MINDEF MURR CONTINUES PRESSING FOR SOF SUPPORT

S E C R E T BEIRUT 000016 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2020 TAGS: MARR MASS MCAP KJUS PREL PTER KPAL LE SUBJECT: MINDEF MURR CONTINUES PRESSING FOR SOF SUPPORT REF: A. 09 BEIRUT 1336 ¶B. BEIRUT 14 Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) Summary: Defense Minister Elias al-Murr announced to the Ambassador a plan to restructure the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) with an emphasis on special operations forces (SOF). Murr asked the Ambassador for help in convincing Prime Minister Saad Hariri not to spend a large portion of a promised $1.5 billion in military assistance from Saudi Arabia on Russian equipment. He reiterated his call for the U.S. to announce an "A-to-Z" plan for equipping the LAF SOF units. The LAF investigation into the December 26 explosion in the Hamas headquarters in Harat Hreik pointed to a disconnect between Hizballah and Hamas, Murr assessed. Murr also recounted details of his offer to fully support security arrangements for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon activities in Lebanon. End summary. LAF OVERHAUL IN THE WORKS -------------- ¶2. (S) Murr revealed that he had recently begun working at his office in the Defense Ministry after several years of operating primarily from his residence for security reasons. This move to the ministry, he said, had helped him work with his command staff to design a plan to restructure the LAF. PM Hariri, Murr assured the Ambassador, was "confirming" a Saudi promise of $1.5 billion for military assistance, and the Defense Ministry was working on a list of priority needs. In connection with the recent release of long-delayed LAF promotion lists, he said, he would offer golden parachutes to 300 generals to reduce long-term costs and thin out the top-heavy command structure. He also explained that the LAF did not require 11 heavy brigades, so he would restructure it to focus on internal security duties, partially by expanding the special operations forces (SOF). Murr estimated that he would be able to field 10-12,000 men in 10 SOF brigades, with an additional two brigades coming online within four months. These brigades, he emphasized, would contain only minimal Shia representation, so he planned to assign senior Shia officers to plum positions in heavy brigades as compensation. Murr also revealed that to improve border security, he would establish two dedicated border battalions with an initial complement of 1,500 men each and a possible increase to 3,000 each in the future. LAF Commander Gen. Jean Kahwagi, he added, had presented "no problem" to his plan. RENEWED CALL FOR "A-Z" PACKAGE -------------- ¶3. (S) Murr repeatedly asked the Ambassador to urge the PM to spend the expected Saudi largesse on U.S. materiel vice Russian equipment for the LAF. The Ambassador underscored that a key U.S. concern is interoperability. Murr implied that Hariri's business interests in Russia, combined with possible Saudi pressure, might drive him to look to Russia. While Murr discounted Russia's ability "to give him 200 tanks by next week," he predicted that Hariri would continue in that direction until "reality blocks him." Murr outlined his plan to redirect Hariri after his predicted disappointment by presenting him with a ready-made U.S. alternative. In particular, Murr described talks he had initiated with Bell Helicopter to purchase transport helicopters with the goal of later seeking U.S. assistance to arm them. Murr also reiterated his call for an "A-to-Z" plan for equipping the LAF SOF units (ref A),enumerating a wish list that included "defense helicopters, transport helicopters, anti-tank launchers, and 100 tanks that work well." His strategy, Murr explained, was for "the U.S. to provide four or five headlines and convince Saad to pick up the rest." (Note: The LAF has been waiting for the Saudi pledge to materialize for nearly two years. End note.) HARAT HREIK EXPLOSION EVIDENCE OF HAMAS-HIZBALLAH DIVIDE? -------------- ¶4. (C) Hamas Lebanon head Osama Hamdan was questioned in the Defense Ministry on January 4 regarding the December 26 explosion in the Hamas headquarters in Harat Hreik (ref B), Murr revealed. While Hamas claimed that a box sent to its office exploded, Murr said the LAF was convinced that "they were preparing 15 kg of TNT and it exploded in transit from their place to who knows where." Hamdan had told investigators that the only one who knew the truth was his chief of security, who was killed in the blast, Murr said. Murr was convinced that Hizballah had "abandoned" Hamdan, as evidenced by Hamdan's timely appearance to the LAF summons, the alacrity of a military judge (a Shia) in opening the case against Hamdan, and by Hizballah's "cooperating 100%" in the investigation. While Hizballah removed evidence from the scene of the explosion, Murr admitted, the organization was only seeking surveillance tape that might show where the bomb was destined. The gap between Hamas and Hizballah, Murr surmised, might indicate that the "Syrian-controlled" Hamas was instigating tension between Palestinians and Hizballah. Hizballah was keen to avoid confrontation in the south and had ramped up cooperation with the LAF on controlling rogue Palestinian groups, Murr claimed. LAF OFFER TO SUPPORT STL -------------- ¶5. (C) Murr showed the Ambassador a letter he sent to Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) Registrar David Tolbert on January 4 offering to take responsibility for all security arrangements connected with the STL's Lebanon activities. In March 2009, Murr explained, the STL requested creation of a special unit with the LAF protecting the STL's office, the Internal Security Forces (ISF) protecting witnesses, and the Interior Ministry serving warrants on witnesses and suspects. Murr alleged that Interior Minister Ziad Baroud, fearful of Hizballah, had balked at the plan. His latest offer to Tolbert, Murr underscored, included serving warrants on the STL's behalf. ¶6. (C) Comment: Murr appears to be starting the new year and his return to the cabinet in action mode. His plan to entice generals to retire, combined with his strategy for restructuring the LAF operationally, are some of the most significant recent initiatives for making the LAF lighter and more agile. Murr's newfound resolve to visit the south continues: he promised the Ambassador that he and President Sleiman would carry out their planned visit to the southern brigade commanders in the near future. SISON