VZCZCXRO7014
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHLB #0280/01 0310810
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 310810Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1757
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000280 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2016 
TAGS: KISL LE PGOV PTER SY
SUBJECT: MGLE01:  HEAD OF HIGHER SHIA COUNCIL ADVOCATES NEW 
APPROACH FOR US POLICY 
 
REF: 05 BEIRUT 3184 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman.  Reason: Section 1.4(d). 
 
SUMMARY 
-------- 
 
¶1.  (C)  On January 30, the Ambassador met with Acting 
Chairman of the Higher Shia Council Sheikh Abed al-Amir 
Qabalan.  Qabalan offered a critique of US policy in Lebanon 
and the Middle East, accusing the USG of practicing a double 
standard by not meeting with President Emile Lahoud and 
himself more often while, at the same time, relying too much 
on the March 14 coalition.  Qablan saw a simple solution to 
the Shia cabinet boycott: a declaration by Prime Minister 
Siniora that Hizballah is not a militia.  The Ambassador 
clarified US policy, explaining that the USG wants the Shia 
ministers to return to the cabinet, though that must be a 
Lebanese decision.  Also, the USG would back MP Saad Hariri's 
calls for an internal dialogue on Hizballah's arms, as long 
as everyone understand that real progress must be achieved. 
However, USG has not changed its position on Hizballah, the 
Ambassador noted, reminding Qabalan of Hizballah crimes that 
killed hundreds of Americans in the 1980s.  Qabalan expressed 
a common (among Shia) belief that Hizballah was not behind 
the attacks on Americans.  End summary. 
 
CRITIQUE ON US POLICY 
IN LEBANON 
--------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C)  During a January 30 meeting with the Ambassador, 
econoff, and political specialist, Acting Chairman of the 
Higher Shia Council Sheikh Abed al-Amir Qabalan offered his 
critique on US policy in Lebanon and in the region.  Qabalan 
suggested that the USG was practicing a double standard in 
Lebanese affairs by not meeting with all parties equally.  He 
said that the Embassy and USG should meet with President 
Emile Lahoud more often.  Also, Qabalan wondered why NEA A/S 
Welch did not visit him during his recent trip to Lebanon. 
Qabalan continued that "that those who stand with you" (i.e. 
the March 14 coalition) will betray the US and make a deal 
with Syria.  The USG must re-evaluate its policies in the 
region, too.  Look at the Hamas electoral victory in the 
Palestinian Authority.  "Occupation is terrorism," he 
declared.  Qabalan added that he expected the USG to abandon 
Iraqi Shia to make a deal with the other Iraqi communities. 
 
¶3.  (C)  Turning more positive, Qabalan confided that "a lot 
of people" ask him why he meets with the US Ambassador.  His 
reply is that it is good to meet others, and that he meets 
with all the ambassadors.  "No one supports terrorism; 
everyone wants to live in peace with others," said Qabalan, 
voicing one of his frequent themes.  Citing an Arabic 
expression, Qabalan stated that "wisdom is covered by a 
straw," meaning that the answer is plainly there.  And the 
answer to the current Shia cabinet boycott is only a few 
words: "Hizballah is not a militia."  If Prime Minister Fouad 
Siniora declares those few words, then the walk-out will end, 
claimed Qabalan.  He then urged the Ambassador to intervene 
with Siniora, saying that "although you say it is not your 
business, it is your business."  Turning to Hizballah's arms, 
Qabalan promised that if the USG calms down its rhetoric and 
"solves" the dispute over the Shebaa Farms and Kfar Shouba 
Hills, then the Lebanese will have "50 solutions to 
Hizballah," such as merging its military wing into the 
Lebanese Army. 
 
USG VIEWS ON HIZBALLAH 
REMAIN UNCHANGED 
-------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C)  The Ambassador responded that, regarding the Shia 
cabinet boycott, the Embassy hopes that the cabinet is 
reunited as quickly as possible so that Siniora can make the 
necessary reforms to move Lebanon forward.  The Embassy is 
not trying to push Hizballah ministers out of cabinet, as 
alleged in some of the popular rumors floating around, but 
rather would like the cabinet to come together.  But, 
ultimately, this is a Lebanese decision, and the Embassy will 
leave this decision for the Lebanese to make.  For example, 
MP Saad Hariri in Washington called for an internal dialogue 
on Hizballah's arms.  The USG is willing to support this, 
understands that UNSCR 1559 will not be implemented 
immediately, but wants to see genuine dialogue leading to 
results. 
 
 
BEIRUT 00000280  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶5.  (C)  Qabalan, as he has in previous meetings (reftel), 
asked the Ambassador about the USG relationship with 
Hizballah.  The Ambassador replied that USG policy has not 
changed towards Hizballah and will not change until, inter 
alia, Hizballah answers for its crimes that killed hundreds 
of Americans in the 1980s.  Some of the suspects in those 
crimes are still within Hizballah's leadership, the 
Ambassador pointed out.  USG relations with Hizballah are not 
improving.  The Ambassador added that before 9/11 more 
Americans had been killed by terrorism in Lebanon than in any 
other country. 
 
¶6.  (C)  Qabalan indignantly asked why Hizballah is singled 
out.  After all, Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra is accused 
of killing 24 people at checkpoints and abducting Iranian 
diplomats during the civil war.  Qabalan also professed 
ignorance about the reasons the USG accused Hizballah of the 
attacks on Americans during the civil war.  The perpetrator 
could have been Amal, the Syrian Social National Party, the 
Progressive Socialist Party, or any other faction, said 
Qabalan with a straight face.  The difference, replied the 
Ambassador, was that Hizballah killed Americans.  Thus, the 
USG will not accept Hizballah as a non-terrorist entity until 
justice is served. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶7.  (C)  Qabalan expressed many common rumors and myths in 
the Lebanese Shia community as if they were fact.  Many Shia 
deny that Hizballah (at least in its current form) was 
responsible for the terrorist attacks and kidnapping of the 
1980s.  There is also a pervasive belief in the Shia 
community that the USG is biased against the Shia.  Qabalan 
also repeated, without prompting, the newly vogue phrase "the 
Shebaa Farms and Kfar Shouba Hills," where he had simply 
referred to the disputed area as "the Shebaa Farms" before. 
End comment. 
FELTMAN