LEBANON: SAAD HARIRI: WHAT IS THE U.S. WAITING FOR?

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000663 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: 05/11/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR ASEC UNSC EAIR SA IR LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: SAAD HARIRI: WHAT IS THE U.S. WAITING FOR? REF: A. BEIRUT 618 ¶B. BEIRUT 652 Classified By: CDA Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) On May 12, Future Movement and majority leader Saad Hariri and advisors Nader Hariri and Ghattas Khoury implored the Charge for stronger U.S. support within the next 24 hours, warning that U.S. help was needed "in hours, not days!" Saad suggested the U.S. fly a plane over Syria or deploy the U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet to Syrian shorelines. He warned that March 14 leaders could not hold out much longer against Hizballah, acknowledging that they might be forced to "make a deal" if they did not receive stronger support soon. Saad stressed the importance of an imminent arrival of the Qatari-led Arab League delegation, and expressed his suspicion and grave concern that it was not expected for another two days, on May 14. Saad relayed that he and fellow March 14 leader Walid Jumblatt agreed that the Cabinet should withdraw its decisions to transfer the head of airport security and declare Hizballah's fiber optics network illegal. End summary. CABINET SHOULD WITHDRAW ITS DECISIONS -------------- ¶2. (C) At 1500 local time on May 12, the Charge, accompanied by PolOff, met with Future Movement and majority leader Saad Hariri, his cousin and advisor Nader Hariri, and senior advisor Ghattas Khoury, where the three were holed up at Saad's Qoreitam residence. An energetic Saad told the Charge that the Cabinet should withdraw its May 5 decisions to transfer the head of airport security and declare Hizballah's fiber optics network illegal (Ref A). "It is useless to let the opposition keep using these decisions as an excuse to keep fighting," Saad asserted. He noted that March 14/Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) Walid Jumblatt concurred with him but that Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea did not. WHERE IS THE U.S.? -------------- ¶3. (C) The Lebanese are greatly disappointed and have no more faith in March 14 and in the international community, Saad remarked. He quoted the May 9 White House statement on Lebanon, "We hope..." "What is this?" Saad declared. "'Hope' does not deter Syria. If the U.S. decision is to do nothing, then OK -- we know." Saad strongly urged that the U.S. "just fly a plane over Damascus as a threat." He also suggested the U.S. send the Sixth Fleet to Syria's shore. "Do something in Syria, not Lebanon," he pressed. Playing on something Prime Minister Fouad Siniora had told us the previous day, Ghattas Khoury said, "Because we are Arab nationalists, we want to see you do something in Syria!" ¶4. (C) Saad said that March 14 needed a clear position from the U.S., "We need something that goes beyond encouragement to" 'Stay strong,' he argued, adding that otherwise, "We will make a deal. This is becoming humiliating. We are breaking our bones and we don't want to lose anymore." He asserted that he and Jumblatt had agreed to stay strong, but, if they do not see any support from the U.S., he wondered, why should they should still be allied with the U.S. "Siniora does not want any blood spilled on his watch," Saad added. The more we stay in this conflict, Saad cautioned, the more we will lose. ¶5. (C) Ghattas Khoury said that within the next 24 hours, he hoped the U.S. would demonstrate its support by imposing a no-fly zone over Syria, increasing its sanctions against Syria, and/or threatening Iran. Nader Hariri added, "It's about hours, not days! Otherwise, the Siniora government will fall. The PM has to feel a security network is supporting him and his government." Saad asked that the Charge tell Washington, "You know what you need to do. I don't know what you're waiting for." He continued, "Tell Washington, not me, to 'be strong'!" BEIRUT 00000663 002 OF 002 ¶6. (C) "Iran is taking over and the international community is watching," complained Saad. "In a few months, the problems will be much bigger," he predicted. Ghattas Khoury added, "We are currently in a civil war, and we need to come out!" ARAB LEAGUE DELEGATION MUST ARRIVE IMMEDIATELY -------------- - ¶7. (C) Saad remarked that it was strange that the Arab League delegation (Ref B),headed by Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim, would not be arriving until Wednesday, May 14. He expressed his concern that the next two days will allow more advances on the ground. "Why the delay?? We need them here now!" Saad implored. On the rumor that the Arab League was planning to hold a follow up round of talks in Doha, Saad insisted that he will stay in Beirut because he reasoned that if he left, the conflict would worsen. Besides, he said, holding long hours of discussion must take place after a president is elected. ¶8. (C) During the meeting, Jumblatt's Druze rival Talal Arsalan made televised remarks on Al-Arabiyya warning Jumblatt that he "must give up his arms or else." Saad reasoned that this "ultimatum" is why it will take two days for the Arab League delegation to arrive, saying, "Probably Damascus told the delegation to hold off on coming." JUMBLATT BEING SACRIFICED IN ALEY FIGHTING -------------- ¶9. (C) Saad said he did not anticipate that the fighting against Hizballah in predominately-Sunni Tripoli would get out of hand. On the other hand, he said, what happened in Aley between Hizballah and Jumblatt's PSP Druze fighters was a disaster. He does not expect that fighting there will stop as easily. Saad believed Walid has made a major sacrifice in Aley and is concerned that Jumblatt will be killed by Hizballah just as his father and other family members were killed by the Syrians. LAF RESIGNATIONS SYMBOLIC -------------- ¶10. (C) Saad said that approximately 100 Sunnis in the LAF tendered their resignations the previous day, and that he believed more were imminent. However, he noted, the resignations are symbolic -- they were not accepted by the LAF authorities and the officers are at work today. SISON