Word: assad
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...reshaping the Lebanese political structure, which is now tilted in favor of the Christians. During the recess, President Amin Gemayel is sounding out the U.S. and Arab leaders on how to amend the accord and still satisfy both Israel and Syria. This week he is scheduled to meet with Assad in Damascus. Jerusalem insists it will not pull out its soldiers unless the accord is observed, while Damascus has said that its 62,000 troops will stay until the pact is scrapped...
Syria was the undisputed winner of the latest round of Middle East maneuvering. By strangling Arafat, Assad hopes to become the chief spokesman for the Palestinian cause. That, coupled with his objective of gaining de facto control over Lebanese affairs, would fulfill Assad's dream: to become the predominant leader in the Arab world...
...months, however, Secretary of State George Shultz has become profoundly concerned about the growing influence of the Soviet-backed Syrians at a time when Israel seemed to be weakened by internal problems and divisions. His concern also had a personal dimension: he felt insulted by the manner in which Assad had harangued him during a meeting last July and betrayed by Syria's refusal to withdraw its troops from Lebanon after he had got Israel to agree to do so. The replacement of Ariel Sharon by Moshe Arens as Defense Minister and of Begin by Shamir has also helped...
...arms deals with moderate Arab states. Says a top U.S. diplomat: "Israel has got to understand that cooperation does not mean exclusivity. We can and must be friends with both." Most of all, U.S. officials hope the newly forged bond with Israel will send a fresh signal to Damascus. "Assad has been smelling weakness, and that's bad," notes an Administration official...
...Syria's designs. Assad is committed to this theory of Greater Syria and, according to this theory, Jordan and all of Palestine are a part of Syria. Assad considers himself the leader of the Arab world, and it is his notion now to fight and achieve the fulfillment of the Arab aspirations, which is to remove Israel from this area...