rise politically, and Israeli military deterrence would not have taken such a blow. A ceasefire would have obviously been in everyone’s interests, not least the US, who are seen to have no credibility and no real intention or ability to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
    I opened a new blog, it is based on the concept of universal self-determination and mainly focuses on Iran and Middle Eastern issues. I think that Helena Cobban’s suggestion that Palestinians adopt a strategy of Gandhian nonviolence might well be highly effective, especially if it had the support of key state actors, such as Iran (call me naive, but it’s clear that Iran supports the end of self-determination for Palestinians, though it has in the past sometimes supported those who use asymmetric warfare. It’s really more a question of altering the means than the end). It’s a viable model not just for Palestinians but for many other actors in the Middle East.
    Please visit it and respond to my comments, at http://iransolutions.blogspot.com

  13. Edwards did the same as Hillary.
    I have doubts that Obama is any better.
    But here’s what I really think about the next president of the USA:
    If it isn’t Pelosi, before the election, then it is likely we won’t have an election. We need to impeach Bush and Cheney not only to show the world that we know they are murderers and liars, but also to save our country.
    and then Pelosi will be the Dem candidate in 08, and she will win it.

  14. Sen. Clinton Calls Iran Threat to United States and Israel

    The senator’s remarks took place during AIPAC’s Annual New York Dinner, which included an address by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY). Other guests included presidential candidate John Edwards, former Gov. George Pataki, several House members and at least two dozen state and local officials.

    Sen. Clinton called the Iranian administration “pro-terrorist,” and said Iran’s Holocaust denial places its leadership in company with the most despicable bigots and historical revisionists.

    Karnit Goldwasser, wife of kidnapped Israeli soldier Ehud Goldwasser, also addressed the dinner guests, thanking America’s pro-Israel community for standing by Israel. Her husband is one of two Israeli soldiers being held captive by Hizballah.

    Here we go, Any US president without AIPAC Approval and support will not get the presidency in US. It’s a matter of fact these Democratic or Republicans nominees run to AIPAC for their help, isn’t?
    Americans the story of who run the show is not the your president, its that behind the president wakeup Americans, that’s why each time Iraq or Iran are a threat to Israel this more important for the loving baby of US

  15. More to go,

    The new democratic group (Democratic Caucus) in the U.S Congress House of Representatives has elected Rahm Emanuel as a new chairman. Former professional dancer, Mr Emanuel was Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign treasurer, then his political director in the White House.
    He was one of the main protagonists of the Free Trade Area of the Americas Agreement and would have played a role in Wye River negotiations on the Middle East. He inspired Josh complex character in the famous television series The West Wing. Today, he is Chicago (Illinois) elected representative.

    Of Israeli origin, he obtained the United-Stator nationality at the age of 18. As a volunteer engaged during Desert Storm operation ( 1991 ), Rahm Emanuel (then 32-years old) has served for Israel defence against a possible Iraqi attack.
    Accused afterwards of being a Tsahal officer and of being subjected to a double allegiance, Mr Emanuel pointed out that he had not served in the uniform. In fact, according to our information, he would be a member of Amal, Tsahal’s military intelligence service.

    ” Members of the Brandeis community are working to fund a “community delegation” to the West Bank, sources say. The two initiatives come weeks after former President Jimmy Carter challenged the university during his Jan. 23 speech to “visit the occupied territories for a few days… to determine whether I have exaggerated or incorrectly described the plight of the Palestinians” in his controversial book Palestine Peace Not Apartheid.”
    “Muslims are now getting the same treatment Jews had a century ago”

  16. “Americans the story of who run the show is not the your president, its that behind the president wakeup Americans, that’s why each time Iraq or Iran are a threat to Israel this more important for the loving baby of US”
    Except that US policy in the Middle East is in many ways tied to Israeli (and Saudi) interests, so it’s not so simple, though you’re right that Iran or Iraq are not threats to us.

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