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### Viewing cable 06BEIRUT2680, ISF COMMANDER ON AIRPORT SECURITY, NEEDS FOR

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06BEIRUT2680 | 2006-08-17 08:08 | 2011-03-15 18:06 | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | Embassy Beirut
Appears in these articles: not yet set

`

    VZCZCXRO2691
    OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
    DE RUEHLB #2680/01 2290810
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    O 170810Z AUG 06
    FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5112
    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 0106

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 002680

    SIPDIS

    NOFORN
    SIPDIS

    NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/SINGH/HARDING

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2026
    TAGS: EAIR PTER MOPS PREL PARM LE IS SY
    SUBJECT: ISF COMMANDER ON AIRPORT SECURITY, NEEDS FOR
    WEAPONS

    REF: BEIRUT 2672

    Classified By: Jeffrey Feltman, Ambassador, per 1.4 (b) and (d).

    SUMMARY
    -------

    ¶1. (C/NF) In a 8/16 meeting with Ambassador and emboff,
    Internal Security Forces Commander Ashraf Rifi expressed
    confidence that the removal of an LAF unit from the Beirut
    airport and its replacement by the ISF (with its Sunni
    command hostile to Hizballah) has vastly improved the
    security of passenger travel. In arguing for the full
    resumption of passenger -- but not cargo -- traffic, Rifi
    also reported that the Hizballah-sympathizing airport
    security director had been sidelined by a general loyal to
    Walid Jumblatt. Rifi admitted, however, that security
    procedures for strictly cargo flights remain unchanged, and
    he talked of the need for sophisticated cargo screening
    equipment and rotation of cargo personnel. Rifi also cited
    successful recruitment (albeit with less Christian enlistment
    than he hoped) of 3,000 additional ISF officers, bringing the
    national police up to 21,700 (with 28,000 his goal). Yet he
    has no weaponry to offer many of his offices, Rifi said,
    asking the USG for help in getting 10,000 AK-47s or
    equivalent to Lebanon. Specifically, he hoped that the USG
    would push the UAE and Saudi Arabia to follow through on
    promises to provide such weapons and that the USG would
    provide coordination to make sure that the 10,000 AK-47s were
    permitted to pass through the Israeli blockade. End summary.

    DISCUSSIONS ON AIRPORT SECURITY
    -------------------------------

    ¶2. (C/NF) In light of earlier meetings with PM Siniora and
    Acting Minister of Interior Fatfat (reftel), the Ambassador
    and emboff asked to see Rifi on 8/16 specifically to talk
    about changes in security procedures at the Rafiq Hariri
    (formerly Beirut) International Airport (BIA). Rifi
    distinguished between passenger flights, which he argued
    could be resumed at full capacity and regular destinations
    now, and purely cargo traffic, which he implied still had
    vulnerabilities.

    LAF DEPLOYMENT TO SOUTH
    ALLOWS ISF TO ASSUME AIRPORT ROLE
    ---------------------------------

    ¶3. (C/NF) Fatfat confirmed that the LAF unit that formerly
    screened passenger baggage and other cargo on passenger
    planes had been withdrawn from BIA, in order to deploy to the
    south. This was a serendipitous development that provided an
    easy opportunity to change airport procedures. The ISF --
    with its Sunni command and its close relationship with the
    Hariri bloc -- has now replaced that LAF unit. With a
    one-for-one replacement, the ISF now has 120 people at the
    passenger terminal and will increase that number to 400. If
    the LAF (with officers at the airport supposedly linked
    directly to President Emile Lahoud) had Hizballah
    sympathizers in their ranks, they are now gone from the
    passenger area.

    HIZBALLAH SYMPATHIZER MARGINALIZED
    ----------------------------------

    ¶4. (C/NF) More important, Rifi argued, BIA security
    director General Wafiq Shuqair -- who nominally reports to
    the Acting Minister of Interior but is known to have
    connections both to President Emile Lahoud and Hizballah --
    remains in place but has been sidelined. A new airport
    security committee, composed of 12 ISF offices, now reports
    to Shuqair's deputy, ISF General Yassir Mahmoud, a Jumblatt
    loyalist. (In separate conversations with the Ambassador,
    both Jumblatt and Marwan Hamadeh described Mahmoud as good.
    Hamadeh expressed great relief in the airport changes.)
    Shuqair has accepted his marginalization, Rifi said, because
    the ISF "knows all about him": his alcoholism, previous
    smuggling activities, etc. Mahmoud's own deputy is General
    Elie Obeid, a Christian with strong airport experience and
    proven loyalties to the state. The tools that Shuqair used
    to have at his command at the passenger terminal, in terms of
    the LAF officers, are now gone.

    RIFI ADVOCATES RESUMPTION
    OF PASSENGER FLIGHTS, UNDER NEW PROCEDURES

    BEIRUT 00002680 002 OF 002

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

    ¶4. (C/NF) These changes were all accomplished without the
    need for the cabinet to act, Rifi emphasized, as only the
    formal replacement of Shuqair would require cabinet approval.
    Rifi expressed satisfaction that passenger flights can
    safely resume to all destinations. The Ambassador noted
    that, given Lebanon's requirement under UNSCR 1701 to combat
    arms smuggling, it is in Lebanon's strong interest to request
    international assistance, which could easily start with a
    quiet request for a UNIFIL presence at the airport. Rifi
    said that PM Siniora would need to discuss that issue. Rifi
    did not like the Ambassador's suggestion of phasing in
    flights incrementally, starting with shuttles between Amman
    and Beirut (an idea he described as "not practical" --
    although, we note, such a process is beginning today, 8/17).

    CARGO FLIGHT PROCEDURES REMAIN UNCHANGED
    ----------------------------------------

    ¶5. (C/NF) On cargo flights, Rifi was less confident.
    Purely cargo flights are handled differently than passenger
    flights; if the latter also carries cargo, they are
    nevertheless handled as passenger flights. For cargo
    flights, the LAF and Lebanese customs are in charge. Rifi
    did not have confidence in the loyalties of those assigned
    from either institution to the cargo terminal. In
    particular, he said, ten Shia LAF officers need to be
    replaced. While Rifi will deploy four elite ISF offices to
    the cargo area under an arrangement worked out by Mahmoud,
    Rifi also suggested that the Ambassador talk to Minister of
    Defense Murr and Finance Minister Azour about rotating
    officers. Rifi also said that Minister Fatfat was preparing
    a list of sophisticated cargo screening equipment that Rifi
    said needed to be procured by Arab -- not western -- states,
    to prevent the accusation of "mandate"-type arrangements over
    Lebanon. (Note: Perhaps mindful of PM Siniora's insistence
    that the airport and seaport blockade be lifted completely
    and immediately, Rifi never suggested that the blockade on
    cargo flights remain in place. But that was the implication
    of his message. End note.)

    USG SUPPORT REQUESTED IN GETTING
    10,000 AK-47S TO LEBANON
    --------------------------------

    ¶6. (C/NF) Rifi asked for USG support in acquiring 10,000
    AK-47s or equivalent for the expanding ISF. He noted that he
    had just recruited 3,000 new police officers, increasing the
    size of his force to 21,700 (with 28,000 his goal, the level粑
    authorized by the cabinet). His only recruitment problem, he
    said, was getting sufficient Christians to sign up. But he
    has no weapons, he lamented. So while the ISF is taking over
    some internal positions in Lebanon previously occupied by the
    LAF, the ISF has insufficient weapons for its mandate. Saudi
    Arabia and the UAE have both promised such weapons, Rifi
    said, but they need to be pushed in order to come through
    with them. Rifi expressed hope that the USG would send a
    message asking the UAE and Saudi Arabia to provide the guns
    and to work to make sure that the weapons were permitted to
    pass through the blockade.

    COMMENT
    -------

    ¶7. (C/NF) We hope that we can help Rifi with his desire to
    get weapons to the ISF. In general, because of the ISF's
    connections to Saad Hariri and its heavily Sunni (i.e.,
    essentially anti-Hizballah) officer ranks, the ISF is, in
    fact, relatively (albeit not 100 percent) reliable in terms
    of its basic outlook. But, especially in light of the ISF's
    failure to prevent the attack on UN House, there is a
    question as to how effective the ISF is on the ground.
    Certainly, the ISF needs weapons. In general, we see as
    positive the changes in terms of passenger processing at the
    airport. (Given institutional rivalries, we are sure that
    some LAF officers will decry the addition of the ISF to a
    traditional LAF stronghold.) We will continue to push for an
    international element and will continue these discussions
    with Minister of Public Works and Transport Safadi and
    Minister of Finance Azour (who oversees customs) today.
    FELTMAN

`