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O 231418Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7261
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 5820
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 3707
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 2187
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 6928
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0817
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RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0515
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA//
INFO RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6662

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000718 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR PA, NEA/ARN, INR/IC/CD, INR/S:STHIBEAULT AND 
JMCCARTER, VOA NEWS CA, NEA/PPD:CBOURGEOIS, DBENZE AND 
AFERNANDEZ, IIP/G/NEA-SA RWINCHESTER 
WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC 
CENTCOM FOR CCPA 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY
SUBJECT: Damascus Media Reaction: Syria, Hamas, US Policy (2/23) 
 
¶1.  Summary: All Syrian papers reported an official Syrian 
statement condemning the attacks on the Shiite mausoleum and 
Sunni mosques in Iraq. 
Eid Abu Sekke opined in Al-Ba'th that the U.S. and its allies 
are not happy with the election of Hamas and are against 
democratic changes in the region when the outcome does not suit 
their objectives. 
 
Ezeddin al-Darwish editorialized in Tishreen that Secretary Rice 
is in the region to market a plan to besiege the new Palestinian 
government because it will not turn a blind eye to Israeli 
occupation and aggressive policies. 
 
End summary. 
 
¶2. Selected Headlines: 
 
"Syria condemns the attacks and calls on Iraqis to rise above the 
attempts at sedition; destruction of the dome of Imam Ali al- 
Hadi's Mausoleum unleashes a series of assassinations and attacks 
on 29 mosques; As-Sadr calls for the departure of occupation 
forces from Iraq" (Government-owned Tishreen, 2/23) 
 
"Official Source: Syria condemns terrorist actions against 
mausoleums and mosques in Iraq" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 
2/23) 
 
"The Syrian-Iranian Higher Committee discusses horizons of 
cooperation and development: Rejection of the policy of 
intervention and custodianship." (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 
2/23) 
 
"Tens of victims in terrorist attacks in Baghdad." (Government- 
owned Al-Ba'th, 2/22) 
 
"[Lebanese] forces and personalities reject replacement of 
President Lahoud. [Omar] Karami: Where do they want to take 
Lebanon? [Michael] Oun: There is no alternative to national 
dialogue." (Government-owned Tishreen, 2/23) 
 
"President Asad receives [Qatari F.M.] Sheikh Hamad: Syria and 
Qatar are concerned for the security and stability of the 
region." (Government-owned Tishreen, 2/23) 
 
 
¶3.  Editorial Block Quotes: 
------------------------------------ 
 
"Hamas and the West Favorite Game " 
 
------------------------------------ 
 
Dr. Eid Abu Sekke, a columnist in government-owned Al-Ba'th, 
commented (2/22): "We have reached a time when birds are accused 
of harassing crows and eagles, and butterflies of spreading 
terrorism in the woods and over the prairies! A month after the 
success of Hamas in the Palestinian elections and days after the 
naming of a candidate to head the cabinet, Tel Aviv and all its 
allies in the "civilized democratic" West and in the romantic 
East still can't believe the outcome and feel that it is a 
nightmare from which they will awaken. 
 
"Officials in Tel Aviv and Washington and their chorus know well 
that the peace process has been at a complete standstill, thanks 
to them, for over five years. 
 
"The most important democratic achievement is change of power 
through the ballot box, allowing people to choose those whose 
programs and ideas match their ambitions and aspirations for the 
future. 
 
"Therefore, the people of the West, especially in Washington, 
should continue to believe this, even if it embarrasses those 
who classify organizations, parties and states according to 
their whim...and those who ask Hamas to turn its back on the 
slogans and objectives which played a major role in bringing it 
to power. Those who elected Hamas...did so because, out of 
excessive exasperation and abundant hope, they want the choice 
of resistance to go hand in hand with political action. Also, 
the recent Palestinian vote was as much for economic as 
political development, as everyone was aware of the bureaucracy 
of corruption within the Palestinian Authority. 
"Finally, isn't democracy which is manifested in a peaceful 
change of power the West's favorite game?, Why don't they like 
it when we play this game on our own turf?" 
 
----------------------------------- 
 
"This is the Arab State of Affairs" 
 
----------------------------------- 
 
Ezzedin al-Darwish, an editorialist in government-owned 
Tishreen, wrote (2/23): "In Palestine, they are not content with 
occupation and killing of Arab citizens, and the support these 
killings get, especially from the U.S. They now want Palestinian 
legislative and executive authorities to turn a blind eye to 
Israeli occupation and aggressive policies, otherwise it will be 
a `terrorist' authority that should be fought militarily, 
financially and politically. What Condoleeza Rice is trying to 
market in the region is absolute proof of this." 
 
Seche