Viewing cable 10DAMASCUS159, SYRIAN INTELLIGENCE CHIEF ATTENDS CT DIALOGUE WITH

Viewing cable 10DAMASCUS159, SYRIAN INTELLIGENCE CHIEF ATTENDS CT DIALOGUE WITH

 

Reference ID	Created	Released	Classification	Origin
10DAMASCUS159	2010-02-24 14:02	2010-12-06 21:09	SECRET	Embassy Damascus

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RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 5236
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RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
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S E C R E T DAMASCUS 000159 

SIPDIS 

DEPARTMENT FOR P, NEA, S/CT 

EO 12958 DECL: 02/24/2020 
TAGS PTER, PREL, PGOV, SY 
SUBJECT: SYRIAN INTELLIGENCE CHIEF ATTENDS CT DIALOGUE WITH 
S/CT BENJAMIN

Classified By: CDA Charles Hunter for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

¶1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: In a surprise appearance, Syrian General 

Intelligence Director (GID) General Ali Mamlouk attended a February

18 meeting between Vice Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad and a

U.S. delegation led by S/CT Coordinator Daniel Benjamin. Miqdad

explained Mamlouk had joined the meeting at the request of President

Bashar al-Asad as a gesture following a positive meeting between

U/S William Burns and the Syrian president the previous day.

Stressing the meeting did not signal the commencement of security

and intelligence cooperation between Syria and the United States,

the Syrian side said the discussion could be a starting point for 

a blueprint regarding possible cooperation in the future. 

Calling Coordinator Benjamin’s description of terrorist groups 

operating in the region “valid,” Mamlouk emphasized the linkage 

between progress on political issues in U.S.-Syrian relations and 

possible security and intelligence cooperation. He identified 

Syrian-Iraqi border security as an area where Syria could cooperate

with the U.S., but only after Iraqi legislative elections in March.

Mamlouk added cooperation on Syrian-Iraqi border security could lead

to security cooperation in other areas.

¶2. (S/NF) Mamlouk, Miqdad, and Syrian Ambassador to the U.S. Imad 

Mustapha were attentive during Benjamin’s presentation on al-Qaeda,

foreign fighters, and other common threats, and reacted positively 

to his warnings that these issues presented challenges to both the U.S.

and Syria. Mamlouk and Miqdad emphasized three points regarding 

possible security and intelligence cooperation with the U.S.: (1) 

Syria must be able to take the lead in any regional actions; (2) 

politics are an integral part of combating terrorism, and a “political 

umbrella” of improved U.S.-Syrian bilateral relations should facilitate

cooperation against terrorism; and (3) in order to convince the 

Syrian people that cooperation with the U.S. was benefiting them,

progress must be made on issues related to economic sanctions against

Syria including spare parts for airplanes and a plane for President

Asad. “In summary, President Asad wants cooperation, we should take 

the lead on that cooperation, and don’t put us on your lists,” Miqdad

declared. END 

SUMMARY.
SURPRISE GUEST AT MIQDAD MEETING

¶3. (S/NF) GID Director General Ali Mamlouk was the surprise guest 

at a February 18 meeting at the MFA hosted by Vice Foreign Minister 

Faisal al-Miqdad with S/CT Coordinator Daniel Benjamin, DHS A/S David 

Heyman, and NEA DAS Maura Connelly. Miqdad said Mamlouk’s participation

in the meeting had come at the direction of President Asad following

what Miqdad termed a positive meeting between Asad and U/S Burns on

February 17. Syrian Ambassador to the U.S. Imad Mustapha, who translated

for Mamlouk during the meeting, stated that Mamlouk’s attendance at

meetings with foreign delegations was extraordinary and did not occur

“even with friendly countries like Britain and France.” Mustapha 

explained President Asad instructed Mamlouk to attend the meeting as

a personal gesture.

¶4. (S/NF) Benjamin, stressing that cooperation on counter-terrorism

efforts was an essential part of the roadmap for improved bilateral

relations, noted that there were issues on which we had clear differences,

such as Syrian support for Hamas and Hizballah. The U.S., he continued,

still viewed these groups as undermining stability and the prospects 

for peace in the region. Nonetheless, the two countries should still 

work to cooperate on immediate threats facing both the U.S. and Syria,

including the proliferation of takfiri groups in the region, such as 

al-Qaeda, and stopping the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq. The 

Coordinator provided Mamlouk an overview of the threats posed by 

terrorist groups operating in the region from North Africa to Iraq to

Yemen. Benjamin noted the challenge that these groups posed to Syria

as well, illustrated by the September 2008 attack on a Syrian 

intelligence building. He explained the U.S. is concerned about the

long-term implications of arms smuggling to Lebanon and Iraq through

Syria, and observed that the disarray among the Palestinians could 

ultimately create an opening for groups with an al-Qaeda orientation,

citing the case of Junjalat, a radical faction in Gaza.

¶5. (S/NF) Mamlouk pointed to Syria’s 30 years of experience in battling 

radical groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood as evidence of Syria’s 

commitment to the fight against terrorism. Mamlouk termed Benjamin’s 

description of the challenges posed by terrorist groups in the region

as “valid, despite the reasons that gave rise to them.” Mamlouk 

repeatedly stressed his attendance at the meeting did not signal the

commencement of security and intelligence cooperation between Syria

and the U.S., but could be a starting point for “a blueprint for that

which is not yet started.” Echoing Miqdad, Mamlouk said progress on 

political issues in the Syrian-U.S. bilateral relationship was “closely

connected” to progress on possible cooperation on security and intelligence.
MAMLOUK DESCRIBES GID’S METHODS

¶6. (S/NF) The GID Director said Syria had been more successful than

the U.S. and other countries in the region in fighting terrorist groups

because “we are practical and not theoretical.” He stated Syria’s 

success is due to its penetration of terrorist groups. “In principle,

we don’t attack or kill them immediately. Instead, we embed ourselves 

in them and only at the opportune moment do we move.” Describing the 

process of planting embeds in terrorist organizations as “complex,” 

Mamlouk said the result had yielded been the detention of scores of 

terrorists, stamping out terror cells, and stopping hundreds of terrorists

from entering Iraq. Mamlouk acknowledged some terrorists were still

slipping into Iraq from Syria. “By all means we will continue to do 

all this, but if we start cooperation with you it will lead to better

results and we can better protect our interests,” he concluded.

¶7. (S/NF) According to Mamlouk, Syria’s previous experience in

cooperating with the U.S. on intelligence “was not a happy one.” 

He stated Syria hoped any future cooperation would be “on an equal 

basis.” Mamlouk specified this meant Syria should be allowed to “take 

the lead” on anti-terrorism efforts. Alluding to the “wealth of 

information” Syria has obtained while penetrating terrorist groups,

Mamlouk declared “we have a lot of experience and know these groups.

This is our area, and we know it. We are on the ground, and so we 

should take the lead.”

POSSIBLE COOPERATION ON IRAQ
¶8. (S/NF) Mamlouk identified Iraqi border security as an area where 

Syria and the U.S. could cooperate. He described Syria as ready to move 

forward on tripartite border security talks, but added “we are at a

freezing point until after the Iraqi elections” scheduled for March.

Mamlouk added that cooperation on Iraqi border security could lead to

cooperation in other areas.

¶9. (S/NF) Benjamin, noting the importance of achieving a secure and 

stable Iraq, stated an important measure of progress on this subject is

further success on reducing the flow of foreign fighters and cracking 

down on their facilitators. Mamlouk said the foreign fighters come from

a large number of Arab and Muslim countries and that the Syrians detain

“large numbers plus their local facilitators.”  As an example, Mamlouk 

said he handed over 23 Saudis detained in Syria to Saudi Prince Muqrin 

last year. Benjamin commended Mamlouk on reducing the flow of foreign 

fighters, while encouraging further progress. Miqdad interjected that 

the issue of foreign fighters using Syrian soil is a matter of national

security for Syria. “We have zero tolerance,” he said. Miqdad said Syria

needs the cooperation of other countries, namely those from which the 

terrorists are coming.  “If we can close this circle - with us, you, and 

other countries - we will succeed,” he concluded.

¶10. (S/NF) Miqdad added that Syrian/Lebanese border security is also a

subject on which the SARG is making progress. Stating “the past is behind

us,” Miqdad said Syria is attempting to assist the Lebanese on security

at ports and at the border without interfering in internal 

Lebanese affairs.
UPDATE ON TERRORIST NAMES PROVIDED BY USG

¶11. (S/NF) Alluding to previous USG requests for assistance on tracking

down terrorists thought to be in Syria, the Syrian side stressed that

intelligence cooperation between the U.S. and Syria should not be 

solely based on receiving names of terrorist suspects from the USG and 

checking up on those individuals. However, Mamlouk confirmed that Syria

could verify the specific whereabouts of several individuals who had

been discussed in previous meetings with SARG officials.

MIQDAD WANTS POLITICAL UMBRELLA TO GUIDE SECURITY COOPERATION

¶12. (S/NF) Following Mamlouk’s statements regarding possible security

and intelligence cooperation, Miqdad stated he wanted to emphasize 

three points. First, Miqdad said that because of Syria’s “wealth of 

information” on following 30 years of facing security threats from 

takfiri groups, Syria must be able to take the lead in any joint efforts.

Second, the Vice Foreign Minister said politics are an integral part

of combating terrorism and warned that listing Syria as a state sponsor

of terrorism and including Syria on the list of 14 countries for 

enhanced screening by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

created a “contradiction” when the U.S. subsequently requested cooperation

with Syria against terrorism. Miqdad stressed a “political umbrella”

of improved U.S.-Syrian bilateral relations should facilitate counterterrorism

¶13. (S/NF) Third, Miqdad stated convincing the Syrian people to support 

cooperation with the U.S. would hinge on progress on economic sanctions 

against Syria, including spare parts for airplanes and a plane for 

President Asad. The Vice Foreign Minister said the Syrians wanted these

efforts “accelerated.” Miqdad specifically requested the USG reach out 

to Lufthansa Technik and “assure them of no negative consequences” if 

they cooperate with Syrian requests to have the purchase of spare aircraft

parts approved. In response, Benjamin said the Obama administration 

viewed counterterrorism as a vital concern but, unlike its predecessor,

it did not see counterterrorism as something that was separate from 

the rest of U.S. foreign policy or the sole driver of U.S. foreign 

policy. Rather, it was part of the fabric of policy, and the administration

recognized that progress in bilateral relations would involve 

coordinated moves in a number of areas. Benjamin added the U.S. 

expected that the Syrian people would see the benefits of closer 

relations.

¶14. (S/NF) Miqdad also encouraged the U.S. to reconsider including 

Syria on the TSA’s list for enhanced screening, and praised U/S Burns 

for informing the SARG that the U.S. was prepared to lift its block on

Syrian accession to the World Trade Organization. “In summary, 

President Asad wants cooperation, we should take the lead on that 

cooperation, and don’t put us on your lists,” Miqdad declared.
DHS BRIEFING

¶15. (S/NF) Benjamin and Heyman underscored that the TSA’s enhanced

screening requirements protected travelers of all nationalities, 

and that the TSA does not target Syrians but applies to all travelers,

including American citizens, coming to the U.S. from or through the 

listed countries.

¶16. (S/NF) A/S Heyman provided the Syrians with a brief overview of

DHS’s mission and activities, focusing in particular on its expertise 

in the management of ports, airports, and land borders. He noted DHS 

could explore with the SARG ways to meet international security 

standards at ports. This, in turn, could lead to enhanced trade and 

travel between the two countries, and reduce obstacles to shipping 

between the U.S. and Syria. Heyman said the Coast Guard was prepared 

to send a team to Syria to work on port security with their Syrian 

counterparts. This type of activity could lead to measures that reduced

costs and lowered barriers to shipping. General Mamlouk said the SARG

would study the proposed Coast Guard visit.
UPCOMING VISITS

¶17. (S/NF) Highlighting the importance of continued U.S.-Syrian 

dialogue on bilateral issues, Benjamin proposed a mid-March visit 

to Damascus by NEA A/S Feltman and NSC Senior Director for the Middle 

East and North Africa Daniel Shapiro.  Benjamin invited Miqdad to a

subsequent visit to Washington in April. Miqdad spoke at length about

his fondness for A/S Feltman, and thanked Benjamin for the invitation

to visit Washington. Benjamin added he was ready to return to Damascus

at the appropriate time. Mamlouk asked Benjamin what the agenda of his

next visit would be, and Benjamin explained that it would depend on 

the outcome of the upcoming visits.

¶18. (C) U.S. participants: S/CT Coordinator Daniel Benjamin CDA 

Charles Hunter DHS A/S David Heyman NEA DAS Maura Connelly NSC

Director for Lebanon and Syria Meaghen McDermott S/CT Staff Patrick

Worman POL/ECON Jay Munir, notetaker

¶19. (C) Syrian participants: Vice Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad

GID Director General Ali Mamlouk Syrian Ambassador to the U.S. Imad 

Mustapha MFA Americas’ Director Muhammad Khafif Miqdad Chief of Staff

Husam Al’aa

¶20. (U) S/CT Benjamin cleared this message.

HUNTER