Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIRUT280
2006-01-31 08:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

MGLE01: HEAD OF HIGHER SHIA COUNCIL ADVOCATES NEW

Tags:  KISL LE PGOV PTER SY 
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PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHLB #0280/01 0310810
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 310810Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1757
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000280 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2016
TAGS: KISL LE PGOV PTER SY
SUBJECT: MGLE01: HEAD OF HIGHER SHIA COUNCIL ADVOCATES NEW
APPROACH FOR US POLICY

REF: 05 BEIRUT 3184

Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman. Reason: Section 1.4(d).

SUMMARY
--------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000280

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2016
TAGS: KISL LE PGOV PTER SY
SUBJECT: MGLE01: HEAD OF HIGHER SHIA COUNCIL ADVOCATES NEW
APPROACH FOR US POLICY

REF: 05 BEIRUT 3184

Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman. Reason: Section 1.4(d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) On January 30, the Ambassador met with Acting
Chairman of the Higher Shia Council Sheikh Abed al-Amir
Qabalan. Qabalan offered a critique of US policy in Lebanon
and the Middle East, accusing the USG of practicing a double
standard by not meeting with President Emile Lahoud and
himself more often while, at the same time, relying too much
on the March 14 coalition. Qablan saw a simple solution to
the Shia cabinet boycott: a declaration by Prime Minister
Siniora that Hizballah is not a militia. The Ambassador
clarified US policy, explaining that the USG wants the Shia
ministers to return to the cabinet, though that must be a
Lebanese decision. Also, the USG would back MP Saad Hariri's
calls for an internal dialogue on Hizballah's arms, as long
as everyone understand that real progress must be achieved.
However, USG has not changed its position on Hizballah, the
Ambassador noted, reminding Qabalan of Hizballah crimes that
killed hundreds of Americans in the 1980s. Qabalan expressed
a common (among Shia) belief that Hizballah was not behind
the attacks on Americans. End summary.

CRITIQUE ON US POLICY
IN LEBANON
--------------


2. (C) During a January 30 meeting with the Ambassador,
econoff, and political specialist, Acting Chairman of the
Higher Shia Council Sheikh Abed al-Amir Qabalan offered his
critique on US policy in Lebanon and in the region. Qabalan
suggested that the USG was practicing a double standard in
Lebanese affairs by not meeting with all parties equally. He
said that the Embassy and USG should meet with President
Emile Lahoud more often. Also, Qabalan wondered why NEA A/S
Welch did not visit him during his recent trip to Lebanon.
Qabalan continued that "that those who stand with you" (i.e.
the March 14 coalition) will betray the US and make a deal
with Syria. The USG must re-evaluate its policies in the
region, too. Look at the Hamas electoral victory in the

Palestinian Authority. "Occupation is terrorism," he
declared. Qabalan added that he expected the USG to abandon
Iraqi Shia to make a deal with the other Iraqi communities.


3. (C) Turning more positive, Qabalan confided that "a lot
of people" ask him why he meets with the US Ambassador. His
reply is that it is good to meet others, and that he meets
with all the ambassadors. "No one supports terrorism;
everyone wants to live in peace with others," said Qabalan,
voicing one of his frequent themes. Citing an Arabic
expression, Qabalan stated that "wisdom is covered by a
straw," meaning that the answer is plainly there. And the
answer to the current Shia cabinet boycott is only a few
words: "Hizballah is not a militia." If Prime Minister Fouad
Siniora declares those few words, then the walk-out will end,
claimed Qabalan. He then urged the Ambassador to intervene
with Siniora, saying that "although you say it is not your
business, it is your business." Turning to Hizballah's arms,
Qabalan promised that if the USG calms down its rhetoric and
"solves" the dispute over the Shebaa Farms and Kfar Shouba
Hills, then the Lebanese will have "50 solutions to
Hizballah," such as merging its military wing into the
Lebanese Army.

USG VIEWS ON HIZBALLAH
REMAIN UNCHANGED
--------------


4. (C) The Ambassador responded that, regarding the Shia
cabinet boycott, the Embassy hopes that the cabinet is
reunited as quickly as possible so that Siniora can make the
necessary reforms to move Lebanon forward. The Embassy is
not trying to push Hizballah ministers out of cabinet, as
alleged in some of the popular rumors floating around, but
rather would like the cabinet to come together. But,
ultimately, this is a Lebanese decision, and the Embassy will
leave this decision for the Lebanese to make. For example,
MP Saad Hariri in Washington called for an internal dialogue
on Hizballah's arms. The USG is willing to support this,
understands that UNSCR 1559 will not be implemented
immediately, but wants to see genuine dialogue leading to
results.


BEIRUT 00000280 002 OF 002



5. (C) Qabalan, as he has in previous meetings (reftel),
asked the Ambassador about the USG relationship with
Hizballah. The Ambassador replied that USG policy has not
changed towards Hizballah and will not change until, inter
alia, Hizballah answers for its crimes that killed hundreds
of Americans in the 1980s. Some of the suspects in those
crimes are still within Hizballah's leadership, the
Ambassador pointed out. USG relations with Hizballah are not
improving. The Ambassador added that before 9/11 more
Americans had been killed by terrorism in Lebanon than in any
other country.


6. (C) Qabalan indignantly asked why Hizballah is singled
out. After all, Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra is accused
of killing 24 people at checkpoints and abducting Iranian
diplomats during the civil war. Qabalan also professed
ignorance about the reasons the USG accused Hizballah of the
attacks on Americans during the civil war. The perpetrator
could have been Amal, the Syrian Social National Party, the
Progressive Socialist Party, or any other faction, said
Qabalan with a straight face. The difference, replied the
Ambassador, was that Hizballah killed Americans. Thus, the
USG will not accept Hizballah as a non-terrorist entity until
justice is served.

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


7. (C) Qabalan expressed many common rumors and myths in
the Lebanese Shia community as if they were fact. Many Shia
deny that Hizballah (at least in its current form) was
responsible for the terrorist attacks and kidnapping of the
1980s. There is also a pervasive belief in the Shia
community that the USG is biased against the Shia. Qabalan
also repeated, without prompting, the newly vogue phrase "the
Shebaa Farms and Kfar Shouba Hills," where he had simply
referred to the disputed area as "the Shebaa Farms" before.
End comment.
FELTMAN