LEBANON: EMBASSY EAC CONVENES TO REVIEW SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 003680

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2008
TAGS: ASEC CASC KCRM LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: EMBASSY EAC CONVENES TO REVIEW SECURITY
AFTER GEMAYEL ASSASSINATION

Classified By: Jeffrey Feltman, Ambassador. Reason: Sections 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (SBU) At 1800 hrs. local on November 21, DCM convened
the Embassy Emergency Action Committee (EAC) to review the
security situation and related Embassy activities following
the assassination at 1545 hrs. local of Lebanese Minister of
Industry Pierre Gemayel. At the time of the EAC meeting,
there were scattered demonstrations, in protest against the
assassination, outside St. Joseph's Hospital in Jdeide where
Gemayel was taken after the attack against him. Lebanese
Armed Forces (LAF) personnel were controlling intersections
throughout downtown Beirut, where traffic was severely
congested.


2. (SBU) All Embassy personnel were accounted for at the
time of the EAC meeting. 11 U.S. military personnel who are
providing training at the Roumieh Strike Force and Ranger
base have been contacted and will remain on the
well-protected base.


3. (SBU) The EAC agreed to cancel all evening off-compound
moves with the exception of an engagement by the Ambassador
and one airport drop-off of a TDY visitor. Both moves will
be staged with extra precautions, including an advance team.
Two additional airport moves on November 22 will be staged
with advance teams. The EAC agreed that off-compound moves
would be reassessed at regular intervals as events evolve and
within the existing framework of already strict Embassy
Beirut security practices. The EAC noted that the
Presidential Palace has canceled Lebanon's National Day
reception on November 22; the LAF National day parade and
graduation ceremony, also scheduled for November 22, has been
canceled.


4. (SBU) The EAC agreed to recommend that the Embassy
consular section submit to the Department for approval a
warden message. Text of the proposed message reads as
follows: "In the wake of today's tragic assassination of of
Pierre Gemayel, and coupled with recent political tensions,
American citizens should exercise special caution in
traveling throughout all areas of Lebanon. American citizens
should avoid areas where demonstrations could occur, large
public gatherings, or other settings that may present risk or
danger. Travel by official Americans from the Embassy
compound is being reviewed under the usual strict procedures
as events evolve. We urge Americans residing in Lebanon to
review their planned movements and to remain vigilant during
this time."


5. (C) Background to Gemayel assassination: Minister of
Industry and Member of Parliament Pierre Gemayel was
assassinated in his car at 1545 hrs. local on November 21.
Gemayel, aged 33, was the son of former Lebanese President
Amin Gemayel and nephew of Bashir Gemayel, who was
assassinated in 1982. Gemayel was a leader of the
Phalangist/Kataeb political party that his family has been
identified with for three generations. He was a member of
the majority pro-reform, anti-Syrian March 14 coalition in
the Cabinet and Parliament.


6. (C) Background, con't: According to prevailing
accounts, Gemayel was shot in his personal vehicle on a road
in the Beirut suburb of Jdeide, just after he completed a
speaking engagement. He was accompanied in his car by two
bodyguards, one of whom was also killed and one of whom was
seriously injured. There were a reported four gunmen, who
emerged from a black Honda sedan, and fired as many as 15
automatic rounds into the Gemayel vehicle. The area of
Jdeide is well known for its strong presence of the
pro-Syrian Syrian Socialist National Party. The Gemayel
assassination occurred in broad daylight in a heavily
populated area. In this respect, it contrasts strongly with
the 17 attacks that began with a car bombing of Marwan Hamade
in October 2004 and continued through the roadside bombing
assassination of journalist and member of Parliament Gibran
Tueni in December 2005. The attack against Gemayel was the
first such political killing since the Tueni assassination.
It has already been assessed as well-planned and
professionally executed.
FELTMAN