LEBANON: PM SINIORA, WITH EDELMAN, THANKS USG FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIRUT 001507

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, PM/FO
P FOR DRUSSELL, RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR KHALIZAD/WOLFF/SCHEDLEBAUER
NSC FOR ABRAMS/YERGER/MCDERMOTT/RAMCHAND
OSD FOR EDELMAN/LONG/STRAUB/DALTON
JOINT STAFF FOR RANK/NICHOLSON
CENTCOM FOR ALLARDICE/MACLEAN/PADDOCK
DIA FOR LARSON/CRONIN/KRAUSE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL UNSC MARR MCAP MOPS IR LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: PM SINIORA, WITH EDELMAN, THANKS USG FOR
SECURITY ASSISTANCE

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Under Secretary for Defense Eric Edelman met with
Prime Minister Siniora on October 17 to explain to the Prime
Minister that USG support for the Lebanese Armed Forces had
been formally institutionalized with the recent establishment
of the Joint Military Commission (JMC). U/S Edelman also
asked the Prime Minister to express Lebanon's support to
Iraqi Prime Minister Malaki for the U.S. Status of Forces
Agreement (SOFA) recently negotiated with Iraq. Siniora was
non-committal.


2. (C) Siniora thanked U/S Edelman for the USG support for
Lebanon's army and said that it would restore confidence in
the Lebanese state and help Lebanon approach bilateral
negotiations with Syria as an equal partner. Siniora then
called for progress on the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP)
and a resolution of the Ghajar and Shebaa Farms disputes with
Israel, topics he frequently raises with senior USG visitors.
End Summary.

USG Support for Lebanon Will Remain Constant
--------------


3. (C) U/S Edelman began the meeting by informing the Prime
Minister that he had just signed a Letter of Agreement with
the Lebanese Armed Forces to provide 40 mm automatic grenade
launchers. U/S Edelman said he had also traveled to Lebanon
to follow up on the October 6 discussions of the Joint
Military Commission. He said that there would be continued
support for the Lebanese security services after the upcoming
change in U.S. administration, noting that there "is broad
support for an independent, sovereign Lebanon in Washington."
Edelman said that his colleague, Major General Allardice,
CENTCOM J-5, had visited Lebanon six times since May 2008 and
that General Petraeus the incoming CENTCOM Commander, had
expressed a strong interest in continuing cooperative efforts
with the LAF.


4. (C) Prime Minister Siniora thanked U/S Edelman for his
efforts to support that LAF. He said support for the
Lebanese security services was even more critical at this
time, when there is increasing doubt and skepticism about the
state's ability to prevail against its adversaries. "We have
'held the fort' against all odds and we are determined to
continue doing so," he declared.


5. (C) Siniora said that he is also interested in rebuilding
the LAF's ability to think strategically. "They took orders
from Syria for so long, they've forgotten to think about how
best to serve the interests of their own country." U/S
Edelman responded that the USG had allocated USD 4 million
for International Military Education and Training (IMET) ) a
significant amount given the size of Lebanon. He added that
he and his colleagues had been impressed by the planning and
preparation of the LAF leadership during the recent JMC.

Edelman Requests Siniora's Support
for U.S./Iraqi SOFA Agreement
--------------


6. (C) Thanking the Prime Minister for his recent and
productive visit to Iraq, U/S Edelman asked Siniora for
Lebanon's support for the recently negotiated bilateral SOFA
agreement between the U.S. and Iraq, which is intended to
govern military cooperation after December 31, 2008. Edelman
said that Siniora's support for this agreement will
demonstrate to Prime Minister Malaki that there is regional
support this agreement and that a SOFA with the U.S. will not
be viewed as diminishing Iraq sovereignty.


7. (C) Siniora did not respond directly to the request to

BEIRUT 00001507 002 OF 003


support the SOFA. He said that Saddam Hussein had indeed been
viewed as a menace. "We all wanted to be rid of him. But
what followed has proved to be even worse. It has paved the
way for increased radicalism from Iran."


8. (C) Siniora believes that Iraq can play a central role in
the region. For centuries, according to the PM, Iraq served
as a buffer between the two great empires in Turkey and Iran.
"Without Iraq, you are now seeing the influence of Iran on
the shores of the Mediterranean with Hizballah." Siniora
said that he plans to return to Iraq soon for additional
meetings. "The Arab world turned its back on Iraq for a few
years and that was a mistake. We need Iraq back as much as
they need us." U/S Edelman agreed that it was important to
contain Iranian influence. "This is why we support Lebanon;
a successful Lebanon will be the first step."


9. (C) U/S Edelman added that much progress had been made on
the ground in Iraq and that a period of hope has begun. He
greed that radicalization was an enormous problem n the
region, but also suggested that the cure must come from the
region itself.

The Thorns in Lebanon's Side
--------------


10. (C) Siniora then turned to the Palestinian/Israeli
conflict, which he described as the single greatest concern
of Muslims worldwide. "If no solution is found, nothing else
can be achieved or won. Terrorism is a disease and force
alone is not a medicine that can cure it." Siniora said
there is an increased feeling of helplessness, repression and
humiliation and he urged USG officials to consider the
underlying causes.


11. (C) Turning to Syria, Siniora said the Lebanese genuinely
wish for good relations with their neighbor, given the shared
geography and history of the two people. "But we will not be
taken for granted or allow ourselves to be treated as a
little brother. We will not be a clone of the Syrian model."



12. (C) As for bilateral relations with Israel, Siniora said
there were a number of "outstanding issues" that have not
been resolved during his tenure as Prime Minister. He
acknowledged that the resolution of the detainee issue (i.e.,
the Samir Kuntar matter) had been controversial, but said the
U.S. should ask its Israeli allies why they had arranged the
prisoner swap in a way which discredited the Lebanese state.


13. (C) Siniora continues to be frustrated by the Ghajar
issue. "There has been no progress in two years. It costs
Israel more to keep up the security patrols than it would for
them to just resettle a few hundred Israelis ) most of whom
are smuggling narcotics." Turning to Shebaa Farms, Siniora
said he noted a lack of international will to find a solution
to this problem and he accused the U.S. and Israel of playing
into Hizballah's hands by allowing this continued occupation
of Lebanese territory. "This works for Hizballah ) Syria
and Iran do not want a solution either. Hizballah is now the
hero of the story." It is time for the U.S. to look
analytically at the problem and reach the proper conclusions,
said Siniora. U/S Edelman responded that the PM's messages
had been heard at high levels in Washington and that the
Secretary of State was working with the Israeli leadership
and UN SYG Ban Ki Moon on this subject.

Meeting Participants
--------------


14. (U) - Ambassador Michele Sison
- Eric S. Edelman,
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
- Christopher Straub,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
for the Middle East

BEIRUT 00001507 003 OF 003


- Major General Robert Allardice,
CENTCOM J-5
- Colonel Patricia Warren,
Military Assistant to the Under Secretary
- Melissa Dalton,
OSD Lebanon Desk Officer
- Lieutenant Colonel David Alley,
Defense and Army Attache, U.S. Embassy Beirut
- Jacqueline Ward,
Special Assistant to the Ambassador,
U.S. Embassy Beirut

- Prime Minister Fouad Siniora
- Rola Noureddine,
Special Advisor to the Prime Minister
- Major General Eid,
Military Advisor to the Prime Minister


15. (U) U/S Edelman has cleared this cable.

SISON