Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01BEIRUT2254
2001-09-13 16:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

TFUS01: LEBANESE EXPRESS OUTRAGE AND SYMPATHY,

Tags:  PGOV PREL PTER LE 
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O 131638Z SEP 01
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7468
INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
FBI WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 002254 

PARIS FOR O'FRIEL
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2011
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER LE
SUBJECT: TFUS01: LEBANESE EXPRESS OUTRAGE AND SYMPATHY,
APPEAL TO CONTAIN SENTIMENT AGAINST ARABS AND MUSLIMS

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR VINCENT BATTLE. REASON 1.5 B&D

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 002254

PARIS FOR O'FRIEL
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2011
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER LE
SUBJECT: TFUS01: LEBANESE EXPRESS OUTRAGE AND SYMPATHY,
APPEAL TO CONTAIN SENTIMENT AGAINST ARABS AND MUSLIMS

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR VINCENT BATTLE. REASON 1.5 B&D


1. (C) SUMMARY. AS THE MASSIVE SCALE OF TRAGEDY UNFURLED
DRAMATICALLY ACROSS THE WORLD, LEBANESE OF ALL PERSUASIONS
OFFERED FRESH OUTPOURINGS OF CONDEMNATION AND SYMPATHY FOR
THE ATTACKS ON AMERICA. ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF OFTEN
FRACTIOUS SECTARIAN GROUPS, THE NATION UNITED IN THE
CONVICTION THE ATTACKS WERE MORALLY REPUGNANT. PRESIDENT
LAHOUD, WHILE ACCEPTING AMBASSADOR'S CREDENTIALS SEPTEMBER
12, STRESSED LEBANON'S DISAGREEMENT WITH ATTACKS ON INNOCENT
CIVILIANS, WHILE PM HARIRI VOWED TO SUPPORT THE U.S. IN
RESPONDING TO TERROR. AT THE SAME TIME, HARIRI AND MANY
OTHERS FEAR THE INVESTIGATION WILL CREATE A MENTALITY OF
REVENGE AGAINST ARABS AND MUSLIMS. THEY HOPE THE U.S. WILL
INSTEAD FOLLOW UP ON THE SECRETARY'S VOW TO INCLUDE MUSLIMS
IN A COALITION TO FIGHT TERROR. WE FOUND CONCERN IN SOME
QUARTERS THAT ISRAEL WILL USE THE RECENT ATTACK AS A COVER
FOR ACTION IN LEBANON. CAPITALIZING ON THE RARE POLITICAL
CONSENSUS, LEBANON'S MYRIAD RELIGIOUS LEADERS UNLEASHED
APPARENTLY HEARTFELT SENTIMENT TO CONDEMN THE ATTACKS,
CALLING THEM UGLY, INHUMAN AND UNJUST. IN A SURPRISING MOVE,
HIZBALLAH'S DE FACTO SPIRITUAL LEADER, SHAYKH HUSAYN
FADLALLAH, HARSHLY CONDEMNED THE ATTACKS AS WELL AS THE
CONCEPT OF JIHAD AGAINST CIVILIANS. FADLALLAH'S STATEMENT
MAY NOT REPRESENT HIZBALLAH'S LEADERSHIP, WHICH REMAINS
SILENT ON THE EVENTS. END SUMMARY.

--------------
OFFERS OF SUPPORT, FEARS OF BACKLASH
--------------


2. (C) CLOSELY FOLLOWING EVENTS IN WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK,
LEBANESE (AND LEBANESE-AMERICANS) OF ALL BACKGROUNDS CONTINUE
TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR HORROR AND GRIEF, WITH LEBANESE
OFFICIALS LEADING THE PACK. REINFORCING YESTERDAY'S OFFICIAL
STATEMENT AND REMARKS TO THE AMBASSADOR (WHILE ACCEPTING HIS
CREDENTIALS),PRESIDENT LAHOUD SPOKE OUT AGAIN LATE SEPTEMBER
12 TO EXPRESS "LEBANON'S SORROW FOR THE TRAGIC RESULTS OF THE
DRAMATIC EVENTS IN NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON." SPEAKING IN A
CNN INTERVIEW ON SEPTEMBER 12, PRIME MINISTER HARIRI VOWED
THAT LEBANON STANDS READY TO HELP THE U.S., NOTING "EVERYONE
IS SUFFERING AND FEELS THE SHOCK AND PAIN OF VICTIMS AND

FAMILIES." HE ADDED THAT THE GOL WOULD SUPPORT ANY U.S.
DECISION TO PUNISH THOSE RESPONSIBLE, AS LONG AS CONCRETE
EVIDENCE CONFIRMED GUILT. WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT CELEBRATIONS
IN PALESTINIAN CAMPS, HARIRI SAID THAT SUCH CELEBRATIONS DID
NOT REPRESENT THE FEELINGS OF THE MAJORITY OF ARABS OR
MUSLIMS, WHO WERE HORRIFIED BY "ATTACKS THAT VIOLATE
EVERYTHING WE BELIEVE IN."


3. (C) HARIRI, IN A MEETING WITH THE AMBASSADOR SEPTEMBER
13, EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT HINTS OF ARAB INVOLVEMENT IN THE
ATTACKS, AND SKEWED COVERAGE OF ARAB/MUSLIM REACTIONS, COULD
LEAD TO A PUNITIVE U.S. ATTACK THAT WOULD PARALYZE RELATIONS
WITH THE ARAB WORLD. IMPLYING THE U.S. MIGHT CONSIDER A MOVE
AGAINST AFGHANISTAN TO AIM AT BIN LADEN, HE SAID THAT A
PRECIPITOUS ATTACK IN THE MUSLIM WORLD WOULD REVERBERATE VERY
BROADLY. AMBASSADOR EMPHASIZED TO THE PM AND IN COMMENTS TO
THE PRESS THAT THE U.S. WOULD REPSECT THE RULE OF LAW AND
ENSURE A TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATION, ONLY PASSING JUDGMENT ON
THE BASIS OF AN EVIDENTIARY PROCESS.

--------------
CONCERN OF ISRAELI ACTIONS ON BLUE LINE
--------------


4. (C) IN PHONE CALLS, FAXES, AND OFFICIAL CONDOLENCE
CALLS, MANY HUNDREDS OF LEBANESE OFFERED BLOOD, CASH, AND
SHELTER. THEIR GRIEF IS GENUINE, TRANSCENDING POLITICAL
UNDERCURRENTS THAT OFTEN COLOR SUCH "POPULAR" ACTIONS. MANY
HAVE TOLD US "THE ATTACK ON THE U.S. IS AN ATTACK ON US ALL."
(INDEED, LEBANESE-AMERICANS ARE ALREADY AMONG THE VICTIMS.)
AMID THE CONDOLENCES, LEADERS ARE ASKING WHAT EFFECT THE
ATTACKS WILL HAVE ON LEBANON. SEVERAL SPECULATE THEY WILL
CREATE A MORE PERMISSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ISRAEL, WHILE U.S.
AND WORLD ATTENTION IS DIVERTED. THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE DAILY
STAR RAN THE HEADLINE "ATTACKS IN AMERICA MAY BE FELT HERE:
ISRAEL TO HAVE A FREE HAND IN THE EVENT OF TROUBLE ALONG (ITS
NORTHERN) BORDER." NABIH BERRI WAS AMONG THOSE WHO WERE
WARILY CASTING THEIR EYES SOUTHWARD, POINTING TO "ISRAELI
PROPAGANDA AND INDICATIONS ON THE GROUND" AS EVIDENCE THE GOI
MAY AGGRAVATE LEBANON. TURNING TO THE U.S. ANGLE IN HIS
MEETING WITH THE AMBASSADOR SEPTEMBER 13, BERRI SAID HIS
FAMILY IN THE U.S. WAS ALREADY FEELING THE EFFECTS OF A NEW
ANTI-ARAB SENTIMENT.

--------------
THE CLERGY SPEAKS OUT, FADLALLAH SURPRISES
--------------


5. (U) IN A RARE DISPLAY OF UNITY, LEBANON'S RELIGIOUS
COMMUNITY, UNIFORMLY CONDEMNED THE ATTACKS. SPEAKING FOR THE
SUNNI, LEBANON'S GRAND MUFTI SHAYKH MOHAMED QABBANI CONDEMNED
THE ATTACK AS AN "UGLY TERRORIST ACTION AIMED AT INNOCENT
PEOPLE." MARONITES PATRIARCH SFEIR EXPRESSED SORROW THAT THE
"INCIDENT" TOOK PLACE, DESCRIBING IT AS "SHOCKING AND
INHUMAN." IN TURN, THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE HIGHER
ISLAMIC SHIA COUNCIL (HISC) SHAYKH ABDEL AMIR QABALAN SAID
THAT THE ATTACKS ARE CONDEMNABLE ON BOTH RELIGIOUS AND LEGAL
GROUNDS, ADDING THAT "INNOCENT CIVILIANS SHOULD BE LEFT
UNSCATHED FROM POLITICAL DISPUTES."


6. (U) CAPPING THE THEOLOGIANS' DISPLAY OF UNITY,
HIZBALLAH'S SPIRITUAL LEADER, HUSAYN FADLALLAH, DELIVERED A
GROUND-BREAKING SPEECH ON SEPTEMBER 12 WHICH CONDEMNED THE
ATTACKS, AND REFUTED THE LEGITIMACY OF JIHAD AGAINST
CIVILIANS. BYPASSING HIZBALLAH'S PROPAGANDA ARM, AL-MANAR --
POSSIBLY INDICATING THAT THE GROUP DOES NOT AGREE WITH HIS
POSITION -- FADLALLAH TOLD LEBANESE TV THERE WAS NO
JUSTIFICATION UNDER ISLAMIC LAW FOR THE ATTACKS IN NEW YORK
AND WASHINGTON. SAYING "NO RATIONAL PERSON CAN ACCEPT ANY
PEOPLE BEING EXPOSED TO WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
EXPOSED TO." HIMSELF AN AUTHOR OF FATWAS IN SUPPORT OF
HIZBALLAH TERRORIST OPERATIONS, FADLALLAH CHALLENGED THE CORE
CONCEPT OF JIHAD SAYING, "THERE IS NO ROOM TO SUPPORT ANY
KIND OF ATTACK ON CIVILIANS OF ANY RELIGION. THERE IS NO
DECLARED WAR BETWEEN ANY PARTIES INVOLVED IN THIS ATTACK, AND
THUS THEY ARE COMPLETELY INNOCENT. MUSLIMS ARE NOT
TERRORISTS." STEPPING EVEN FURTHER AFIELD, THE SHIA LEADER
EMPHASIZED "WE REJECT METHODS OF THIS SORT." IN AN EVEN
RARER OUTREACH TO THE U.S. -- FADLALLAH HAS BEEN LEADING THE
CALLS FOR A LEBANESE BOYCOTT OF AMERICAN PRODUCTS -- HE
ACKNOWLEDGED HIS DIFFERENCES WITH THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S
POLICY, BUT ADDED, "WE WANT TO REACH OUT TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE TO ESTABLISH JUST POLICIES ON SECURITY, ECONOMICS, AND
POLITICS." ALSO OUT OF CHARACTER, HIZBALLAH LEADERS CONTINUE
TO REFRAIN FROM COMMENTING ON THE NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON
ATTACKS. MOREOVER, THE GROUP MYSTERIOUSLY CANCELED A RALLY
SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 12 IN BEIRUT'S SOUTHERN SUBURBS.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


7. (C) COMMENT: WHILE THE SHOCK AND HORROR HAVE BEEN
VIRTUALLY UNIVERSAL IN LEBANON, AS TIME PASSES WE EXPECT THE
FOCUS WILL SHIFT TO THE ISRAELI POLITICAL/MILITARY CALCULUS
IN SOUTHERN LEBANON AND THE POSSIBLE REPERCUSSIONS OF A
FEARED RETALIATORY ATTACK BY THE US AGAINST MIDEAST/MUSLIM
PERPETRATORS. WHILE PM HARIRI'S OFFER OF SUPPORT IS GENUINE,
ANY REQUESTS FOR GOL ACTION WILL BE VIEWED THROUGH THE PRISM
OF LEBANON'S LOCAL AND REGIONAL POLITICS, WHICH MAY PROVE A
DIFFICULT OPERATING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE GOL. COMMENTS BY
FADLALLAH (COUPLED WITH HIZBALLAH SILENCE AND ASAD'S
CONDEMNATION),ARE PERHAPS AN ATTEMPT TO DISTANCE HIZBALLAH
FROM THIS ATTACK ON CIVILIANS AND DIFFERENTIATE IT FROM THEIR
OWN CONFLICT WITH ISRAEL. LEBANON SURELY WOULD ASSIST THE
USG IF THE PERPETRATORS PROVE TO BE SUNNI EXTREMISTS,
PARTICULARLY BIN LADEN. HOWEVER, THE GOL LIKELY WILL ONLY
RESPOND IF WE LINE UP A COALITION THAT IS FOCUSED ONLY ON
INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS THAT PROVE DIRECTLY CULPABLE IN THESE
ATTACKS. THE QUESTION FOREMOST ON THE MINDS OF LEBANESE
LEADERS TODAY IS WHETHER THE U.S. COALITION TO FIGHT THIS
BRAND OF TERRORISM WILL INCLUDE THEM OR BE LINED UP
FORESQUARE AGAINST THEM. END COMMENT.


BATTLE