LEBANON: USDP EDELMAN MEETS LEBANESE ARMY COMMANDER

Reference ID 08BEIRUT1506
Date 2008-10-21 01:58
Released 2010-12-01 19:07
Classification SECRET//NOFORN
Origin Embassy Beirut


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DE RUEHLB #1506/01 2951358
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O 211358Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3332
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3060
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 3271
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC


S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001506

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO PM A/S KIMMITT
NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/MCDERMOTT
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/SCHEDLBAUER
OSD FOR EDELMAN/LONG/STRAUB/DALTON
JOINT STAFF FOR RANK/NICHOLSON
CENTCOM FOR ALLARDICE/MACLEAN/PADDOCK
DIA FOR LARSON/CRONIN/KRAUSE
P FOR DRUSSEL, RRANGASWAMY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2018
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PINR, MCAP, MARR, IR, LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: USDP EDELMAN MEETS LEBANESE ARMY COMMANDER

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

SUMMARY
-------

1. (C) In an October 17 meeting with visiting USDP Edelman, a
confident new Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander Kahwagi
discussed his vision for the army as well as priority
equipment requirements. Kahwagi also provided an update on
the current situation in city of Tripoli in the north and
recent Syrian troop deployments along Lebanon's northern
border. USDP Edelman stressed the enduring nature of the
U.S.-Lebanon relationship. End Summary.

2. (SBU) Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Eric Edelman,
accompanied by Ambassador, Deputy Assistant Secretary of
Defense for the Middle East Chris Straub, CENTCOM J-5 Major
General Robert Allardice, Military Assistant Colonel Patricia
Warren, OSD Lebanon Desk Officer Melissa Dalton and Embassy
Defense Attache and ODC Chief, visited LAF Commander General
Jean Kahwagi in his office at LAF Headquarters in Yarze on
October 17.

THE RELATIONSHIP WITH
LEBANON IS ENDURING
---------------------

3. (C) USDP Edelman opened the meeting by recounting the
positive feedback he had from Assistant Secretary of Defense
Mary Beth Long after the inaugural Joint Military Commission
(JMC), which took place on October 6. USDP Edelman stressed
that there would be continuity in the relationship in the
upcoming U.S. transition. USDP Edelman told Kahwagi that he
had spoken with incoming CENTCOM Commander General David
Petraeus about Lebanon and that both he and Petraeus agreed
on the importance of the U.S. relationship with Lebanon.

KAHWAGI ON EQUIPMENT NEEDS
--------------------------

4. (C) Kahwagi expressed his hope that the transition in
Washington would be smooth for everyone involved. General
Kahwagi thanked USDP Edelman for having traveled so far to
come to Lebanon for the benefit of the Army saying, "I hope
this visit will expedite (delivery of) the items in the JMC
program." While only in command of the Army for a little
over a month, Kahwagi told USDP Edelman that he has been able
to delve into the details of the US security assistance
program. While grateful for the assistance provided, Kahwagi
noted "it is a little slow in arriving." Kahwagi recalled
that there had been agreement during the JMC to conduct an
inspection of the AH-1 Cobra helicopters in Jordan. He asked
for an update. MG Allardice told General Kahwagi that a
tri-lateral meeting between the US, Lebanon and Jordan was
scheduled for November 18 to discuss the AH-1 Cobras and the
M-60 tanks.

5. (C) Kahwagi did not appear to have made up his mind yet on
helicopter options. "Maybe the Cobra will not meet our
requirements because of spare parts," said Kahwagi. Kahwagi
then suggested that UH-60 Blackhawks should also be
considered as he needs transport in addition to attack
helicopters. "I'm sure you want me to fight terrorism here.
I need the means to do this," said Kahwagi. Kahwagi told
USDP Edelman that he was concerned about an "Israeli veto"
over U.S. assistance to Lebanon, specifically with regards to
helicopters. USDP Edelman explained the U.S. congressional
notification process regarding proposed transfers. Edelman
praised the LAF's five year plan and said that this plan
would be briefed to the Hill.

6. (C) Kahwagi noted the timeline of the fight against the al
Qaeda-inspired Fatah Al Islam in the Nahr Al Bared refugee

BEIRUT 00001506 002 OF 002

camp in 2007. "It took us three months to win this fight,"
said Kahwagi. According to Kahwagi, the culminating point
for the terrorists in the camp came when the LAF started
dropping unguided 500 pound gravity bombs on terrorist
positions. While acknowledging the earlier role of US
provided 50 caliber sniper rifles in the fight, Kahwagi said
that the bombing was the final element that broke the will of
the terrorists to resist.

7. (C) General Allardice suggested that there might be a
fixed wing aircraft option that the LAF could use for
counter-terrorism strike missions, such as the Cessna Caravan
armed with Hellfire missiles. Kahwagi responded, "my dreams
would be answered with something like this." General
Allardice said that the best way to begin the process of
looking for solutions for the LAF is for the LAF to submit a
formal letter of request outlining their requirements.

COMBATTING TERRORISM; UPDATE ON TRIPOLI
---------------------------------------

8. (C) Kahwagi informed Edelman that the LAF had broken up a
terrorist network in the Tripoli area during the week of
October 6. The LAF arrested thirteen members of the network
and is continuing to exploit intelligence gathered during
those operations. Three recent terrorist incidents had
occurred at or near LAF facilities: the explosion in Abdi was
directed at the LAF Intelligence office; the explosion at Tel
circle killed eleven LAF soldiers; the road side bomb at
Bahsas circle killed four LAF soldiers and wounded another
twenty. Kahwagi told us that Abdul Ghani Jawhar remains at
large and is the primary person responsible for these
attacks. Kahwagi said that Jawhar is not an associate of
Fatah al Islam (FAI), but that he is sympathetic to FAI.
Kahwagi said that the LAF nearly captured him recently, but
his sister warned him as the LAF was approaching his house at
two in the morning. "But I have thirteen of his guys now and
know many of his plans," said Kahwagi.

9. (C) According to Kahwagi, Jawhar's group planned to
conduct suicide operations on a bus in Jbeil, a Christian
area just north of Beirut. They also planned to conduct
attacks on the Internal Security Forces in Achrafiyya, a
central district in Beirut. Kahwagi told us that the thirteen
detainees are all related to people in either the Ain Al
Hilweh or the Beddawi Palestinian refugee camps. Kahwagi
recounted his trip to the hospital to see his wounded
soldiers after the Bahsas bombing. "I told them no one
attacks the Army and gets away with it. We will find them
all," said Kahwagi. (Note: In the middle of this exchange,
Kahwagi received a phone call that another suspected
terrorist had been captured in the Bekaa valley. End Note.)

SYRIAN TROOPS ON NORTHERN BORDER
--------------------------------

10. (C) Regarding the recent reports of deployment of Syrian
troops to the northern border of Lebanon, Kahwagi did not
appear overly concerned. Kahwagi told us that he was in
contact with Syrian Chief of Staff General Habib both before
and after the Syrian deployment. Kahwagi explained that
there were no more than ten to fifteen Syrian tanks deployed
along the entirety of the northern border. To date, the
Syrian forces have remained 800 meters to two kilometers
inside Syrian territory, according to Kahwagi.

11. (C) Under Secretary Edelman has cleared this cable.


SISON



Source: Wikileaks