Robert Gates on Foreign Policy Secretary of Defense-Designee

US should engage directly with Iran and Syria

RECOMMENDATION 10: The issue of Iran’s nuclear programs should continue to be dealt with by the UN Security Council.

RECOMMENDATION 12: Encourage and persuade Syria of the merit of such contributions as the following:

• Syria can control its border with Iraq to the maximum extent possible and work together with Iraqis on joint patrols on the border. Doing so will help stem the flow of funding, insurgents, and terrorists in and out of Iraq.
• Syria can establish hotlines to exchange information with the Iraqis.
• Syria can increase its political and economic cooperation with Iraq.

Palestinian state if Syria & Hamas acknowledge Israel

RECOMMENDATION 14: This effort should include unconditional meetings between Israel & Lebanon & Syria on the one hand, and Israel & Palestinians (who acknowledge Israel’s right to exist) on the other.

RECOMMENDATION 15: Negotiated peace should include Lebanon regaining sovereign control over its territory; Syria’s full cooperation with all investigations into political assassinations in Lebanon; a verifiable cessation of Syrian aid to Hezbollah, Hamas and other radical Palestinian groups; and a Syrian commitment to help obtain from Hamas an acknowledgment of Israel’s right to exist.

RECOMMENDATION 16: In exchange for these actions and in the context of a full and secure peace agreement, the Israelis should return the Golan Heights, with an international force on the border, if requested.