LEBANON: DISCUSSIONS WITH LAF COMMANDER SLEIMAN,

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000636 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA ALSO FOR A/S SILVERBERG AND PDAS WARLICK USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/KUMAR/PHEE NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER/GAVITO E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR ASEC EAIR SA IR UNSC LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: DISCUSSIONS WITH LAF COMMANDER SLEIMAN, JUSTICE MINISTER RIZK REF: A. BEIRUT 635 ¶B. BEIRUT 634 Classified By: CDA Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Michel Sleiman told the Defense Attache that the LAF cannot continue to contain the situation and that he believes civil war has begun. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Charles Rizk is questioning why Hizballah is handing over its takeovers to the army and said that Lebanon is entering a new chapter. End summary. SLEIMAN: CIVIL WAR HAS BEGUN -------------- ¶2. (C) The Defense Attache (DAO) met with Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander Michel Sleiman for 30 minutes this morning (May 9). The DAO reported that a very somber Sleiman said the army could not continue to contain the situation. The Internal Security Forces (ISF) have abandoned their positions, he reported, and the Sunnis have no voice now (referring to the shutdown of Future TV, Ref A). "I know civil war. I feared it for three years, and now, civil war has begun," Sleiman stated. All of the Sunni supporters (militia) that came into town to support Saad have now left, he said. Septel on Sleiman to follow. RIZK: THE BEGINNING OF A NEW CHAPTER -------------- ¶3. (C) In an 1100 phone call on May 8 to the Charge, Justice Minister Charles Rizk defined the current situation (Refs A, B) as "not the end, but the beginning of a new chapter." This situation is dangerous and serious, he said, "but not the end." The Charge agreed that although Hizballah has taken over positionally in certain locations, the March 14 forces of moderation still have the support of people on the ground. ¶4. (C) Rizk said he found it very disturbing to see the connection between the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Hizballah. The role of army, he said, is not "negotiating surrenders," and he pondered, "Does this help the long-term possibilities of LAF Commander Michel Sleiman (the consensus presidential candidate)?" Why was the army standing on the sidelines, he wondered, taking over for Hizballah and evacuating citizens from houses, party headquarters, and offices. The role of army is not to negotiate, Rizk underlined. ¶5. (C) Rizk said that he had just spoken to PM Fouad Siniora on the phone and found his mood to be quite somber. The GOL is grateful for U.S. statements of support for Lebanon and its assistance. Again, he repeated, "this is not the end but a beginning of a new chapter." March 14 and the government are now looking at the short-term and long-term. In the streets, he continued, Hizballah has scored military and political points over the past few days. On the other hand, Rizk stated, the game was not yet over politically. SISON