Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIRUT1272
2008-09-02 09:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
LEBANON: AOUN EXPECTS VIOLENCE AFTER RAMADAN
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001272
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO ACTING A/S HOOK, PDAS WARLICK
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/SCHEDLBAUER
NSC FOR ABRAMS/YERGER/MCDERMOTT
DOD/OSD A/S LONG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR KPAL UNSC MARR IS LE SA
SUBJECT: LEBANON: AOUN EXPECTS VIOLENCE AFTER RAMADAN
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001272
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO ACTING A/S HOOK, PDAS WARLICK
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/SCHEDLBAUER
NSC FOR ABRAMS/YERGER/MCDERMOTT
DOD/OSD A/S LONG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR KPAL UNSC MARR IS LE SA
SUBJECT: LEBANON: AOUN EXPECTS VIOLENCE AFTER RAMADAN
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) In a August 29 meeting, Free Patriotic Movement
leader General Michel Aoun told visiting NEA DAS David Hale
and Ambassador that he expected the volatile northern city of
Tripoli to erupt in violence after Ramadan. Aoun blamed
Saudi funding and ideology for fueling the militant elements
currently fighting in the area. Aoun said the Lebanese Armed
Forces (LAF) should establish specialized counterterrorism
units to track and target the Al-Qaeda linked fighters before
they could strike. He also said the main problem facing
Lebanon is the Palestinian refugee issue. DAS Hale told Aoun
the USG was prepared to help the LAF with additional training
and was prepared to assist the GOL to prepare for the 2009
parliamentary elections. He said that Lebanon needed to take
Israeli concerns regarding Hizballah's rearming seriously and
fully implement UNSCR 1701. End Summary.
EXPECT A BATTLE IN
TRIPOLI AFTER RAMADAN
--------------
2. (C) Visiting NEA DAS David Hale, accompanied by
Ambassador, NEA/ELA Lebanon Desk Officer, and PolOffs, met
with Free Patriotic Movement leader General Michel Aoun at
his home in Rabieh on August 29.
3. (C) Aoun said that the Salafist expansion throughout the
north is a major problem. Aoun said Al-Qaeda militants had
infiltrated the northern city of Tripoli and surrounding
areas, but added that he did not believe they would be able
to expand their presence throughout Lebanon. A battle would
occur in the north soon after Ramadan, according to Aoun.
4. (C) He also said Salafists militants in the north
received funding, as well as their ideology, from Saudi
Arabia. He did not know whether it was the Saudi government
or Saudi individuals providing the funding, but said it
needed to end in order to prevent a larger battle from
erupting. DAS Hale agreed with Aoun that financial and arms
flows to their elements needed to stop and added that whoever
is responsible for funding such groups is playing with fire.
Aoun asked the USG to approach KSA officials and ask that
they do more to halt terrorist financing in Lebanon.
LAF NEEDS SPECIAL FORCES
STYLE COUNTERTERRORISM UNITS
--------------
5. (C) Aoun said the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) needed
special forces units specifically trained to track and target
small terrorist cells before such cells could commit an
attack. He added that the LAF and Internal Security Forces
(ISF) need to broker an agreement between the opposing sides
and different factions currently fighting in the north. Any
party not willing to negotiate should be "dealt with,"
according to Aoun.
6. (C) He thanked the USG for its continued support to the
LAF, and welcomed additional training for special forces
units. He added that the Europeans could also do more to
help in this field. DAS Hale said the USG stood ready to do
what was needed to help the LAF meet the terrorist threat.
HIZBALLAH RE-ARMING,
A PROBLEM FOR ISRAEL
--------------
7. (C) DAS Hale noted Israeli Defense Force (IDF) alarm with
Hizballah's ability to rearm. DAS Hale said Lebanon needed
to make credible efforts to halt the smuggling of weapons
across and within its borders, in conjunction with UNSCR
1701. Aoun claimed Hizballah did not want another war with
Israel at this time.
BEIRUT 00001272 002 OF 002
8. (C) Aoun stated that tension is high with Israel at the
moment because of the inflammatory comments made by both
sides in the media. Aoun noted that Hizballah has everything
it wants and that Sheba'a Farms was not an "urgent enough"
issue to start a war over. DAS Hale told Aoun he agreed with
him that neither side wanted another war, but noted that
Israeli concerns about Hizballah's arms was genuine and
serious, and shared by the USG. The GOI was unlikely to sit
idly by if the GOL continues to do nothing about weapons
smuggling.
NEW ELECTORAL LAW WILL
BE BETTER THAN BEFORE
--------------
9. (C) DAS Hale told Aoun that one purpose of his visit to
Lebanon was to learn what the USG could do to help support
the 2009 parliamentary election process. Aoun said he felt
confident that a new electoral law would be passed by
parliament by September 25, and that it would be better than
the previous law. He said he would try and push for adopting
all of the "Boutros Law" electoral reforms after next year's
elections and before the 2013 elections.
10. (C) Aoun noted that next year's election would be the
first time Lebanon has tried to hold a one-day election. He
said certain conditions would be needed in order to carry out
this task, mainly political stability. If political
stability is not present on election day, then a one-day
election will not happen, he said.
PALESTINIAN PROBLEM
THE MAIN ISSUE
--------------
11. (C) Aoun said the main problem facing Lebanon is the
Palestinians. According to Aoun, the problem of the
Palestinian camps will destroy any chance at stability and
security in Lebanon if unaddressed. Lebanon could not afford
to absorb the Palestinians into Lebanese society, Aoun said.
He also said the terrorist elements inside the camps were a
problem. DAS Hale said the GOL needed to assert control
within the camps regardless of the refugees status, and that
the Israeli/Palestinian peace negotiations would help to
address this problem as well.
READY FOR NATIONAL DIALOGUE
--------------
12. (C) Aoun said he was ready for President Sleiman to begin
the National Dialogue. However, Aoun said enlarging the list
of invitees, as some of Aoun's opposition partners have
advocated, would be inefficient and suggested no more than
seven participants be invited. Aoun said all participants
needed to be serious about coming to a consensus on the
issues. Aoun said expanding the list of topics to be
discussed was acceptable, because not everything was
discussed during the Doha Agreement's negotiations. The
cabinet and the parliament should now work to put into
implementation the goals outlined in the ministerial
statement, he said.
13. (U) DAS Hale has cleared this cable.
SISON
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO ACTING A/S HOOK, PDAS WARLICK
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/SCHEDLBAUER
NSC FOR ABRAMS/YERGER/MCDERMOTT
DOD/OSD A/S LONG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR KPAL UNSC MARR IS LE SA
SUBJECT: LEBANON: AOUN EXPECTS VIOLENCE AFTER RAMADAN
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) In a August 29 meeting, Free Patriotic Movement
leader General Michel Aoun told visiting NEA DAS David Hale
and Ambassador that he expected the volatile northern city of
Tripoli to erupt in violence after Ramadan. Aoun blamed
Saudi funding and ideology for fueling the militant elements
currently fighting in the area. Aoun said the Lebanese Armed
Forces (LAF) should establish specialized counterterrorism
units to track and target the Al-Qaeda linked fighters before
they could strike. He also said the main problem facing
Lebanon is the Palestinian refugee issue. DAS Hale told Aoun
the USG was prepared to help the LAF with additional training
and was prepared to assist the GOL to prepare for the 2009
parliamentary elections. He said that Lebanon needed to take
Israeli concerns regarding Hizballah's rearming seriously and
fully implement UNSCR 1701. End Summary.
EXPECT A BATTLE IN
TRIPOLI AFTER RAMADAN
--------------
2. (C) Visiting NEA DAS David Hale, accompanied by
Ambassador, NEA/ELA Lebanon Desk Officer, and PolOffs, met
with Free Patriotic Movement leader General Michel Aoun at
his home in Rabieh on August 29.
3. (C) Aoun said that the Salafist expansion throughout the
north is a major problem. Aoun said Al-Qaeda militants had
infiltrated the northern city of Tripoli and surrounding
areas, but added that he did not believe they would be able
to expand their presence throughout Lebanon. A battle would
occur in the north soon after Ramadan, according to Aoun.
4. (C) He also said Salafists militants in the north
received funding, as well as their ideology, from Saudi
Arabia. He did not know whether it was the Saudi government
or Saudi individuals providing the funding, but said it
needed to end in order to prevent a larger battle from
erupting. DAS Hale agreed with Aoun that financial and arms
flows to their elements needed to stop and added that whoever
is responsible for funding such groups is playing with fire.
Aoun asked the USG to approach KSA officials and ask that
they do more to halt terrorist financing in Lebanon.
LAF NEEDS SPECIAL FORCES
STYLE COUNTERTERRORISM UNITS
--------------
5. (C) Aoun said the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) needed
special forces units specifically trained to track and target
small terrorist cells before such cells could commit an
attack. He added that the LAF and Internal Security Forces
(ISF) need to broker an agreement between the opposing sides
and different factions currently fighting in the north. Any
party not willing to negotiate should be "dealt with,"
according to Aoun.
6. (C) He thanked the USG for its continued support to the
LAF, and welcomed additional training for special forces
units. He added that the Europeans could also do more to
help in this field. DAS Hale said the USG stood ready to do
what was needed to help the LAF meet the terrorist threat.
HIZBALLAH RE-ARMING,
A PROBLEM FOR ISRAEL
--------------
7. (C) DAS Hale noted Israeli Defense Force (IDF) alarm with
Hizballah's ability to rearm. DAS Hale said Lebanon needed
to make credible efforts to halt the smuggling of weapons
across and within its borders, in conjunction with UNSCR
1701. Aoun claimed Hizballah did not want another war with
Israel at this time.
BEIRUT 00001272 002 OF 002
8. (C) Aoun stated that tension is high with Israel at the
moment because of the inflammatory comments made by both
sides in the media. Aoun noted that Hizballah has everything
it wants and that Sheba'a Farms was not an "urgent enough"
issue to start a war over. DAS Hale told Aoun he agreed with
him that neither side wanted another war, but noted that
Israeli concerns about Hizballah's arms was genuine and
serious, and shared by the USG. The GOI was unlikely to sit
idly by if the GOL continues to do nothing about weapons
smuggling.
NEW ELECTORAL LAW WILL
BE BETTER THAN BEFORE
--------------
9. (C) DAS Hale told Aoun that one purpose of his visit to
Lebanon was to learn what the USG could do to help support
the 2009 parliamentary election process. Aoun said he felt
confident that a new electoral law would be passed by
parliament by September 25, and that it would be better than
the previous law. He said he would try and push for adopting
all of the "Boutros Law" electoral reforms after next year's
elections and before the 2013 elections.
10. (C) Aoun noted that next year's election would be the
first time Lebanon has tried to hold a one-day election. He
said certain conditions would be needed in order to carry out
this task, mainly political stability. If political
stability is not present on election day, then a one-day
election will not happen, he said.
PALESTINIAN PROBLEM
THE MAIN ISSUE
--------------
11. (C) Aoun said the main problem facing Lebanon is the
Palestinians. According to Aoun, the problem of the
Palestinian camps will destroy any chance at stability and
security in Lebanon if unaddressed. Lebanon could not afford
to absorb the Palestinians into Lebanese society, Aoun said.
He also said the terrorist elements inside the camps were a
problem. DAS Hale said the GOL needed to assert control
within the camps regardless of the refugees status, and that
the Israeli/Palestinian peace negotiations would help to
address this problem as well.
READY FOR NATIONAL DIALOGUE
--------------
12. (C) Aoun said he was ready for President Sleiman to begin
the National Dialogue. However, Aoun said enlarging the list
of invitees, as some of Aoun's opposition partners have
advocated, would be inefficient and suggested no more than
seven participants be invited. Aoun said all participants
needed to be serious about coming to a consensus on the
issues. Aoun said expanding the list of topics to be
discussed was acceptable, because not everything was
discussed during the Doha Agreement's negotiations. The
cabinet and the parliament should now work to put into
implementation the goals outlined in the ministerial
statement, he said.
13. (U) DAS Hale has cleared this cable.
SISON