جريدة الأخبار

Février 2008, après l’assassinat de #Imad_Mughnieh, un des commandants du #Hezbollah, l’ambassade expédie un câble faisant le point sur la situation.
►http://al-akhbar.com/ar/node/216445

Réjouissant intertitre : « Les condamnations publiques par le 14 Mars : plus que des larmes de crococile ? »

#Saad_Hariri, lui, insinue une responsabilité syrienne :

However, Hariri also hinted at a Syrian role when he noted that Mughnieh was killed in Damascus, near an Iranian school, and in an area controlled by Syrian intelligence.

#Fares_Souhaid, lui, se réjouit :

The day of the assassination. March 14 SYG Fares Suaid spoke of Mughnieh’s death as though it were a lesson for Hizballah. Namely, Hizballah should realize that its only protector and guarantor is the Lebanese state and the Lebanese army and not/not the Syrian security apparatus and its arsenal.

#Walid_Joumblatt aussi :

Meanwhile Druse leader and March 14 member Walid Jumblatt, believes that either the Israelis, for obvious reasons, or the Syrians, for reasons unknown, eliminated Mughnieh. In any case, Jumblatt, candid as usual, called Mughnieh’s death “good news.”

#cablegate #Liban

La duplicité, à nouveau en février 2008. À la demande des américains et en leur présence, le premier ministre libanais, Fouad #Sanioura, arrange par téléphone le financement du #TSL avec de généreux donateurs arabes.
►http://al-akhbar.com/ar/node/216447
"During his last meeting with the Ambassador (reftel), the Prime Minister said he would follow up personally with the KSA for contributions to the Special Tribunal. When asked by the Ambassador for an update on his efforts, he said that he had personally spoken with Prince Saud al Faisal, the KSA Foreign Minister, about the issue and sent a reminder on February 11. With the U.S. delegation still in the room, he phoned Saudi Prince Bandar for an update. At the conclusion of the conversation, he told us that “The Saudis want to do this, but they want to do it without noise.” He did not elaborate on this comment."

Oui: «Les séoudiens veulent le faire, mais ils veulent le faire sans bruit.»

#Liban #cablegate

Février 2009, #Saad_Hariri et son conseiller #Ghattas_Khoury demandent innocemment aux américains d’intervenir pour punir #Rami_Maklouf (très important homme d’affaire syrien, proche de la famille Assad) et le chef des renseignements militaires syriens, Asef Shawket.

Ils aideraient la Syrie à « sortir » de l’argent à l’étranger et, crime suprême, Shawket aurait facilité le financement de la télévision de #Michel_Aoun, OTV, par le #Qatar.

►http://al-akhbar.com/ar/node/216449

#Liban #cablegate

Février 2008, #Walid_Joumblatt, qui avec Hamadeh a fait interdire le réseau de communications téléphonique du Hezbollah, lui, ne fait pas confiance au réseau téléphonique libanais.
►http://al-akhbar.com/ar/node/216451
“(Note: Jumblatt, who probably is at the top of the list of assassination targets, told the Charge the previous evening by phone that he was not scheduling any meetings by phone; the meeting with the Charge was arranged via messengers. End note.)”

On apprend au passage l’intérêt d’avoir #Elias_Murr au gouvernement:
“(Note: Currently Defense Minister, Murr is generally expected to be March 14’s choice for Interior Minister in the new cabinet, to maintain control not only over the GOL’s security apparatus, but also to control key issues like electoral reform in the run-up to the 2009 parliamentary elections. End note.)”

#cablegate

Énorme. En mars 2008, le vice-premier ministre Elias Murr reçoit les américains chez lui à Rabieh.
►http://al-akhbar.com/ar/node/216464

Il faut lire le document entier, mais le résumé est déjà très révélateur:
"In a March 10 meeting with Charge, MinDef Murr expressed his growing concern that a Hizballah war with Israel is imminent. His assessment is based upon recent Hizballah preparations, reported movement of families, and the precipitous increase in Israeli overflights of Lebanon. Murr does not think that Hizballah can win another war with Israel and will be defeated. Describing Hizballah as “scared,” Murr opined that they are scared because they know that Israel might be about to attack, or, more probably, they fear the retribution Israel will heap upon them when Hizballah takes revenge for the killing of terrorist Imad Mughniya. Murr offered some ideas aimed at avoiding turning the Christian population against Israel when the next war with Hizballah occurs. Murr also outlined his orders to the Lebanese Army when/if Israel invades to counter Hizballah. End summary."

Le courageux Elias Murr annonce que le #Hezbollah est «terrorisé»:
"Returning to the theme of a wary Hizballah, Murr told us that “they (Hizballah) are scared, terrorized. They know the Israelis will not lose again.” Murr thinks that Ehud Barak is a very different Minister of Defense than the one who tried to win a war using airpower."

Élégance envers Michel Aoun:
"When asked what role Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun is playing right now, Murr deadpanned that he is “going insane.” Retired BG Fouad Ashkar, an Aoun advisor dating to Aoun’s time as Lebanese Army Commander, came to see Murr on March 9 to discuss weapons permits for Aoun’s bodyguards. Murr told Ashkar that he was authorized only ten permits. Aoun had recently contacted Murr’s father to try and pressure the MinDef into agreeing to fifty weapons permits. A defiant Murr told Ashkar to “go get some of your Hizballah suicide bombers to serve as bodyguards,” the sub-context being that perhaps Michel Aoun would get blown up along the way."

Murr se vante de limiter les visites à son voisin de Rabieh:
“Murr is also limiting the number of visitors that can drive up to Aoun’s house in the protected enclave of Rabieh. Murr only allows official visitors such as MPs to approach the house; all the others must park outside and ride shuttles. Murr says that the residents of Rabieh are exhausted with Aoun being a bad neighbor and going against Christian traditions by backing Hizballah.”

Une gentillesse tout de même pour #Saad_Hariri et #Amine_Gemayel:
"Murr expressed skepticism about this concept, saying leaders such as Amine Gemayel and Saad Hariri will use this to elevate “stupid” people so that their own political light is not obscured or risk being dimmed by another rising politician. They are looking at this from their selfish parochial views, an approach not uncommon in Lebanese politics, Murr complained."

Enfin (et c’est énorme), Elias Murr insiste pour qu’on comprenne bien qu’il n’est pas en train de faire passer des conseils à Israël, mais tout de même, voici ses conseils pour Israël en cas de guerre contre le Liban:
“Making clear that he was not responsible for passing messages to Israel, Murr told us that Israel would do well to avoid two things when it comes for Hizballah One, it must not touch the Blue Line or the UNSCR 1701 areas as this will keep Hizballah out of these areas. Two, Israel cannot bomb bridges and infrastructure in the Christian areas. The Christians were supporting Israel in 2006 until they started bombing their bridges. If Israel has to bomb all of these places in the Shia areas as a matter of operational concern, that is Hizballah’s problem. According to Murr, this war is not with Lebanon, it is will Hizballah. Murr also told us that the number of overflights recently (reftel B and C) are the highest number since 1982. The last time there were this many overflights was just prior to Israel invading south Lebanon in April 1982, he stated flatly.”

Cet homme qui est en train de donner des conseils aux Israéliens, expliquant que le Hezbollah est «terrorisé», à ce moment-là, parle aux Américains en tant que ministre de la Défense du Liban. Oui.

#cablegate #Israël #Liban

3 avril 2008, le ministre Murr suggère une nouvelle interprétation de la #résolution_1701:
►http://al-akhbar.com/ar/node/216466
“In a new development, Murr explained how he saw UNCSR 1701 as a tool that could be applied to the Palestinian refugee camps to help address the problem of terrorism, especially in the Ain Al Hilweh camp.”

#Liban #cablegate

24 avril 2008, une «figure chiite indépendante» vient offrir ses services en tant qu’alibi chiite anti-#Hezbollah aux Américains. Trop trop trop mignon.
►http://al-akhbar.com/ar/node/216470

"Independent Shia figure Ahmad Assad argued that former
Hizballah Secretary General Subhi Tufayli is “ready” to join
forces against Hizballah, but that first he needs to have
resolution of criminal charges against him for involvement in
the killing of an LAF officer and a French citizen. (Note:
Tufayli remains on the USG Terrorist Watch List. End note.)
Assad introduced a board member of his anti-Hizballah
political party, Amcit Abdallah Bitar, a prominent
businessman from Shia-dominated Nabatieh in southern Lebanon."

#cablegate #Liban

Premier août 2008, lettre de bienvenue de l’Ambassade au général Petraeus en visite au #Liban.
►http://al-akhbar.com/ar/node/216474

#Saad_Hariri est allé en Irak, et il semble que sa motivation (d’une naïveté confondante) était de montrer qu’en rencontrant des chiites irakiens, il montrerait ainsi aux chiites libanais qu’il n’est pas «un agent américain».
"Hariri plans to facilitate future visits to Iraq by Lebanese Shia students to deepen the relationship with Najaf. In his view, Iraq is moving “away from an Iranian agenda,” which he predicted would have a “tremendous” impact on Lebanon. Hariri’s trip to Iraq generated positive reactions in Lebanon and improved his standing in the eyes of independent Lebanese Shia because of his meeting with Ayatollah Sistani, which lessened perceptions many Lebanese Shia have that he is “an American agent.”"

#cablegate

29 septembre 2009. Deux conseillers du président #Michel_Sleiman évoquent avec les américains le voyage du président aux États-Unis et sa rencontre avec Georges Bush.
►http://al-akhbar.com/ar/node/216489

Les informations reflètent une rencontre polie, dans laquelle Sleiman aurait été relativement ferme sur sa volonté de ne faire dépendre sa politique que des intérêts du #Liban. Intéressant échange sur « les armes du Hezbollah » et la stratégie de défense du nouveau président :

According to Abi Assi, Sleiman told Secretary Gates that Hizballah’s weapons were an issue for dialogue and therefore an issue that could be addressed, but stressed that the arms should not be used. According to Khoury, Sleiman’s argument was that while the “resistance” could not become the state, the state should become the “resistance.” Secretary Gates reportedly wished Sleiman good luck in this effort, albeit “in a nice way.”

#cablegate #hezbollah

7 octobre 2008, Daniel #Bellemare évoque le budget du #TSL avec les américains:
►http://al-akhbar.com/ar/node/216493

On apprend que des «analystes» sont directement payés par le FBI:
“The FBI would continue to pay the analysts’ salaries, which would be considered a USG contribution, and UNIIIC would cover travel and per diem expenses, he suggested.”

Le 15 octobre 2008, #Saad_Hariri vient expliquer aux Américains qu’il va rencontrer Hassan Nasrallah du #Hezbollah :
►http://al-akhbar.com/ar/node/216496

Il explique qu’il craint (comme Nasrallah) une nouvelle guerre israélienne. Une guerre qui serait mauvaise, non parce qu’elle détruirait encore le Liban, mais parce qu’elle signerait « la mort du 14 Mars » :
"Hariri confessed that he shared Nasrallah’s fear of a war with Israel. Asserting that some in Israel and the U.S. believe Israel should clear Lebanon of Hizballah "once and for all," Hariri warned that such a move would only temporarily put Hizballah out of commission because Iran and Syria would rebuild Hizbollah’s presence in Lebanon. Moreover, he argued, the Sunnis and Christians would lose because Israel would be fighting a nation, not just Hizballah. "It would be the death of March 14," he portended."

À cette époque, Saad Hariri dénonce encore la Syrie comme responsable direct des assassinats au Liban, donc évidemment celui de #Rafic_Hariri :
"Hariri railed against the recent Syrian troop deployment. After the string of assassinations, including his own father’s, how dare Syria move its troops to the border with Lebanon claiming that Lebanon has a problem with terrorists, he argued."

Les temps changent. Une année plus tard (décembre 2009), Saad Hariri se rend en Syrie pour rencontrer Bachar Assad :
►http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ih4_WyBcI2NLMjfmCFXSjC8G9WVg
et en septembre 2009, il annonçait regretter d’avoir accusé Damas de la mort de son père :
►http://www.lexpress.fr/actualites/2/saad-hariri-regrette-d-avoir-accuse-damas-de-la-mort-de-son-pere_917453.htm
"Nous avons évalué les erreurs que nous avons commises envers la Syrie, qui ont porté atteinte au peuple syrien et aux relations bilatérales".
"A un certain point, nous avons commis des erreurs et accusé la Syrie d’avoir assassiné le Premier ministre martyr. Il s’agissait d’une accusation politique, et c’en est fini de cette accusation à caractère politique"

#Liban #cablegate

27 janvier 2009, le très indépendant Daniel #Bellemare du #TSL vient expliquer à l’ambassadeurs des États-Unis qu’il est très embêté avec les 4 généraux emprisonnés au Liban:
►http://al-akhbar.com/ar/node/216506

“Bellemare explained that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) has 60 days starting March 1 to request the GOL to transfer the four generals, currently held in Lebanese custody in connection with the assassination of former PM Rafiq Hariri, to the STL in The Hague.”

Il «suspecte» que le procureur général du Liban, Saiid Mirza, veuille repasser la patage chaude au TSL. Mais il craint que les TSL lui-même lui inflige une «pression légale» (n’est-ce pas drôle, un tel mot, dans la boucle d’un procureur international?) pour les relâcher s’il n’a pas de dossier pour les retenir.

“Bellemare said he suspected that Lebanese Public Prosecutor Saiid Mirza wants the generals transferred to the STL. Bellemare explained that, while it has been pointed out to him that no one can dictate to the STL how long the STL can detain the generals, implying that Bellemare could detain them indefinitely in The Hague, he disagreed with this approach in part because he feared that he might face legal pressure (by the STL itself) to release them immediately if he did not have a case.”

Une «raison de s’inquiéter» est que l’un deux, le général Jamil Sayyad, se présente aux élections, soutenu par l’opposition. Curieux, cette préocupation politicienne, ici, non?
“Another worry is that one of the four, former Surete Generale DG General Jamil Sayyad, would run in the parliamentary elections, an idea evidently supported by opposition leader Suleiman Franjieh and Hizballah.”

Mais si le Liban décide de libérer les quatre généraux (ce qui, finalement, est advenu), Bellemare a encore un judicieux conseil de politique politicienne:
“If the GOL decides to release the four, it should put as much distance between the generals’ release and the parliamentary elections on June 7, Bellemare recommended. (Note: We agree. End note.)”

#Liban #Rafic_Hariri #cablegate

Dans cette rencontre, Marwan #Hamadeh livre les plans du réseau de communications du #Hezbollah aux Américains, fait une description apocalyptique de ce réseau, et pense que l’armée libanaise n’aura pas le courage de couper les lignes.
►http://al-akhbar.com/ar/node/216468

"SUMMARY
1. (S) Requesting a special meeting with Charge, Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh decried the establishment of a complete fiber optics network by Hizballah throughout Lebanon. The GOL has been sharing this information widely among friends of Lebanon, to include the governments of France, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the UAE. Hamadeh sees only two choices for the GOL: approach the UN Security Council, or use the “cover” of March 14-friendly municipalities to cut the lines. However, he questioned whether the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Internal Security Forces (ISF) have the “guts” to do so, given that Hizballah already stated to Lebanese security officials that it would view this as equal to an Israeli act of aggression, and would then take action against the GOL. Hamadeh hopes that Saad Hariri, now in Geneva, will return soon to Lebanon so that March 14 can meet to formulate a strategy. End summary."

GOL: Government of Lebanon.

""Iran Telecom is taking over the country!" were the first words out of the mouth of Minister of Telecommunications Marwan Hamadeh when he met with Charge and Econoff on April 16. He was referring to the discovery of a complete fiber optic system (FiOS) installed by Hizballah throughout Lebanon - reftel. In addition, Hizballah has introduced Wi-Max in Beirut’s southern suburbs."

Hamadeh, Sanioura et Saad Hariri livrent les plans du réseau du Hezbollah a absolument tous les amis d’Israël. Pour révéler les secrets de la Résistance libanaise, ils sont visiblement plus efficaces que Wikileaks:
"Hamadeh himself has been sharing the news both within
the GOL and outside, with “friends,” which includes the
Arab countries, the U.S., France (Sarkozy was “stunned”) and
Terje Roed-Larsen of the UN. He briefed Bernard Kouchner,
Jean-David Levitte, Boris Bouillon and Michel Barnier while
in Paris. In Beirut he spoke to Charge Andre Parent of
France and Ambassador Abdul Aziz Khoja of Saudi Arabia. Saad
Hariri, when he heard, sent a private plane from Saudi Arabia
to pick up a copy of the map, which traces in detail the
route of the system, to share with Saudi King Abdullah and
Intelligence Chief Prince Mukrin bin Abdul-Aziz. PM Siniora
briefed the Jordanians and Emiratis, as well as Arab League
SYG Amr Musa on the network during his recent trip around the
region, Hamadeh confirmed."

L’affaire serait tellement grave que même le Patriarche a reçu sa copie:
“Within Lebanon Hamadeh says that the first person he told, after the Prime Minister and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt was Maronite Patriarch Sfeir.”

Et, au cas où vraiment les Américains n’auraient pas encore reçu une copie, Hamadeh a pris ses précautions:
“The current installations, as per the map Hamadeh has given us, shows lines running from Beirut, around both sides of the airport, into the south below the Litani and back up through the Bekaa valley to the far north.”

Hamadeh est fait des tonnes sur le financement par l’Iran, sans doute certain que c’est le genre de chose qu’il faut dire à un Américain pour attirer son attention...

"Although Hamadeh says he has “a few names,” he did not list the companies who are responsible for the installation, but said that information would be made available shortly. He cited the Iranian Fund for the Reconstruction of Lebanon as the source of the funding. This same group has been rebuilding roads and bridges since the July 2006 war with Israel, and has been accused before of installing telecommunications lines in parallel with new roads. Hamadeh said that he wants to get the list of companies involved and black list them with the GOL."

C’est carrément “une victoire stratégique pour l’Iran”:
“Hamadeh highlights the system as a strategic victory for Iran, since it creates an important Iranian outpost in Lebanon, bypassing Syria. He sees the value for the Iranians as strategic, rather than technical or economic.”

Attention, hein, ce sont les «zones chrétiennes qui sont visées»:
“Hamadeh described the strategic implications of the Hizballah plan, which he says is targeting the Christian areas, despite a denial of that by Hizballah.”

Pour le Hezbollah, c’est carrément le début d’un «État-Nation»!
“The value for Hizballah is the final step in creating a nation state. Hizballah now has an army and weapons; a television station; an education system; hospitals; social services; a financial system; and a telecommunications system.”

De manière spectaculaire, après avoir décrit une victoire stratégique pour l’Iran, la naissance du Hezbollahstan, Hamadeh annonce préparer une «campagne intérieure» qui se résume de très minables calculs de politique politicienne locale:
"Meanwhile, Hamadeh is preparing a “very strong” internal campaign. This campaign, he said, has the potential to “destroy” Aoun and mobilize Christians, as well as influence those Shia who are already beginning to worry about Hizballah."

Ce câble est très intéressant. Il confirme le rôle central de Marwan Hamadé dans l’attaque contre le réseau de communication du Hezbollah, qui mènera aux événements de l’été 2008. On le voit diffuser de l’information touchant à la défense de la Résistance, et tenter de manipuler ses interlocuteurs en fabriquant des arguments tous plus énormes les uns que les autres. On le voit aussi assurer les Américains d’une baisse du soutien chiite aux Hezbollah et d’une «description» de Aoun parmi les chrétiens, ce qui est soit de l’aveuglement imbécile, soit plus sûrement de la pure manipulation.

#wikileaks #cablegate #liban #télécommunications

Al-Akhbar met en ligne sa propre collection de #cablegate :
►http://al-akhbar.com/ar/node/216626
Cliquer sur un drapeau pour obtenir la liste des documents (toujours en anglais) concernant ce pays.