VZCZCXRO6572
PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHLB #1168/01 2211543
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 081543Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2695
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0084
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2712
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2968
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEPGAB/MNF-I C2X BAGHDAD IZ

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIRUT 001168 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, PM/FO 
ALSO FOR IO ACTING A/S HOOK, PDAS WARLICK 
P FOR HMUSTAPHA AND RRANGASWAMY 
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/SCHEDLBAUER 
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER/MCDERMOTT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2018 
TAGS: OVIP PETRAEUS DAVID PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC
MARR, MOPS, LE, SY, IZ 
SUBJECT: LEBANON: PETRAEUS AND SLEIMAN DISCUSS SYRIAN TRIP, 
REGIONAL TERRORISM, MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO LEBANON 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. William Grant for reasons 1.4 (b) 
 and (d). 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. (C) In an August 6 meeting with visiting General David 
Petraeus, President Michel Sleiman outlined three objectives 
for his upcoming meeting with Syrian President Bashar Asad. 
Most important, Sleiman said, is to initiate a diplomatic 
exchange between the two countries.  Additionally, Sleiman 
plans to discuss not only demarcation of the Lebanon-Syrian 
border but control of it as well.  Lastly, Sleiman said he 
would raise the issue of Lebanese citizens detained and 
missing in Syria, although he is not optimistic that these 
people will be found alive. 
 
¶2. (S) On regional terrorism, Sleiman agreed with Petraeus's 
request that he raise with Syrian President Asad the 
necessity of stemming the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq 
assisted by facilitators in Syria.  Sleiman further commented 
that a fair solution to the Palestinian problem in Lebanon 
would go a long way in solving Lebanon's problems by 
eliminating the major problem that extremist groups have 
exploited to advance their agendas. 
 
¶3. (C) Sleiman thanked Petraeus for continued U.S. military 
and political cooperation and assistance.  Sleiman noted that 
his priorities were additional training and equipment for 
Lebanese Special Forces Commandos and the intelligence 
structure behind them.  End summary. 
 
¶4. (SBU) During his one day visit to Lebanon on August 6, 
Commanding General of the Multi-National Force-Iraq General 
David Petraeus met with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman at 
Baabda Palace.  Petraeus was accompanied by Colonel Mike 
Bell, Director-Commander's Initiatives Group; Sadi Othman, 
Cultural Advisor and Translator; Major Joel Rayburn, 
Commander's Staff; and Lieutenant Colonel Everett Spain, 
Aide-de-Camp.  Also in attendance were Charge d'Affaires, 
a.i. William Grant; A/DCM Susanne Rose; Defense Attache 
Lieutenant Colonel David Alley; Chief, Office of Defense 
Cooperation Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Leinberger; and 
Political Officer Bridgette Walker (notetaker).  President 
Sleiman was accompanied by Major Fayez Mashmoushi, Personal 
Security Officer to the President; Adib Abi Akl, Press 
Advisor; and Nadine Abdelnour, Translator. 
 
SLEIMAN'S AGENDA IN DAMASCUS 
---------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) President Sleiman told General Petraeus he had three 
objectives for his upcoming visit to Syria (which we expect 
to occur August 13).  The first is to use the visit as an 
initial step toward establishing diplomatic relations between 
Lebanon and Syria.  In his view, this is an important 
starting point for improved relations. 
 
¶6. (C) The second priority is demarcation and control of the 
Lebanon-Syria border, he continued.  Particularly in the 
northern part of Lebanon, near Tripoli, Sleiman expressed a 
strong desire for better Lebanese-Syrian cooperation to 
control the border to the benefit of both countries. 
Intermittent clashes between various groups in the border 
region have put pressure on the LAF in the last three years. 
During the recent clashes between armed Alawite and Shia 
groups in Tripoli, Sleiman said he called Syrian President 
Asad to request that he close the border.  His reason, he 
said, was to prevent any Islamic extremists from entering 
Lebanon through Syria.  Sleiman believes the extremist threat 
is serious and insurgent groups like Fatah Al-Islam could 
"stir up trouble" in Lebanon. 
 
¶7. (C) Additionally, Sleiman said he planned to raise with 
Asad the issue of Lebanese detained or missing in Syria. 
 
BEIRUT 00001168  002 OF 003 
 
 
Sleiman did not know the exact numbers, but said he is not 
optimistic that many of these people will be found alive. 
However, he believes it is important to attempt to obtain 
some information and find some resolution and comfort for the 
families of these missing Lebanese citizens.  Sleiman neither 
expects an agreement will be easily reached with Syria about 
the detainees, nor that the Lebanese parliament will readily 
approve any agreement, but he said this is important to the 
Lebanon-Syria relationship. 
 
DISCUSSING IRAN AND IRAQ WITH SYRIANS 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶8. (C) When asked by Petraeus whether he would discuss 
Iranian influence in the region with Syrian President Asad, 
Sleiman clearly stated "this is not my objective."  However, 
Sleiman reaffirmed the need for Lebanon to "tie" its 
relationship to Syria, as well as with its Arab neighbors. 
With respect to Iraq, Petraeus informed Sleiman of the 
lucrative possibilities for Syria (i.e. benefitting from 
Iraqi oil wealth) in Iraq if it chooses to support the new 
Iraqi leadership. 
 
DISCUSSING TERRORIST THREATS 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (S/NF) President Sleiman agreed to raise with Asad, at the 
request of Petraeus, the need to stem the flow of foreign 
fighters into and out of Iraq through facilitators based in 
Syria.  General Petraeus explained this would not only help 
the Iraqis, but would also benefit Syria.  Petraeus 
emphasized his assessment that the foreign fighter 
facilitators affiliated with Al-Qaida, such as Abu Ghadiyah, 
could pose a serious threat to Syria's Alawite leadership in 
predominantly Sunni Muslim Syria.  Sleiman expressed his 
belief that Syria fully understands the potential threat of 
these facilitators because he and Asad discussed this in 
Paris on the margins of a Union of the Mediterranean meeting 
in June. 
 
¶10. (S/NF) General Petraeus told Sleiman that he would also 
focus on the activities of Al-Qaida in the Levant (AQ-Levant) 
when he assumes CENTCOM leadership. 
 
¶11. (C) Sleiman commented that these facilitators and other 
extremists groups are also a threat to Lebanon.  Sleiman 
shared his concern about extremist groups who have wrapped 
themselves in the "just cause of the Palestinians" to justify 
their own actions.  He remarked that a fair resolution of the 
Palestinian issue, whether return to their homeland or some 
other solution, would help to solve some of Lebanon's 
problems.  Sleiman noted that the GOL had been successful in 
reducing extremist safe havens and bringing areas of the 
country under GOL control.  Sleiman pointed to the history of 
the southern areas of Lebanon that, until 2006, were not 
under the full control of the GOL.  Sleiman credited UNSCR 
1701 and UNIFIL deployment in these areas for the improvement 
in Lebanese security. 
 
PRIORITY U.S. MILITARY SUPPORT 
SHOULD GO TO SPECIAL FORCES 
--------------------------- 
 
¶12. (C) President Sleiman thanked General Petraeus for U.S. 
mlitary support and assistance to the Lebanese Arme Forces 
(LAF).  Sleiman remarked that the politial situation in 
Lebanon is not easy, but is better than before.  Sleiman 
noted that the Lebanese constitution recognizes the diversity 
of Lebanon through its confessional system; and the system 
should be respected.  He added, however, the Lebanese 
situation is critical, and the country requires a strong, 
national military.  He said the GOL "needs the support of the 
U.S. to preserve the efficacy" of the LAF.  Furthermore, he 
welcomed the expansive military and political cooperation 
with the U.S., but also requested more training and better 
 
BEIRUT 00001168  003 OF 003 
 
 
equipment. 
 
¶13. (S/NF) Petraeus asked which units within the LAF could 
benefit from additional support, Sleiman was quick to 
identify the Lebanese Special Forces, particularly commandos, 
saying Lebanon needs "strong people" to fight the new threat: 
terrorism.  Sleiman said Lebanon needed a larger army that 
was well trained and adequately equipped to intervene quickly 
and effectively in Lebanon, particularly against internal 
challenges such as terrorism and extremism.  When Petraeus 
inquired about the capability of the intelligence structure 
behind the Special Forces, Sleiman responded "It is not bad, 
but we need assistance."  Petraeus assured Sleiman of 
continued U.S. military assistance. 
 
¶14. (C) General Petraeus has cleared this message. 
 
GRANT