Word: syria
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...Council under President Jimmy Carter: "There is clearly a new style and a greater degree of energy in the Soviet attitude toward the Middle East." This is characterized, says Quandt, by a "new, experimental attitude" in which the Soviets are making "simultaneous approaches to the Palestine Liberation Organization, to Syria, Egypt, Israel and in the gulf...
...Assad, to show some signs of moderation in order to increase his influence with his neighbors. In April, not long after his return from a trip to Moscow, Assad went to Jordan for a secret meeting with his long-time enemy, Iraq's President Saddam Hussein. Except for Libya, Syria is the only Arab state that backs non-Arab Iran in its seven-year war with Arab Iraq. Assad is believed unlikely to be ready to change sides in the gulf war, in part because of the oil concessions he gets from Iran. Nonetheless, the meeting raised hopes that...
...Soviet diplomatic offensive has also led to a U.S. effort to improve ties with Syria. During the past year, Washington has treated the Damascus regime as something of a pariah because of Syria's support of international terrorism. Now, however, the Administration professes to be encouraged by Assad's efforts to shed that reputation. Following a letter to Assad from President Reagan last month, the White House announced it will soon send an envoy to Damascus to explore ways of improving relations...
...differ on many matters concerning the Middle East, the U.S. and the Soviet Union agree on some things. Among them: the need to prevent a radical change in the regional balance of power that would follow an Iranian victory over Iraq, and the need to prevent a war between Syria and Israel. Both fear that such a war could spin out of control, engulfing not only the protagonists but also their superpower protectors. If the Soviets are able to persuade the world community that its presence in the region can help forestall that calamity, the U.S. will have difficulty chasing...
...Lebanon, meanwhile, the U.S. suffered another disappointment. After a week of threats and pressure from Syria, Shi'ite Muslim extremists released Ali Osseiran, the son of Lebanese Defense Minister Adel Osseiran, a Shi'ite political ally of the Syrians.' But the terrorists did not free Charles Glass, an American television journalist who was abducted a week earlier along with Osseiran. Brigadier General Ghazi Kenaan, intelligence chief for the 7,500 Syrian troops that occupy most of the Muslim half of Beirut, had said he would free both Glass and Osseiran "at all costs." Late in the week he began restricting...