WPIOtlD
SECRET
Current Intelligence Weekly Summary
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
NOT RCLCAGADLC TO rORCIGN NATIONALS
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THIS MATERIAL CONTAINS INFORMATIONTHE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE LAWS.SC., THEOR REVELATION OF ntHICH IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZEDROHIBITED BY LAW.
The Current Intelligence Weekly Summary has been prepared primarily lor the internal uSc^ ol the Central Intelligence Agency. It does not represenNa complete coverage ol all current situations. Comments arKkxo"eluslons represent the immediate appraisal of the Office^oj Current Intelligence.
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY2
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY
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Syrian military leaders have run into difficultios inivilian government. Political leaders, including imprisoned President Qudsi, are refusingegime dominated by the army and arerestoration of constitutional government. The military command appears to be reneging on its promise tolebiscite on the question of union with Egypt, but pro-Nasir sentiment remains strong. Since the junta lacks
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support from both the conservative business and property-owning elements and the leftist-socialist pan-Arablsts, Its life is likely to be short.
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SYRIA
army leaders who assumed powerpril have reached an Impasse as to how
to rule the country. While they want toloak ofover theirby returning the country to civilian hands, they also want to retain ultimate contrcl. Since no strong man has emerged from among the military leaders, the present prospectilitary dictatorship without further upheavals does not seem bright.
Civilian political leaders, on the otherImprisoned Presidentloath to take responsibility. Qudsi is reluctant to reassume office without guarantees from the military that they willonstitutional regime andfrom constant Interference in governmental operations. The fate of the former cabinet, also now in prison, adds to this The military leaders seized power without considering the constitutional and practical consequences, while the political
leaders appear to havefrom recent Syriangroup seems prepared
The military command also seems overconfident regarding the extent of its suppression of the recent pro-Nasirin the country and, whilepaying some lip service to the ideaoose union with Egypt, hedges on itspromiselebiscite on tho union question. Thepresent middle-of-the-road ideas run counter to the Interests of the country's two most important politicalextremely conservative business and property-owning elements who backed the Qudsi-Dawallbl regime and brought on its downfall, and the leftist-socialist pan-Arablsts. As the present junta lacksof either right or left, its life Is likely to be short. Any change in the composition of the ruling grouphift to the left.
Apr 62
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