Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BEIRUT933
2007-06-25 14:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

LEBANON: SINIORA REQUESTS INCREASED MILITARY

Tags:  IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000933 

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2017
TAGS: IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: SINIORA REQUESTS INCREASED MILITARY
ASSISTANCE AND MOVEMENT ON SHEBAA

Classified By: DCM Bill Grant, Reason: Section 1.4 (b).

SUMMARY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000933

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NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/MARCHESE/HARDING
PARIS PLEASE PASS TO SECRETARY'S PARTY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2017
TAGS: IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: SINIORA REQUESTS INCREASED MILITARY
ASSISTANCE AND MOVEMENT ON SHEBAA

Classified By: DCM Bill Grant, Reason: Section 1.4 (b).

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


1. (C) In a 6/25 meeting with CODEL Issa, PM Siniora
requested continued U.S. security assistance so that
Lebanon's army could carry on its fight against Palestinian
militants and other extremists. Siniora said that once the
Nahr al-Barid operation is completed, he wants to "turn his
attention" to the Palestinian extremist bases that are
located along the Syrian border. Siniora stressed he doesn't
necessarily want to become engaged in an endless sequence of
costly battles, but believes that if the LAF is capably
armed, it would serve as a deterrence to militant groups
which previously had operated in Lebanon with impunity.
Concerning his upcoming 6/26 meeting with the Secretary, the
Prime Minister indicated he would be asking for her
assistance with the Shebaa farms issue. Siniora assured
Congressman Issa that his government would be willing to lead
the fight at the United Nations for a transfer of the
disputed territory to UN control and hoped the U.S. would see
the potential benefits that he believes would accrue from a
settlement of this long-standing issue. He argued that
Hizballah would not enjoy any political gain from such a
settlement, but rather, moderates and the process of
negotiation would be incalculably strengthened. End summary.


2. (C) Prime Minister Fouad Siniora met with Rep. Darrell
Issa, two House staffers and the DCM on June 25 at the Grand
Serail. In an unusual departure from practice, PM Siniora
met his guests alone, but it was clear from the filled
anteroom that he was trying to get through an extensive
schedule of meetings before he left for Paris to meet with
the Secretary and French officials on June 26. Security
levels in Beirut for pro-reform leaders is currently high in
the wake of the attack the day before on UNIFIL forces in
south Lebanon and the on-going operation in Nahr al-Barid in

north Lebanon.


3. (C) PM Siniora quickly reviewed what he considered an
accelerating campaign of terror and intimidation: the June 13
assassination of MP Walid Eido, Syrian-directed and supplied
Fatah al-Islam (FAI) militants in Nahr al-Barid, yesterday's
explosion near Khaim in South Lebanon that took the lives of
five UNIFIL peacekeepers, the abrupt about face by the
pro-Syrian opposition late last week toward the Arab League
initiative, and finally, the on-again/off-again closure of
border crossings by Syria. He described the events as a
coordinated effort by Syria to intimidate Lebanon and lay the
groundwork for political chaos.

"WE WILL STAND FIRM"
--------------


4. (C) Despite the challenges, Siniora assured his visitors
that his government would stand firm. He warmly welcomed the
military assistance already provided by the U.S., but asked
if more advanced weaponry and equipment could be provided as
soon as possible. Siniora contended that FAI militants were
in many ways better equipped than his own troops and had
inflicted the majority of casualties on LAF soldiers by
sniper fire. He specifically requested the expedited
delivery of additional sniper rifles because, according to
his ground commanders, they were proving effective in
surpressing the more lethal militant fire. While expressing
his gratitude for the assistance already rendered, he
emphasized that now that the battle against Palestinian
militancy was joined, it may prove to be an extended effort
and his forces badly needed resupply of many categories of
heavily-used munitions and equipment.


5. (C) The Prime Minister, who projected confidence and
determination as he had in meetings last week, acknowledged
he did not wish for his rather limited forces (LAF numbers
approximately 57,000 troops) to be continuously engaged
fighting extremists, but argued that if the international
community would help him field a strong, capable army, the
real advantage would be an increase in deterrence against
militancy.


6. (C) In discussing his strategy, Siniora said that once
the Nahr al-Barid operation is successfully concluded, he

BEIRUT 00000933 002 OF 002


intended to address the very real problem of Syrian-supplied
and Syrian-directed militants located elsewhere in his
country, particularly Palestinian militant bases that sit
astride the Lebanese-Syrian border, a proximity which allows
them "to even receive their hot meals from Syria."


7. (C) With regard to Syria's oft-heard complaint that it
is actually Al-Qaida that is generating the recent violence,
Siniora said there were certainly Al-Qaida elements involved,
but in his opinion, Al-Qaida has become so fractured in its
organization that the current elements where primarily
independent groups with a shared philosophy, but who would
work with almost any sponsor, including Syria. Therefore, it
was essential to deal with the extremist problem now, while
the army enjoyed almost universal support and respect, and
was beginning to receive the equipment it needed for the
fight.

A RENEWED PLEA FOR CONSIDERATION OF SHEBAA
--------------


8. (C) Turning to a subject that he indicated he would
discuss with the Secretary, PM Siniora maintained that if the
U.S. and the West truly wish to change the calculus in
Lebanon, they should seize the opportunity that will soon be
afforded by the UN cartographers' report to SYG Ban Ki-moon.
The Prime Minister seemed confident the report would show
Lebanese ownership of the Shebaa Farms border area and would
be asking once again for U.S. support for movement toward the
transfer of control to the UN. Siniora said he fully
appreciates the deep concern that Hizballah would react to a
transfer with a claim of triumph, but he argued it would be a
hollow and poorly-received boast.


9. (C) Siniora argued that if the process were handled
through negotiation under the auspices of the UN, any
transfer to UN control would be perceived in Lebanon and the
Arab world as a victory for diplomacy and Arab moderates.
Additionally, it would allow his democratically elected
government to trap Hizballah with their own words, i.e. that
the reason for the existence of the "resistance" is release
of Lebanese territory held by others. Would Hizballah
attempt to shift their position to keep their armed militia?
Siniora said most probably, but insisted such a move would be
seen as "unjustified and desperate." He emphasized that most
Lebanese support the democratically-elected government and
most Lebanese, including many in the Shia community, want to
see the end of all armed militias.


10. (C) The Prime Minister conceded there were several
pitfalls, but asked the Congressman if there really was any
other alternative to force the disarmament of Hizballah's
militia. If the U.S. would assist, PM Siniora promised his
government would take the lead at the UN in asserting
Lebanon's claim and asking that international body to accept
custody of the territory pending a definitive resolution,
that may or may not be part of a larger regional agreement.
Siniora said he would like to discuss with the Secretary what
his government would do to move the process forward and hoped
that the U.S. would be receptive. As he has with numerous
other USG visitors since last summer, PM Siniora strongly
maintained that the time is now right to make a dramatic and
"critically important" breakthrough, which in his view, would
greatly strengthen Arab moderates and set the stage for
important diplomacy to follow.


11. (U) Congressman Issa has not reviewed this cable.
FELTMAN