Wikileaks: "The enemy should have to walk across your dead bodies to enter these places..."

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000661

(...)

12. (C/NF) Charge told Sleiman that the Embassy had spoken with an LAF officer who had complained that "the politicians put us into this mess; it is not the Army's job to protect them." Charge told Sleiman that this was not acceptable and that the Grand Serail (where the PM and many Cabinet members live and work) and the homes of political leaders needed to be protected, especially in view of rumors that these locations would be attacked in the course of the night. During the evening meeting with Sleiman, USDP Eric Edelman called to confer with Charge and subsequently spoke with Gen. Sleiman. After delivering a strongly worded statement to Sleiman about USG expectations concerning the protection of state institutions and the protection of political leaders, Sleiman called his commanders. In front of Charge, Sleiman reinforced his previous orders to the Ranger Regiment Commander, Colonel Saleh Kais, a Shia. Specifically, Sleiman said, "You will defend until the death, the Grand Serail, Qoraetem and Clemenceau. You are to sacrifice yourselves to protect these places. The enemy should have to walk across your dead bodies to enter these places. I repeat, open fire if you are attacked."...

Wikileaks: Hariri to Feltman: "clearly hoping to be recorded verbatim ... "Give me a chance, and I will Fuck Hizballah..."

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 002706

SUBJECT: LEBANON: HARIRI WANTS ....

.... 3. (C/NF) Seated in粑his funereal basement study, surrounded by images of his late father and fidgeting nervously with his prayer beads, Saad said that there needs to be "a different ball game" in the South. Responding to the Ambassador's complaints about LAF chief Michel Sleiman's recent 8/17 'Amr ul-'Amaliyyat' (Operations' Order) saying that the LAF would deploy "beside the resistance," implying tacit approval of an armed Hizballah, Saad said that Sleiman is hardly in a position to say anything else right now. So long as the army remains militarily weaker than Hizballah, he said, the LAF will have to maintain such a less-threatening posture. But once the army has "some teeth and some morale," Saad urged, then he promises to "smack Hizballah down."Growing morestrident (and clearly hoping to be recorded verbatim), Saad assured the Ambassador, "Give me a chance, and I will f*** Hizballah."

4. (C/NF) Bothered that the USG has not come through yet on items he has asked for previously -- Saad mentioned specifically machine guns and helicopters -- for the military and security forces, Saad urged that the U.S. do more to help strengthen these institutions. The Ambassador said that, indeed, we were increasing our assistance to both the LAF and ISF. But, he noted, it is difficult to find sympathetic ears in Washington when senior Lebanese officials like General Sleiman (not to mention President Lahoud) are still crowing about the merits of the resistance. It also makes it harder for us to convince the Israelis of the LAF's seriousness in containing Hizballah. Ticking off numerous speeches since Sleiman's that strike a different tone (his own, PM Siniora's, Walid Jumblatt's, Defense Minister Murr's), Saad implied the Ambassador is blowing Sleiman's statement out of proportion. He said that all that is needed is for the USG to lean on some of the Gulf Arab states -- Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, and Saudi Arabia -- to cough up military equipment for the ISF and LAF.... 5. (C/NF) Referring to lukewarm statements from Lebanese ministers, the Ambassador asked why the GOL is treating UNSCR 1701 as a burden rather than a blessing to help Lebanon secure its sovereignty. Why, for instance, is the GOL not willing to quietly ask for UNIFIL assistance at the ports, airports, and Lebanese-Syrian border to stop Iran and Syria from supplying arms to Hizballah and others? This is a key point. Saad replied that this is a sovereignty issue, adding shockingly (surely in reference to violations of sovereignty, not intent) that "there is no difference between UNIFIL and Syria." The Ambassador told Saad that this answer would not suffice in getting the Israeli blockade lifted, and if the GOL wants to achieve that objective, then they need to ensure effective monitoring at points of entry. 6. (C/NF) Saying that "we are the ones who control the port and the airport," Saad complained emotively that the U.S. policy has led to an "embargo that has suffocated the Cedar Revolution for one month." The embargo does not hurt Hizballah but cripples March 14. Saad assured the Ambassador that "99 per cent" of arms smuggled into Lebanon come across the Syrian frontier. Only very few come through the port and airport, and the GOL has made recent significant changes in security at BIA. When the Ambassador told Saad that ISF chief Ashraf Rifi had informed us that the BIA cargo terminal remains under the influence of LAF officers sympathetic to Hizballah (reftel), Saad picked up the phone and called Nabih Berri directly. Speaking in Arabic, Saad cle粑rly lied to Berri on the phone, saying that "the United Nations had told him to just change the Shi'a officers at the cargo terminal," and also that "that will be the end of the issue. (Comment. Striking throughout this meeting wasSaad's absolute disregard for Siniora's prime ministerial prerogative. End Comment.) 

--------------------------------

11. (C/NF) Locked away in his palace, 'Sheikh Saad' was in an erratic mood. His claim that the USG's failure to get supplies to the LAF leaves Michel Sleiman with no choice but to say the LAF would deploy "beside the resistance" is simply preposterous, and the Ambassador pointed out to Saad that it would have been better had Sleiman simply not mentioned "the resistance" at all. (Sleiman himself seems to have gotten the message about the outrageousness of comments, for he is busily spinning his comments -- delivered last Thursday -- as meaning that the army would stand with the "heroic people of the south," a dubious interpretation.) In addition, we were shocked by Saad's total dismissiveness of Siniora, particularly in phoning Speaker Berri, lying to him and asking him outright to "change the Shi'a officers" without consulting Siniora on this action. Saad tried to get through to Acting Interior Minister Ahmad Fatfat following his call with Berri, presumably to inform Fatfat of his decision. Throughout the meeting, Saad referred to GOL actions over the past week (since his return from Paris) as if he himself had carried them out, not Siniora. One wonders whether Siniora might have preferred Saad to remain outside of Lebanon conducting his so-called "diplomatic resistance.".......... (Am I the only one who sees Feltman's contempt of 'Sheikh Saad'?)

Wikileaks: US, UK, French & UN envoys: "A weak Lebanese Presidency is good for Lebanon"

¶1. (C/NF) Over a 10/25 dinner hosted by the British
Ambassador in honor of visiting UK Middle East envoy Michael
Williams, the French Charge, UN Special Coordinator, UK
Ambassador, Williams, and Ambassador Feltman all agreed: LAF
Commander Michael Sleiman is the top choice of Syria and
Hizballah for the presidency. Beyond that, differences
emerged among the dinner participants regarding the
presidency... The participants also
agreed that the pro-Syrians in Lebanon as well as General
Aoun like the idea of postponing presidential elections until
the March 14 majority no longer exists. On another topic,
all the dinner guests agreed that UNIIIC Brammertz' reports
have been a disappointment, with Brammertz' next report
likely to be another chronicle of UNIIIC internal actions
aimed at disguising rather than revealing investigative
results...
¶2. (C/NF) On the occasion of the two-day visit to Lebanon
of UK Middle East envoy Michael Williams, UK Ambassador
Frances Guy hosted a small working dinner attended by French
Charge d'Affaires Andre Parant, UN Special Coordinator for
Lebanon Geir Pedersen, and Ambassador Feltman. The focus of
the dinner discussion was on the presidency. Asked what his
message was for the Lebanese, Williams responded that he is
urging that a "consensus president" be identified within the
constitutional schedule. The other guests all cautioned
Williams that the benevolent-sounding word "consensus" has
become a buzzword for a Hizballah/Syria veto over the
presidency...
¶3. (C/NF) All participants agreed that the international
community had to be prepared to support any president who
receives more than half of the parliamentary vote, while
hoping that as many MPs can rally behind a single candidate
as possible. Debating the merits of a "half-plus-plus"
approach, all agreed as well that the president elected may
not reach the two-thirds votes or attendance insisted upon by
Parliament Speaker Berri...
... ... What's really so wrong with that, Pedersen
argued. Any of the seven would be preferable to Emile
Lahoud, and some -- like the notoriously corrupt Bouez -- are
"not serious" candidates...
¶6. (C/NF) The dinner participants agreed, with the UK and
French participants quoting reporting from their Damascus
counterparts, that Syria's current top choice seems to be LAF
Commander Michel Sleiman. So much of the political puzzle
falls easily in place when Sleiman is viewed as Syria's
candidate. There was a considerable debate about "how
Syrian" is Michel Sleiman, with the consensus being that he
is not a subsidiary of Syria in the same fashion of Lahoud.
The Beirut-based dinner participants agreed that Sleiman's
problem is that he is weak and malleable, subject in
particular to pressures from Hizballah. He's "a relatively
safe choice" for Hizballah, Parant noted...
shouldn't worry" about a Sleiman presidency, that even a weak
presidency starts Lebanon on the road to political recovery....
¶9. (C/NF) The discussion on the possibility of Emile Lahoud
staying in Baabda Palace beyond his midnight November 23 term
expiration was relatively brief. All participants agreed
that many parties in Lebanon and beyond are quite comfortable
with finding a way to extend the status quo until the time
that the March 14 majority ceases to exist. At that point,
it becomes easier, they agreed, for the pro-Syrians to
install the president and prime minister of their choice. If
Michel Sleiman does not become president now, then the
extended status quo option becomes more likely. Pedersen
noted that even some March 14 leaders may like the additional
time, in the hopes that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon
"starts to show some teeth." General Aoun certainly likes
the idea, Pedersen said, describing his meeting with Aoun
earlier that day..."

Wikileaks: Michel Sleiman 'threatens Ziad Baroud' & concerns that 'Hariri had not received campaign funds from the Saudis'

SUBJECT: LEBANON: DEFMIN MURR MAKES A PLEA FOR MORE U.S. MILITARY SUPPORT, DISCUSSES UPCOMING ELECTIONS 

D. 2008 BEIRUT 1780 

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

2. (C) The Ambassador, accompanied by PolOff, met with Defense Minister Elias Murr at his home in Rabieh April 4, on the eve of Murr's departure for Washington. They spoke of the many successes resulting from the U.S. assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), including the LAF's ongoing counterterrorism efforts, its work in Nahr al-Barid and other Palestinian refugee camps, ....  3. (C) Looking forward to meeting SecDef Gates and other U.S. officials in Washington, Murr noted that he would be the first Christian political figure from the Middle East to go to Washington since Obama's election. .... Murr made a plea for the announcement of an additional close-air support deliverable from the U.S. during his trip. Murr requested "some sort of aviation to sell to Christian voters during the elections." .... 4. (C) Murr feared Hizballah and Free Patriotic Movement opposition Christian leader Michel Aoun would attack him in the headlines if he returned from the U.S. "empty-handed." He stressed that he remained firmly opposed to Hizballah .....  he said, Druze leader Walid Jumblatt has been "hurting March 14 in the Christian regions" because of his perceived overtures to Hizballah. Sighing, he added, "We would win it all if (Kataeb leader and former president Amine) Gemayel and (Lebanese Forces leader Samir) Geagea were not involved -- people do not like either of them." 

9. (C) Murr said he was concerned that Saad Hariri had not yet received campaign financing from the Saudis and wondered whether the Saudis were stalling or had decided to forgo financing March 14's campaign.   11. (C) Recounting a recent conversation with President Sleiman, Murr said that the president was disappointed that the independent Christians were choosing not to run in the election, citing prominent industrialist Nemat Frem in particular. Sleiman reportedly conveyed to Murr his frustration with Hizballah, saying, "I will fight Hizballah to the end." Murr said he sensed a change in Sleiman's attitude toward Hizballah from when he was LAF Commander ...  Sleiman saw that Hizballah's only "gift" to Sleiman was the presidency ... Murr claimed that Interior Minister  Ziad Baroud had been making frequent visits to Michel Aoun's residence, which is near Murr's. When he passed this information on to Sleiman, Murr said, the president threatened Baroud with making him resign. (Note: Baroud and Murr hold two of the three ministries appointed by the president. End note.) SISON

Michel Sleiman, "miscommunicating"'?

French "Source Impeccable", some of which are 'official', have communicated (with some surprise) that in last week's 'stealthy' meeting between Presidents Sarkozy & Sleiman at the Elysee, the two men agreed on the need to reinforce the relations between Beirut & Damascus and support all moves that do lead to chipping away at Syria's isolation.

HOWEVER, the French host showed some weary interest in Sleiman not so subtle "complaints" about Hezbollah's arsenal.

This comes on the heel of Sleiman's return from his other 'meaningful' trip to Washington and the prevalent belief in his entourage that the United States & Israel are going to swiftly deal with Iran & Hezbollah ... comes this spring! Some members of Sleiman's delegation to the Nation's Capital are even peddling these "conclusions" in Lebanon. Sleiman & the licensed-to-speak members of the delegation are adamant that "this is what they understood from US Officials at the Pentagon & the NSC.

Incidentally, US OFFICIAL sources deny that they even if remotely alluded to military options and have blamed all this on an "apparent total collapse in communication with the Lebanese president's men." (quote, unquote)

Le Point: Michel Sleiman "impliqué dans une affaire de faux passeports, ne peut venir en France… L’action en justice suit son cours »

"Liban : Paris exige."
De retour à Paris, je trouve une télécopie, émise par un inconnu, montrant une page (20) de la revue française « Le Point » du 18 ou 8 novembre 2007 (la copie ne montre pas bien la date).

Dans cette page, « Le Point » raconte que le général Michel Sleiman, « impliqué dans une affaire de faux passeports, ne peut venir en France… L’action en justice suit son cours ».

L’étonnant est que le gouvernement libanais, le général Sleiman et l’opposition n’en aient jamais parlé ni pour confirmer ni pour contredire. Qu’est-ce à dire ?

Veut-on élire le général Michel Sleiman comme Président de la République libanaise pour ensuite le « faire chanter » ou détruire ce qui reste de l’image de la Présidence de la République ?

Le plus étonnant est que la France menace l’opposition libanaise, par la bouche de Monsieur Bernard Kouchner, d’élire le général Sleiman, « sinon elle retournerait à l’ONU » (L’Orient-Le Jour du 15 janvier 2008). Pour faire quoi ?

La France voudrait-elle faire de nouveau « coloniser » Le Liban et par qui ? L’ONU ou les Etats-Unis ? C’est en fait la même chose, car l’ONU obéit pratiquement aux Etats-Unis. Quant à l’Europe…

Bien sûr, le Liban est trop petit et trop faible pour désobéir, surtout que les Américains et leurs alliés, dont les Saoudiens, les Israéliens et les gouvernements Hariri et Siniora, qui se sont succédés depuis 18 ans, ont tout fait pour le cribler de dettes et le détruire, chacun dans sa spécialité. La désobéissance du peuple de ce petit pays n’en est que plus énervante ! A-t-on idée de préférer la liberté à la vie !

Avant de nous menacer, messieurs du gouvernement français, commencez par nous dire si le candidat que vous exigez est persona grata en France ou non.

Quant au gouvernement Siniora et ses alliés libanais, ils feraient bien d’écouter leur peuple avant qu’il ne soit trop tard pour eux et pour leur pays.

Je demande au général Michel Sleiman, que je respecte et que j’admire, de mettre les choses au point sur ce sujet. Je lui demande aussi de m’excuser, mais l’intérêt du pays prime tout autre intérêt.

(FLC's copy of the fax,)

Wikileaks: Geagea' to Sison: "We just need your support to get arms for these fighters. If the airport is still closed, amphibious deliveries could be facilitated"

C O N F I D E N T I A L  BEIRUT 000642

SUBJECT: LEBANON: GEAGEA PROPOSES ARAB PEACEKEEPERS; A STRONG SINIORA IS PLANNING A TELEVISED ADDRESS SATURDAY

2. (C) Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, accompanied by advisor Elie Khoury, made a surprise visit at 2030 on May 9 to the Embassy, immediately following the five-hour meeting with 50 members of March 14 at his residence (reftel). The Charge told Geagea that the March 14 declaration was very good. Geagea reported that March 14 sent a delegation to Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and another, led by his wife, MP Setrida Geagea, to Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander Michel Sleiman. Geagea said the latter delegation was blunt in delivering the message to Sleiman. The delegation implored General Sleiman to ensure the security of the Grand Serail, where Prime Minister Siniora lives and works, and the residences of all of the key political figures. If these institutions and their leaders stand fast, he said, we will win this round. The Charge concurred, saying that the Grand Serail in particular is a national symbol as well as a place of business. 3. (C) Geagea confirmed that Hizballah was pressuring PM Siniora to resign, but that while some of Siniora's (unnamed) advisors reportedly were contemplating the option earlier this morning, the PM is refusing. He added that Saad, who he noted is "keeping very strong," also opposed a resignation from Siniora. Geagea requested the Charge to put a great deal of pressure on Sleiman and to back Siniora up "all the way." He also suggested the Charge talk to Saad and March 14/Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt to "keep their spirits high." 4. (C) Geagea proposed requesting friendly Arab countries to dispatch an Arab peacekeeping force to Lebanon. He recommended lobbying Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, and other countries supportive of Lebanon, to agree to send troops. He estimated that 5,000 troops would be sufficient. Geagea said that such a force would be a practical way to strengthen the Siniora government. If the Arab countries agree to send a peacekeeping force, Geagea said, "Hizballah will be in trouble. It will be a victory, even if the Arab troops don't wind up coming." He added that a UN or EU force were not good options. 5. (C) Geagea then asked to speak privately to the Charge. It was important for everyone to push the LAF to do its job, said Geagea. However, he wasn't sure that the army would succeed. If the army failed to protect Christian areas, Geagea said he wanted to make sure Washington knows he has between 7,000 and 10,000 well-trained Lebanese Forces fighters who could be mobilized. "We can fight against Hizballah," he stated with confidence, adding, "We just need your support to get arms for these fighters. If the airport is still closed, amphibious deliveries could be facilitated." The Charge assured Geagea that the U.S. was encouraging Sleiman and the LAF to protect state institutions and the citizens of Lebanon. (Note: At 2315, Geagea telephoned the Charge to relay that his morale had been boosted by a telephone call from NEA A/S Welch. End note.)

Michel Sleiman's new refrain: 'Thou shall only sing my praise!'

"... A Lebanese singer was briefly detained on Wednesday for slander over a song posted on YouTube in which he urges President Michel Sleiman to "go home," his attorney told AFP. "General prosecutor Said Mirza ordered Zeid Hamdan detained for a song posted more than 18 months ago," Nizar Saghieh said.
"This is shocking," he added. "This case concerning the reputation of the president suddenly erupts while in the entire region you have heads of state being brought down and the people calling on them to leave. "It is surreal in Lebanon to have this taking place."...
The reggae-style English language song ends with the following lyrics: "General Sleiman, you're a miracle man for peace in the nation. General Sleiman you're a miracle man. Gene, gene, general go home."...

'First prize for schmuckery!'
"It's hilarious really," a company official said, requesting anonymity. "Here you have all these revolutions going on in the Arab world and we have this in Lebanon."
Last year, three people were detained in Lebanon for using the social networking website Facebook also to allegedly slander the president..."

Wikileaks: Murr: "These are Sleiman's three C's; caution, coward, collusion..."

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000681

SUBJECT: LEBANON: MINDEF MURR MEETING ON 11 MAY 2008

(...)

3. (C) Murr set the stage for our early Sunday morning by telling us about his newest neighbors. Evidently, Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader Michel Aoun has received 200 new body guards to protect his residence in Rabieh which is not far from Murr's home. These fighters had infiltrated into Rabieh on dirt tracks that were not guarded. Now, according to Murr, his nine year old daughter asks him, "who are those dirty men with beards outside?" (Comment. If Murr were really 

in distress about this new development, it is unlikely that 

he would still have his two children in the house while his 

ex-wife was out of the country. End Comment.)....

5. (C) Murr, clearly upset with the LAF's lack of performance, told Charge that Sleiman was a "coward." Charge recalled USDP Edelman's question to Sleiman about a lack of LAF action leading to questions of either caution or collusion on the part of the LAF. Murr agreed saying , "these are Sleiman's three C's; caution, coward, collusion."...

Wikileaks: Hariri desperately wants to be rid of Lahoud & Sleiman in particular ...Berri's dream is to 'finish off Hezbollah'..."

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 002602
SUBJECT: LEBANON: SAAD HARIRI WANTS LAHOUD OUT

2. (C) When asked whether the Cabinet will approve UNSCR
1701 during this afternoon's session, Saad said confidently
that, "it will go through." During a side conversation with
Minister of Information Ghazi Aridi before the Hariri
meeting, Aridi told the Ambassador that there will be "no
problem" in gaining unanimous Cabinet approval of the
resolution, adding that Nabih Berri has played a particularly
important role in gaining Hizballah acquiescence.
3. (C) Looking ahead to the period following the hoped-for
LAF/UNIFIL-plus deployment and Israeli/Hizballah withdrawal,
Hariri hopes to weaken Syrian and Iranian influence in
Lebanon while strenghtening the central government as much as
possible. He believes that Hizballah, though it will claim
victory, has in fact "been hurt big time" and will emerge
from this conflict significantly weaker both militarily and
politically. According to Hariri, "Nabih Berri is furious
with Hizballah." While Berri will maintain a united Shi'a
front for some months following the conflict, Berri will put
pressure on Hizballah to keep in line and, ultimately,
"Berri's dream is to finish off Hizballah" and reclaim Amal's
primacy among the Shi'a. Hariri said that Berri had
compelled Hizballah to accept the LAF deployment plan, and
that this spells "the beginning of the end" for HIzballah.
"If we play our cards right," Hariri added.
4. (C/NF) Hariri stressed that Berri should be strengthened
by ensuring a successful LAF deployment to the South and by
channelling international assistance for reconstruction
through mechanisms in which Berri has a role.
(Note. Ghazi Aridi, with whom the
Ambassador spoke briefly while at Hariri's house, also
mentioned establishing an "Arab and International Fund for
Lebanon," managed by the GOL and specifically Berri, to which
countries could donate. "Iran couldn't refuse to put money
in this fund." End note.) The Ambassador raised with Hariri
the concern that the Berri family, and Berri's wife Randa in
particular, should not be able to benefit financially, as
they have with previous development funding for the south....
6. (C/NF) Asking that his comments be kept close-hold,
Hariri whispered that, "We need to remove Lahoud, (LAF
commander Michel) Sleiman, and (Head of the G2 army
intelligence) George Khoury. They are in bed with Syria.
They are in bed with Hizballah." While Hariri hopes to
eventually recruit Nabih Berri's critical support to achieve
this, he asked that international pressure on Iran and Syria
continue unabated. "We need to keep Iran and Syria busy with
themselves." On Iran, he urged that we secure a tough new
Security Council resolution on the nuclear program in early
September. On Syria, he pressed for the quick establishment
of an international tribunal to try those suspected in his
father's assassination. He said that if the Security Council
were to pass the resolution on the tribunal now, the Cabinet
would be able to accept it and forward it for parliamentary
approval. Hariri wants to "have a sword on Iran's neck and
on Syria's neck" in order to weaken their Lebanese proxies.
7. (C/NF) While focusing on the long term, Hariri brushed
off some key concerns. Asked about controlling arms
smuggling, he professed surprise that Beirut International
Airport might still be used for such a nefarious purpose and
thought that Hizballah no longer controlled the airport.
Regarding his plan for a Berri-led development effort, Hariri
minimized concerns about the Speaker's history of siphoning
off funds from his post-civil war Council for the South,
saying that it had only been "10 to 15 per cent" and that,
despite this, Berri "succeeded" in building up the South.
8. (C/NF) Hariri desperately wants to be rid of Lahoud and
Sleiman in particular, and is relying on international
pressure on their patrons Syria and Iran. However, Hariri
said he has no idea of who should replace Lahoud and Sleiman.
Acknowledging that the Sunna and Shi'a can not simply choose
the replacements without consulting the Maronites, from whose
ranks the President and LAF chief should come, Hariri
suggested that "our Maronite friends" do not yet have their
house sufficiently in order to agree on successors to the
posts.
9. (C/NF) On a positive note, Hariri praised with seeming
sincerity the performance of PM Fouad Siniora during this
crisis. "If I had picked Bahije (Tabbarah, former Minister
of Justice) a year ago," he said, his voice trailing off as
he shook his head. We think that this was a tacit
acknowledgement, Saad-style, that the strong advice we and
the French gave him to pick Siniora over his initial choice
of Tabbarah was the right one. But what was encouraging in
Saad's praise for Siniora was the suggestion that the two of
them will now be able to cooperate without the internal
rivalries and jealousies that had plagued their relationship
earlier this year. In general, we think Siniora has done a
better job when he hasn't had to worry about the less
experienced but politicaly more powerful Saad second-guessing
him. But we also believe that it's good Saad is home: the
image of Saad Hariri staying at the Plaza Athenee in Paris
and globe-trotting with an sizable entourage, while hundreds
of thousands of Lebanese felt forced to leave their homes,
was not good for the future of the March 14 movement.

Wikileaks: US & France: "Election of Michel Suleiman 'would seal the fate of Aoun ..who will become irrelevant"

C O N F I D E N T I A L  PARIS 988 
SUBJECT: FRANCE/LEBANON: FRENCH PRESIDENCY POSITIVE BUT  NOT NAIVE ABOUT DOHA ACCORD, WANTS ONGOING U.S./FRENCH CONSULTATION ON IMPLEMENTATION 
¶1. (C) French Presidency NEA adviser Boris Boillon told us  May 22 that the GOF regarded the recently Doha accord on  Lebanon as mostly favorable to the March 8 opposition but not  entirely so. Most important, he stressed, the agreement  stopped the fighting and got the political process for  addressing Lebanese political differences back on track.  Hizballah and Syria may have "won" overall, but they fell  short of achieving their maximal goals. Boillon agreed with  those analysts who inter alia believe that recent events have  largely sealed the fate of Michel Aoun, who will rapidly  become irrelevant in the Christian community once Sleiman is  elected.... 
¶2. (C) With respect to the preserving U.S./French unity,  Boillon referred to a phone call the previous evening between  French Presidency diplomatic adviser Levitte and NSA Hadley.  He observed that Levitte sought to emphasize the positive  points in the accord and project "enthusiasm" in its  implementation, contrasted with what he claimed were concerns  on Hadley's part that the opposition had obtained too much  and that the agreement constituted a "loss" or setback for  March 14 and western interests in Lebanon. Despite its  outward public enthusiasm, Boillon confided that the GOF has  no illusions about the situation. The factions may have  ceased fire but the danger remains because of the  irresponsibility of Lebanon's political leaders. This was  most evident with respect to the March 8 side, taking its  orders from Damascus and Tehran, but also applied to March 14..... 
¶3. (C) French FM Kouchner will fly to Beirut to be there  for the presidential election May 25. Boillon explained that  French President Sarkozy had considered going but changed his  mind in part because the date would coincide with "Liberation  Day" (i.e., the anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from  southern Lebanon in 2000). Sarkozy had absolutely no  intention of being in Beirut the same day Hizballah SecGen  Nasrallah gave a triumphal speech. (NB: This was before  word filtered out that Hizballah had decided to postpone its  "festivities" until May 26.) With a sneer, Boillon accused  Lebanese parliament of having chosen this date  "intentionally." He confirmed, however, that Sarkozy intends  to visit Beirut to congratulate Sleiman after his election.  (Comment: Boillon was ambiguous as to timing, but Sarkozy's  schedule and things Boillon said later suggested it would not  occur before late next week. End comment) Sarkozy would not  have a detailed message for Sleiman, but, when pressed,  Boillon said Sarkozy would do more than shake hands and smile  for the camera. He imagined Sarkozy would point out that the  world had high expectations in terms of Sleiman's commitment  to implementing the Doha accord and safeguarding the  integrity of the Lebanese state. 
¶4. (C) In terms of next diplomatic steps, Boillon affirmed  French skepticism about the utility of seeking significant  UNSC action on Lebanon at the moment. He agreed with our  view that the formation of a new Lebanese government will  take some time. Given the fragile state of things, he  contended it would be inadvisable to push measures through  the UNSC that would allow March 8 to ratchet up tension anew  with the risk of renewed violence. Boillon also reasserted  the now-standard French line about the UNSC suffering from  "Lebanon fatigue." He thus added his voice to the French  chorus of those who doubt we could get the nine votes needed  to pass a UNSCR calling for significant action, and he  dismissed out of hand passing anything beyond a general  statement of support for the Doha accord at this time. Any explicit link between implementing the Doha accord and  previously adopted UNSCRs dealing with Hizballah's weapons  would be tricky in New York and potentially dangerous in  Beirut....  
¶5. (C) We flagged for Boillon the possibility that  Washington may once again ask EU member states to designate  Hizballah a terrorist organization in light of the events of  recent weeks. He reiterated what we have consistently heard  from MFA DAS-equivalent for the Levant Ludovic Pouille,  namely that designating Hizballah was completely out of the  question for France. Boillon rehashed a number of familiar  French arguments for not designating Hizballah, most notably  to allow the GOF to maintain contact with a political  movement that, despite its terrorist aspect, represents at least 20 percent of the  Lebanese population and is the principal Shi'a  representative...... Boillon offered the view that U.S.  encouragement to designate Hizballah now would be poorly  received within the EU as well as in Lebanon. (Comment: We  did not have time to argue with many of the historical and  logical fallacies in Boillon's argument, some of which may  stem from his ignorance of Hizballah's and Hamas' histories.  In any case, his bottom line on French opposition to any  attempt to secure an EU designation of Hizballah as a  terrorist organization is pretty clear cut. End comment)..."

Wikileaks: Samir Geagea': "Michel Sleiman is not a leader ...& we are running out of money...we prefer Siniora, but Mikati would do"

C O N F I D E N T I A L --- BEIRUT

SUBJECT: LEBANON: MARCH 14 CHRISTIANS STILL FACE INTERNAL CHALLENGES

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison

3. (C) The Ambassador, accompanied by PolOff, met with Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea and his aides Elie Khoury and Joseph Nehme on April 16 at Geagea´s headquarters in Maarab. Ambassador remarked that the Embassy had commemorated earlier in the day the 26th anniversary of the April 18, 1983 Embassy bombing. Geagea recalled that on that day he had been surrounded by the forces of his then enemy,

now March 14 political ally, Walid Jumblatt, in the "War of the Mountains" in the village of Deir Qamar in the Chouf.

4. (C) According to Geagea, Jumblatt is firmly in the March 14 camp, but is "hedging his bets." "Like all of us," Geagea said, "Jumblatt feels the consequences of March 14 mismanagement."

5. (C) Noting that the four March 14 leaders (majority leader Saad Hariri, former president and Kataeb leader Amine Gemayel, Jumblatt, and himself) had not met as a group since April 2, Geagea calculated that they have resolved "70 to 80" percent of their disputes in forming the candidates´ lists for the June 7 parliamentary elections. All of the conflicts between Kataeb and LF have been resolved, he said, adding "at our expense" under his breath, and now he is meeting with Saad to finalize the list for the northern district Akkar where, he argued, LF has a strong presence.

6. (C) The Ambassador urged Geagea to continue focusing on the big picture for March 14, rather than on individual party gains. Geagea requested that the Ambassador try to convince March 14 member and independent Chouf candidate Ghattas khoury (Ref A) to withdraw his candidacy because he was competing against the other March 14 candidates.(Geagea' is a champion of 'NO foreign interference in Lebanese affairs!)....

8. (C) Geagea said that Baabda was problematic because despite a "respectable March 14 list," the Aounists and Hizballah supporters outnumber March 14 followers....

9. (C) Noting that his wife, MP Setrida Geagea, and LF member and Environment Minister Tony Karam have been encouraging Lebanese expatriates from North America, Europe, and the Gulf to vote in Lebanon, Geagea estimated that thousands will vote, particularly in key districts such as Zgharta, Zahle, and Batroun. He added that there are thousands of Sunni Lebanese living in Syria who would come to vote in the elections, but would likely "be influenced" by the Syrian regime. Geagea privately confided to the Ambassador that March 14 has run out of money. ....

10. (C) Commending the U.S. for its firm policy stance on Hizballah, Geagea suggested that the U.S. refrain from attacking March 8 in the lead-up to the elections, and instead aim to clarify that its position on Hizballah is not linked to the elections. Addressing clashes between the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the drug-related criminals in Baalbeck starting April 13, Geagea absolved Hizballah of all blame, commenting that despite its heavy presence in the area, Hizballah is staying out of the conflict.

11. (C) Geagea was unconcerned about the Syrian troop buildup along the border, saying that it was in support of the LAF´s action against the drug criminals. (Comment: This is a marked contrast from October 2008, when Geagea feared an imminent Syrian invasion after its troops deployed along the northern Lebanon border to fight smuggling, Ref B. End comment.)

12. (C) However, Geagea said, Hizballah violated Egypt´s state sovereignty by sending Hizballah members illegally into Egypt. Even if they were only intending to help the Palestinians, Geagea assessed, it was wrong. However, Egypt´s threat to arrest Hizballah SYG Hassan Nasrallah and his deputy Sheikh Naim Qassem was "a declaration of war" and would provoke some sort of response from Hizballah, he believed....

14. (C) Noting that President Michel Sleiman spoke about strengthening the role of the president, Geagea said Sleiman is "not a leader" and his proposal would not amount to anything because Sleiman would not secure a two-thirds majority in parliament required to amend the constitution...

16. (C) "We should not assume that (Speaker Nabih) Berri stays on as speaker, or that Saad is the next PM," Geagea said with conviction. At a minimum, he proposed, March 14 should condition acceptance of Berri on certain points, such as requiring that parliament stay open...

17. (C) Geagea posited that March 14 members needed to discuss at length whether Saad is the best option for the next PM. He pointed out that March 14 could get concessions from March 8, such as no insistence on having a blocking third in the cabinet, if it agreed to name independent figure and former PM Najib Mikati as the next PM. (Comment: Geagea´s hesitation to support Saad´s premiership is not new; in May 2008, he lobbied hard to keep Siniora as PM, instead of Saad -- Ref C. End comment.)

'A stroke of genius!'

 'Hezbollah's two arsenals'

"BEIRUT:  Michel Sleiman said Lebanon should strip Hezbollah and other groups of weapons used at the domestic level but stressed that arms used in the conflict with Israel should come under his defense strategy.
“Resistance arms fall under the defense strategy that is being worked out at the National Dialogue and are to be used only to defend Lebanon against Israeli aggression and only to support the Lebanese Army in line with a political decision,” Sleiman said in Argentina Thursday.
“While arms that are being used domestically [in internal conflicts] are forbidden. Be they with Hezbollah or the Salafists or others, they [weapons] must be stripped,” Sleiman added...."

"Murr’s testimony directly implicates president Michel Sleiman .."

 "... The minister’s only concern was that the invading force refrain from attacking Christian areas. Attacks on Shia Muslims was 'Hizbollah’s problem’ and Mr Murr - a Christian in a Sunni-led government - hoped that the offensive would allow the army to displace the radical Iranian-backed group that is Lebanon’s strongest force.... Almost as damaging, Murr’s testimony directly implicates the Lebanese president Michel Sleiman. In March 2008, at the time of the conversation, the Lebanese president was army chief of staff. And Murr told his American friends that he had already instructed Sleiman that the Lebanese army should not get involved 'when Israel comes.’

It has been commonly claimed that the Julian Assange’s Wikileaksrevelations have contained no dazzling revelations. But these revelations are bound to inflict long term damage on the already troubled government of Prime Minister Hariri. It is true that local reaction in Beirut has been measured, even from Hizbollah, and that Elias Murr himself has reacted with amazing insouciance.... But this muted reaction is only because the Lebanon is already facing what threatens to become the country’s greatest crisis since the end of the civil war twenty years ago...."

Ahmadinejad will travel through South Lebanon with Michel Sleiman ...

 

"... The Iranian president would be transported along with Sleiman by helicopter and would kick off the tour by visiting the village of Qana.

He will then move on to Maroun al-Ras, Bint Jbeil and Kfarkala, where he is expected to inaugurate an Iranian funded garden near the Fatima Gate. The president will also have lunch with Sleiman and dinner with Speaker Nabih Berri. He might also visit the Beaufort castle, the Resistance museum in Mlita and a number of Resistance martyrs memorials.

The source added that the tour would be accompanied by intensified security measures from the parts of the Lebanese Army, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, Hizbullah, and Ahmadinejad’s own security team.

“Iranian security and media teams arrived to South Lebanon and they coordinated the details of the visit with the Army and Hizbullah,” the source said, stressing that only a few places would be visited due to security reasons. ..."

Convicted mass murderer, Samir Geagea' denounces Sleiman's 'dialogue'...

DailyStar/ here

"...Samir Geagea will likely be a no-show at the next round of National Dialogue, amid the latest controversy over the country’s defense strategy.... While the new date for National Dialogue – June 17 – will stand, the LF’s Geagea said Friday that he had “other engagements” that would prevent him from attending. ......But Geagea’s declared intention to stay away will likely revive debate over the feasibility of discussing a national defense strategy in light of the current political polarization....

"Only I knew how to defend Lebanon ... against the People of Lebanon..."

Geagea’s criticism of Sleiman has sparked a host of angry reactions, after the LF leader said the president behaved inappropriately by endorsing the “people, army and resistance” formula of national defense. Geagea said Sleiman’s endorsement of the formula during an interview this week to mark Liberation Day, signaled that he had deviated from his role as a consensus president and neutral arbiter of the National Dialogue session, set up to discuss items such as the defense strategy. Geagea’s remarks prompted an array of statements of denunciation, as former Prime Minister Omar Karami advised the LF leader to pull his representatives out of the government if he disagreed with its policy statement...."