WikiLeaks: Mubarak warned Assad of hosting Mishal

Syrian President Assad and Former President Mubarak Cairo – Akram Ali A US diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks has revealed claims by the former-Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that Saddam Hussein offered him US$25 million in lieu of support in the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. In the document, Mubarak also accuses the Palestinians of “only caring about Arabs’ money.” The document details a meeting between Mubarak and the former-US Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales in 2006.
According to the document, Mubarak claimed to have warned Syrian President Assad against hosting Khaled Mishal and Hamas’ political offices in Damascus, insisting that Assad would pay a high international price for his hospitality.
The document paints Assad as somewhat paranoid.
 “Israeli jets were making noise in the Damascus skies as I was on the phone to him. Assad thought I had arranged the fly-over with the Israelis, which very much frightened him,” Mubarak said.
Mubarak also described Iraqis as “sharp” and in need of a strong leader and central authority. He did not think that a democratic system would be appropriate. He also did not foresee an end to the violence in Iraq, which was at its peak at the time of the meeting.
Mubarak expressed concern over the growing influence of Shiites in Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, saying that the entire region is threatened by their growing influence.
He warned Gonzales that “Islamists will stab you in the back.”
Mubarak described Hamas as “untrustworthy”, but spoke highly of his role in mediating between Israel and Palestine, which he believed led to the release of Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit.
He added that Turkey and Qatar were also becoming more involved in the Gaza issue, a role which Mubarak considered opportunistic. Mubarak believed that the two states were using the Palestinian issue to buoy their domestic popularity, and were not genuinely concerned about the Palestinians.
Mubarak also asked the US to urge Israel to calm its behaviour in the Gaza strip.
Mubarak was concerned about the deterioration of the security situation in Gaza, which he thought may have seen Gazans fleeing over the Rafah crossing into Egypt.
 “Egypt is not prepared for such a thing to happen”, Mubarak said.