Word: assad
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Syria's Assad Under Pressure
...intransigence of the Christian rightists had also caused irritation in Damascus. Observed Syrian Information Minister Ahmad Iskander: "If President Assad and Syria did not have the patience of Job, we would have stopped [peacekeeping] efforts long ago." However frustrating the task, Assad is not expected to abandon his efforts in Lebanon. For one thing, he is concerned that more radical Arabs, such as the Iraqis and the Libyans, may make further inroads in a country that Syria would like to keep strictly within its own sphere of influence. An unstable or radical Arab regime in Lebanon would not only increase...
...Assad's most likely course would seem to be a continuation of the cautious moves he has made throughout the crisis-a mix of political pressure and persuasion, backed by a limited troop presence inside Lebanon. Though White House Press Secretary Ron Nessen last week praised Syria for "playing a constructive role" in Lebanon, Damascus was emphatic in putting down suggestions that Assad had received from Washington a "green light" for greater military intervention. As one Syrian official recently put it, "We only want to be the gendarme...
...Damascus, President Hafez Assad, in explanation of the Syrian moves, told a Baathist meeting that his troops had taken "a firm stand to oppose any party that insists on continuing the war." His remarks were aimed at leftist Moslem Leader Kamal Jumblatt, who had accused Syria of invading Lebanon and sent demonstrators into the streets of Tyre and Saida with banners that read: SAVE THE SYRIAN ARMY FOR THE CONFRONTATION WITH ISRAEL...
...Lebanon is that it could accidentally trigger a broader Middle East war. Damascus already has an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 troops in Lebanon-many of them disguised as commandos of the Palestinian Saiqa movement based in Syria-who were dispatched to enforce peace. Syrian President Hafez Assad may have to send still more troops to force the Moslem side into full peace. Assad, however, is reluctant to do so for fear that Israel might respond by occupying southern Lebanon, where many Palestinian strongholds are located...