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