BEIRUT EAC MEETING NOVEMBER 21, 2007

S E C R E T BEIRUT 001825 SIPDIS NOFORN STATE FOR DS/CC, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/IP/NEA NEA/EX, INL POSTS FOR RSO E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2017 TAGS: ASEC SUBJECT: BEIRUT EAC MEETING NOVEMBER 21, 2007 REF: A) 07 BEIRUT 01753 AND B) 07 BEIRUT 01790 Classified By: RSO Tom Depenbrock for reason 1.4 (g) ¶1. (S) DCM chaired a meeting of the Beirut Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on November 21, 2007. Present at the meeting were POL, DAO, ODC, CONS, INL, MGMT, LEGATT, PD, USAID, GRPO and RSO. ¶2. (S) Pol/Economic Chief commented that the French initiative to settle the presidential selection impasse is faltering. Speaker Berri postponed the parliamentary session scheduled to elect a president unti November 23 at 13:00. The various political groups with a stake in the process say they are in "reactive" mode, claiming they will not be the ones to instigate problems. President Emile Lahoud is expected to step down at the end of his term on midnight, Friday, November 23rd, with Prime Minister Siniora's government taking on presidential powers while efforts continue to elect a president. However, some members of the opposition do not and will not recognize the Siniora government as legitimate and may take action. ¶3. (S) The Regional Security Officer noted that the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) will be establishing both fixed and random checkpoints. The ISF has also established a joint operations center with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) at the Ministry of Defense for better coordination. The Embassy's roving patrols, surveillance detection teams and uniformed guard forces already operate at a heightened state of readiness. RSO will continue to monitor all off compound moves, both official and unofficial, and has advised Embassy employees to keep off compound moves to an absolute minimum. RSO requested that the few Embassy employees who are returning from travel beginning on Sunday, November 25, 2007 to contact the RSO Duty Agent for the latest on the security situation (i.e. conditions between the Embassy and Beirut International Airport). ¶4. (S) The Defense Attache explained that there will be an increased LAF presence on the streets of Beirut with units being brought in from other parts of Lebanon. All leave has been cancelled for LAF personnel through this weekend. The LAF is expected to intervene if there are violent clashes between groups but may be reluctant to intervene in non violent scenarios. ¶5. (S) GRPO's assessment was that serious confrontation (i.e. Sunni vs. Shia) is not expected to materialize. Hezbollah has been working with LAF and ISF to keep the Sunni - Shia tensions from escalating. Hezbollah is cooperating with LAF and ISF units in counteracting Al Qaeda inspired groups within the various Palestinian camps. Finally, they assessed that if a President if not elected, Hezbollah may attempt to take over GOL ministries and create the "two government" scenario. ¶6. (S) Acting Consular Chief noted that there has been no spike in concern among the U.S. citizen community in Lebanon regarding the most recent Warden Message and that the message and its contents were well received. Some persons applying for U.S. passports expressed concern about the turn around time between application and issuance. ¶7. (S) Beirut is prepared to convene another EAC, if necessary, this Friday, November 23, 2007. Our next scheduled EAC is Wednesday, November 28, 2007 FELTMAN