

Currently released so far... 12553 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
APECO
ASEC
AMGT
AFIN
APER
ACABQ
AORC
AEMR
AF
AE
AR
AGMT
AU
AY
ABLD
AS
AG
AJ
APCS
AX
AM
AMEX
ATRN
ADM
AMED
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AL
ASUP
AND
ARM
ASEAN
AFFAIRS
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AODE
APEC
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AO
ABUD
AC
ADPM
ADCO
ASIG
ARF
AUC
ASEX
AGAO
AA
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
AIT
AADP
ASCH
AORL
AROC
ACOA
ANET
AID
AMCHAMS
AINF
AMG
AFU
AN
ALOW
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ACS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AGR
BEXP
BR
BM
BG
BL
BA
BTIO
BO
BP
BC
BILAT
BK
BU
BD
BRUSSELS
BB
BF
BBSR
BIDEN
BX
BE
BH
BT
BY
BMGT
BWC
BTIU
BN
CA
CASC
CFED
CO
CH
CS
CU
CE
CI
CM
CMGT
CJAN
COM
CG
CIS
CVIS
CR
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTER
CIA
CLINTON
CY
CPAS
CD
CBW
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CDG
CW
CODEL
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
COE
CN
CARICOM
CB
CONDOLEEZZA
CWC
CACS
CSW
CIDA
CIC
CITT
CONS
CL
CACM
CDB
CDC
CAN
CF
CJUS
CTM
CBSA
CARSON
CT
CLMT
CBC
CEUDA
CV
COPUOS
CTR
CROS
CAPC
CAC
CNARC
CICTE
CBE
ECON
ETRD
EIND
ENRG
EC
ELAB
EAGR
EAID
EFIS
EFIN
EINV
EUN
EG
EPET
EAIR
EU
ELTN
EWWT
ECIN
ERD
EI
ETTC
EUR
EN
EZ
ETC
ENVI
EMIN
ET
ENVR
ER
ECPS
EINT
EAP
ES
ENIV
ECONOMY
EXTERNAL
EINN
EFTA
ECONOMIC
EPA
EXBS
ECA
ELN
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENGR
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
ELECTIONS
EIAR
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
ENERG
EFIM
EAIDS
EK
ETRDECONWTOCS
EINVETC
ECONCS
EUNCH
ESA
ECINECONCS
EUREM
ESENV
EFINECONCS
ETRC
ENNP
EAIG
EXIM
EEPET
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
ERNG
ETRO
ETRN
EINVEFIN
ICTY
IN
IS
IR
IC
IZ
IA
INTERPOL
IAEA
IT
IMO
IO
IV
ID
IRAQI
IEA
INRB
IL
IWC
ITU
ICAO
ISRAELI
ICRC
IIP
IMF
IBRD
ISLAMISTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
ILO
IPR
IQ
IRS
IAHRC
IZPREL
IRAJ
IDP
ILC
ITF
ICJ
IF
ITPHUM
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
IACI
IBET
ITRA
INR
IRC
IDA
ICTR
IGAD
INRA
INRO
IEFIN
INTELSAT
INTERNAL
INDO
ITPGOV
KWMN
KSCA
KDEM
KTFN
KIPR
KCRM
KPAL
KE
KPAO
KPKO
KS
KN
KISL
KFRD
KJUS
KIRF
KFLO
KG
KTIP
KTER
KRCM
KTIA
KGHG
KIRC
KU
KPRP
KMCA
KMPI
KSEO
KNNP
KZ
KNEI
KCOR
KOMC
KCFC
KSTC
KMDR
KFLU
KSAF
KSEP
KSAC
KR
KGIC
KSUM
KWBG
KCIP
KDRG
KOLY
KAWC
KCHG
KHDP
KRVC
KBIO
KAWK
KGCC
KHLS
KBCT
KPLS
KREL
KCFE
KMFO
KV
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KVPR
KTDB
KSPR
KIDE
KVRP
KTEX
KBTR
KTRD
KICC
KCOM
KO
KLIG
KDEMAF
KMRS
KRAD
KOCI
KSTH
KUNR
KNSD
KGIT
KFSC
KHIV
KPAI
KICA
KACT
KHUM
KREC
KSEC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCMR
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KNAR
KNUC
KPWR
KENV
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KPRV
KOM
KBTS
KCRS
KNPP
KWNM
KRFD
KVIR
KTBT
KAID
KRIM
KDDG
KRGY
KHSA
KWMM
KMOC
KSCI
KPAK
KX
KPAONZ
KCGC
KID
KPOA
KIFR
KFIN
KWAC
KOMS
KCRCM
KNUP
KMIG
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KJUST
MOPS
MARR
MASS
MNUC
MX
MCAP
MO
MR
MI
MD
MK
MA
MP
MY
MTCRE
MOPPS
MASC
MIL
MTS
MLS
MILI
MAR
MU
MEPN
MAPP
MTCR
MEPI
MZ
MEETINGS
MG
MW
MAS
MT
MCC
MIK
ML
MARAD
MV
MERCOSUR
MTRE
MPOS
MEPP
MILITARY
MDC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MRCRE
MAPS
MEDIA
MASSMNUC
MC
NZ
NZUS
NL
NU
NATO
NP
NO
NIPP
NE
NH
NR
NA
NPT
NI
NSF
NG
NSG
NAFTA
NC
NDP
NEW
NRR
NATIONAL
NT
NS
NASA
NAR
NV
NORAD
NSSP
NK
NPA
NGO
NSC
NATOPREL
NW
NPG
NSFO
OPDC
OTRA
OIIP
OREP
OVIP
OSCE
OEXC
OIE
OPRC
OAS
OPIC
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFFICIALS
OECD
OSCI
OBSP
OFDA
OPCW
ODIP
OFDP
OES
OPAD
OCII
OHUM
OVP
ON
OIC
OCS
PHUM
PREL
PGOV
PINR
PTER
PARM
PREF
PM
PE
PINS
PK
PHSA
PBTS
PRGOV
PA
PORG
PP
PS
PGOF
PL
PO
PARMS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PAK
POL
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PBIO
PINF
PNG
PMIL
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PAO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PTBS
PCUL
PROP
PNAT
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PROG
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
PGOC
PY
PCI
PLN
PDOV
PREO
PGIV
PHUH
PAS
PU
POGOV
PF
PINL
POV
PAHO
PRL
PG
PRAM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLICY
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGGV
PHUS
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PEL
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PBT
PTERE
RS
RU
RW
RM
RO
RP
REGION
RSP
RF
RICE
RCMP
RFE
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
RUPREL
RELATIONS
ROOD
REACTION
RSO
REPORT
SENV
SNAR
SCUL
SR
SC
SOCI
SMIG
SI
SP
SU
SO
SW
SY
SA
SZ
SAN
SF
SN
STEINBERG
SG
ST
SIPDIS
SNARIZ
SNARN
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SAARC
SL
SEVN
SARS
SIPRS
SHUM
SANC
SWE
SHI
SYR
SNARCS
SPCE
SYRIA
SEN
SH
SCRS
SENVKGHG
TRGY
TSPL
TPHY
TSPA
TBIO
TI
TW
THPY
TX
TU
TS
TZ
TC
TH
TT
TIP
TO
TERRORISM
TRSY
TINT
TN
TURKEY
TBID
TL
TV
TNGD
TD
TF
TP
TFIN
TAGS
TK
TR
UNSC
UK
UNGA
UN
US
UNHRC
UG
UP
UNMIK
UNHCR
UE
USTR
UNVIE
UAE
UZ
UY
UNO
UNESCO
USEU
USOAS
UV
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNEP
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNDP
UNPUOS
UNC
UNAUS
USUN
UNCHC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCSD
UNDC
USNC
USPS
USAID
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 06BEIRUT2703, BRAINSTORMING WITH MARWAN AND NAYLA: HAVE KOFI
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06BEIRUT2703.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
06BEIRUT2703 | 2006-08-20 15:19 | 2011-04-08 16:00 | SECRET//NOFORN | Embassy Beirut |
VZCZCXRO5344
OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHLB #2703/01 2321519
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 201519Z AUG 06 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5153
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0130
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIRUT 002703
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/SINGH/HARDING
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2026
TAGS: PREL KCRM PTER EFIN LE SY IS
SUBJECT: BRAINSTORMING WITH MARWAN AND NAYLA: HAVE KOFI
BRING NICOLAS MICHEL WITH HIM
Classified By: Jeffrey Feltman, Ambassador, per 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
-------
¶1. (S/NF) Meeting together with the Ambassador on 8/20,
Marwan Hamadeh and Nayla Mouawad urged that Kofi Annan bring
UN/OLA chief Nicolas Michel with him when the UNSYG travels
to Beirut next week. Having Michel in town to finalize the
draft on the Hariri tribunal will put the right spin on
Annan's visit, they argued, and keep Syria off balance.
Pointing to a petition by the March 14 majority for a special
parliamentary session, they said that such a session could be
used to approve the Hariri tribunal, examine Bank al-Medina
files, and find other ways to seize the initiative from
Hizballah and the pro-Syrians. While admitting that the GOL
must do better on reconstruction, they said that Hizballah's
big advantage is its ability to hand out cash, which the GOL
cannot and should not do. They hoped that the USG would
press the Gulf Arabs, however, to pass some cash to March 14
politicians to use on local patronage to compete with
Hizballah. No one, they said, will remember who built a
bridge, but people will remember who gave them cash. After
Mouawad left, Hamadeh also said that the Lebanese police was
interrogating a Syrian businessman who seemed to have been
tasked with discrediting UNIIIC Commissioner Serge Brammertz.
End summary.
PLEASE, GET THE ARABS
TO GIVE US CASH FOR HAND-OUTS
-----------------------------
¶2. (S/NF) On 8/20, the Ambassador met with Minister of
Telecommunications Marwan Hamadeh and Minister of Social
Affairs Nayla Mouawad. While the purpose of the meeting was
for the Ambassador to press them to help on UNSCR
1701-related issues (a subject on which the two ministers
agreed), the meeting quickly became a brainstorming session
about how the March 14 movement can retake the political
initiative away from Hizballah and Hassan Nasrallah. Given
Lebanon's traditional patronage politics, Hamadeh and Mouawad
were most concerned about getting money in the hands of March
14 political leaders to spend on relief and reconstruction --
not at the expense of GOL and international donor efforts,
they said, but as something additional that people will
remember. Hamadeh noted that he and Druse leader Walid
Jumblatt would travel to Saudi Arabia this week, and he hoped
the U.S. would put in a good word with the Saudis to "give
Walid three or four million dollars" to keep the Druse on the
side of March 14.
CALLING FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY
PARLIAMENTARY SESSION
----------------------------
¶3. (C/NF) The Ambassador commented that it seemed strange,
when two-thirds of Lebanon did not share Hizballah's vision
for the country, that the March 14 forces could not retake
the initiative even without cash. Claiming to be trying,
Mouawad and Hamadeh showed the Ambassador a parliamentary
petition being circulated among the 71 March 14
parliamentarians, asking President Emile Lahoud to request
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to open an extraordinary
session of parliament. It is a "scandal" that Lebanon went
through a war and the parliament maintained its summer recess
(until the third week of September), Mouawad noted. They
predicted that Berri would have no choice but to open the
extraordinary session, and the March 14 MPs will use the
extraordinary session "to make the pro-Syrians
uncomfortable," Hamadeh said.
HARIRI TRIBUNAL: GET KOFI
TO BRING NICOLAS MICHEL WITH HIM
--------------------------------
¶4. (S/NF) The Ambassador noted the USG interest in moving
ahead quickly on establishing the "special tribunal with
international character" to try suspects in the Rafiq Hariri
murder case or those related to the Hariri murder. Hamadeh
and Mouawad agreed. Our impression, the Ambassador said, was
that action now rests with the Lebanese to respond to the
UN/OLA draft agreement on the tribunal. After conferring
with Minister of Justice Charles Rizk by phone, Hamadeh
responded that the Lebanese are ready to receive Nicolas
Michel (from UN/OLA) to work out the final details, at which
BEIRUT 00002703 002 OF 003
point the cabinet majority and parliamentary majority (in the
anticipated extraordinary session) can approve the tribunal.
The Ambassador asked whether the March 14 majority was ready
to confront a cabinet walk-out by the Hizballah ministers
over the tribunal question. After all, the Ambassador noted,
the Hizballahis seem to be using "sovereignty" as the excuse
for foot-dragging over UNSCR 1701 implementation, and they
can claim that the tribunal, too, is an infringement on
Lebanon's supposedly sacred sovereignty. Mouawad and Hamadeh
both agreed that the cabinet majority would force the issue.
¶5. (S/NF) Hamadeh said that it was important to get Nicolas
Michel to Beirut "immediately," to put the resurgent Syrians
off-balance "and make them think twice about killing any of
us." Thinking outloud, Hamadeh then said, "Have Kofi (Annan)
bring him with him." His idea coming together as he spoke,
Hamadeh said that the problem with the UNSYG's visit a week
hence revolves around the visuals. Annan will obliged to
meet President Emile Lahoud. Annan will go to Damascus.
Annan will smile and say happy things to the cameras. "He
won't be as tough as he should." But if Annan brings Michel
with him "and leaves him in Beirut to put the final touches
on the tribunal agreement while Kofi goes to see Bashar" will
leave an entirely different impression. "Brilliant!" Nayla
shouted, slapping Marwan's hand; "tu a raison!" Hamadeh and
Mouawad also argued that it is important that Annan try to
project as sober message as possible about Iran and Syria's
role in arms smuggling, with the public message starting even
before the UNSYG departs for the region.
BANK AL-MEDINA AND OIL-FOR-FOOD:
WAYS TO BRING DOWN LAHOUD?
--------------------------------
¶6. (S/NF) Mouawad and Hamadeh raised the familiar subject
of ridding the country of Emile Lahoud. They had no original
ideas but suggested (as each has independently) that the
notorious Bank al-Medina files be opened up and the
Oil-for-Food scandal be mined for dirt on Lahoud. Mouawad
tried to put the USG in the lead on the Bank al-Medina files,
saying that we should use the excuse of money-laundering and
terrorist financing to ask the GOL for the files. The
Ambassador said that the USG had no good reason to ask now
for Bank al-Medina files, and this seemed to be another
example of the Lebanese trying to shift responsibility to
foreigners. And once the Lebanese succeed in shifting
responsibility for something unpleasant to foreigners, they
then don't want to listen to what the foreigners say.
Hamadeh agreed and said that the March 14 majority should
consider whether the extraordinary parliamentary session they
hoped to hold could have committee hearings on Bank
al-Medina. Some March 14 politicians, however, may be caught
up in the widespread scandal themselves, he cautioned.
¶7. (S/NF) As for Oil-for-Food, Mouawad and Hamadeh thought
that this was a promising area to examine. But Hamadeh
claimed that trying to go through Oil-for-Food reports
looking for connections to Emile Lahoud is a full-time job.
The Ambassador commented that surely Saad Hariri could pay a
full-time researcher. Hamadeh responded that "it would be
better if you did it, quietly. You have all sorts of reasons
to be able to look at the UN files. We don't. You have
people who know how to use those files, because they've been
working with them already."
TELECOM SERVICES RESTORED,
THANKS TO CENTRAL AUTHORITIES
-----------------------------
¶8. (S/NF) As for other ideas to put the pro-Syrians in
Lebanon off-balance, they both pressed on providing, quickly,
equipment and ammunition for both the Lebanese Armed Forces
and the Internal Security Forces (national police). The
Ambassador added that it was important for the GOL to get its
own act together on reconstruction priorities and
coordination, which they agreed has been handled poorly.
Hamadeh noted that, as of that morning, phone service had
been restored to all parts of the south except Jezzine, all
because of his ministry's work. This, he said, will be
publicized widely.
AND THE NEED FOR CASH ARISES AGAIN
----------------------------------
¶9. (S/NF) But speaking of reconstuction opened the subject
BEIRUT 00002703 003 OF 003
of money again, with both of them arguing that the Lebanese
will remember who handed out cash, not who built bridges.
"We are whores in that way," Marwan sad, shaking his head.
Since the U.S. and European governments cannot dispense with
accountability, perhaps the Gulf Arabs could be asked to
help, they said, turning the conversation back to where it
began. After all, Hamadeh said, the Gulf Arabs are both
furious and frightened by the speeched of Bashar al-Asad and
Hassan Nasrallah. "We can worry about reform and accounting
later," Marwan said; "we are fighting a war for our
existence, and the enemy's best weapon is cash. We have to
move both cash and projects, but cash now can more more
quickly."
SARG (ALLEGEDLY) SENDS AGENT
TO DISCREDIT BRAMMERTZ EFFORTS
------------------------------
¶10. (S/NF) Raising a different subject after Mouawad left
to meet with UN envoys Terje Roed-Larsen and Vijay Nambiar,
Hamadeh said that the ISF had two days earlier arrested a
Syrian who admitted being sent to Beirut by the SARG. While
the details were still emerging from the ongoing ISF
investigation, XXXXXXXXXXXX cited former Syrian VP Abdulhalim
Khaddam's name in asking to see Hamadeh to hand over some
important documents. Suspicious, Hamadeh got a message to
Khaddam, who said that XXXXXXXXXXXX is XXXXXXXXXXXX representative in Damascus but also connected to Syrian military intelligence.
When XXXXXXXXXXXX arrived for the appointment with Hamadeh,
he was arrested and subsequently admitted ("under vigorous
interrogation," Hamadeh said) to carrying false documents
related to the Hariri assassination.
¶11. (S/NF) Hamadeh said that he assumed XXXXXXXXXXXX was trying to lure UNIIIC Commissioner Brammertz on a wild goose chase
in the hopes of embarrassing Brammertz in the same way that
the witness Zuhair Saddiq had discredited part of Detlev
Mehlis' work. One of the more interesting tidbits out of the
XXXXXXXXXXXX investigation, Hamadeh said, was the revelation that
an XXXXXXXXXXXX store adjacent to XXXXXXXXXXXX is owned by the same family. Hamadeh guessed that the electronics store is probably a front for a Syrian intelligence unit of some kind.
COMMENT
-------
¶12. (S/NF) Mouawad and Hamadeh are two of the more zealous
and vocal members of the March 14 majority, and neither are
prone to flinching. They are also used to playing in
traditional Lebanese politics, which explains why concerns
with cash loom so large in their minds. Frankly, it seems to
us to be a reasonable investment (assuming someone comes
forward), if a couple of million dollars helps Walid Jumblatt
maintain the Druse on the March 14 side rather than see them
start to shift toward the pro-Syrian Druse leader Talal
Arslan. But what we liked best from this meeting was the
suggestion that Kofi Annan bring Nicolas Michel with him to
Beirut: Annan may be presenting his visit as part of UNSCR
1701 implementation, but Michel's presence would remind
everyone -- including in Damascus -- that the recent fighting
has not distracted us from the need to bring Rafiq Hariri's
killers to justice.
FELTMAN