Why was the US ambassador to Syria recalled?

HMS_Irruncible · February 16, 2005, 6:19am

In response to the Lebanon bomb, the US has recalled its ambassador to Syria. This kind of strong and specific response just seems to have come out of the blue. Obviously I have missed something in recent world events; that is the basis for my question.

I thought that breaking off diplomatic relations was the last step before war, after things like negotiations and resolutions of condemnation and so forth. Even taking into account the Bush administration’s recent big talk, I thought Iran was “next on the list,” whatever that means. Not Syria.

I think it’s a factual question with a factual answer, let’s try to talk about it without pouncing on the hotbuttons that go with this territory.

Gorsnak · February 16, 2005, 6:24am

The White House is pretending that it has evidence that Syria was behind the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri.

Squink · February 16, 2005, 6:36am

Yes and No

Q The fact that the U.S. has recalled Ambassador Scobey from Syria, is that an indication that you believe that Syria was involved in yesterday’s attack in Beirut?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Ambassador Scobey met with Syrian officials, I believe, yesterday, and delivered a very clear message about what our concerns are. Secretary Rice has decided to recall Ambassador Scobey for consultations and that’s what will be taking place. She will be leaving Syria and coming back for consultations here.

Yesterday’s attack was a disturbing development and we’ve made it clear to Syria that we expect Syria to act in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolution calling for the withdrawal of all foreign troops and the disbanding of militias. We also have made it very clear to Syria that we want them to use their influence to prevent the kind of terrorist attack that took place yesterday from happening.

Q But, sorry, again, just to pursue this a little further – you don’t recall an ambassador unless you’re showing displeasure with the country in which that ambassador is stationed. So what sort of displeasure are you demonstrating here with Syria by recalling Ambassador Scobey?

MR. McCLELLAN: We’ve had a number of serious concerns about Syria’s behavior. We want to see Syria change its behavior and play a constructive role in the region. And we want to see Syria take steps to use their influence to prevent terrorist attacks from happening in the first place. That’s what we’ve made clear – Syria and their troop presence in Lebanon is a destabilizing force in the region.

Q So are you suggesting that they didn’t take steps to prevent this car bombing and this assassination, or that they may have had some involvement?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, in terms of the terrorist attack that took place yesterday on former Prime Minister Hariri, that is a matter that’s being discussed at the United Nations Security Council; they’re having discussions about it. We are very much a part of those discussions; we’ve been working very closely with our French counterparts at the United Nations to discuss this matter with the rest of the Security Council. I think that’s going on as we speak. They’re talking about what measures may need to be taken, and we’ll let that meeting take place first.

In terms of the investigation, I don’t have any update in terms of the investigation of who was responsible for carrying out this horrible terrorist attack on former Prime Minister Hariri. What I do want to make clear is that Syria’s troop presence in Lebanon is a destabilizing force. The people of Lebanon should be allowed to control their future free from outside interference and free from terrorism.

Mops · February 16, 2005, 10:09am

Recalling the ambassador != breaking off diplomatic relations.

mks57 · February 16, 2005, 1:48pm

As diplomacy goes, “recalling the ambassador for consultations” is more serious than having the ambassador deliver a note of protest, and less serious than permanently recalling the ambassador or closing the embassy. It isn’t breaking off diplomatic relations, which usually involves closing the embassy, recalling all diplomatic personnel and expelling the other country’s diplomats. When war has been declared in the past, I believe it has been customary for each country to give all enemy diplomats, and their families, a certain number of days to leave the country.