VZCZCXRO1221
PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHLB #1678/01 1501154
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 301154Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3714
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001678 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2016 
TAGS: ASEC JO LE MAS PTER SA SY
SUBJECT: MGLE01:  CT COORDINATOR CRUMPTON AND ISF DIRECTOR 
DISCUSS SECURITY ASSISTANCE 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman.  Reason: Section 1.4 (d). 
 
SUMMARY 
-------- 
 
¶1.  (S)  In a May 23 meeting, Internal Security Forces (ISF) 
Director General Ashraf Rifi told Counterterrorism 
Coordinator Crumpton, the Ambassador, and emboffs that the 
ISF was rapidly expanding both its size and mission.  From a 
personnel level of 13,000 last year, Rifi plans to increase 
the ISF to 28,000.  With 19,000 personnel now, he expects to 
complete this expansion in four to five years.  The ISF is 
also getting involved in counterterrorism, a role it did not 
previously perform.  USG assistance can help with both 
trends, especially the need for intermediate to advanced 
training, said Rifi.  The ISF has increased its cooperation 
with the other security agencies, including military 
intelligence.  Rifi acknowledged some challenges such as a 
lack of a coordinating body for the security services, the 
perception among many Christians that the ISF is dominated by 
Sunni Muslims, and delays caused by politics.  He asked for 
further training, and equipment assistance from the USG and 
its allies.  End summary. 
 
RIFI REVIEWS POSITIVE 
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ISF 
----------------------- 
 
¶2.  (S)  On May 23, Counterterrorism Coordinator Henry 
Crumpton, the Ambassador, D/RSO, and econoff met with 
Internal Security Forces (ISF) Director General Maj. Gen. 
Ashraf Rifi and his staff at ISF headquarters.  Crumpton 
opened the meeting by thanking Rifi for the ongoing 
cooperation between the USG and ISF.  Rifi thanked Crumpton 
for USG support for Lebanon and the ISF.  Rifi then listed 
the internal security threats facing Lebanon, naming the 
regional Arab-Israeli conflict, radicalism and terrorism, and 
crime as the top three threats.  The terrorist threat, in 
particular, is on the rise, said Rifi.  The ISF had captured 
members of a cell linked to Al Qaida, and a suspect who was 
planning terrorist attacks in New York, recounted Rifi 
proudly.  He further clarified that the threats facing 
Lebanon are often intertwined.  For example, the Al Qaida 
cell was linked to Syrian intelligence, according to Rifi. 
Members of the cell had lived in Syria for two years where 
they were able to move about freely in their mission to 
recruit suicide bombers for Iraq. 
 
¶3.  (S)  Rifi was upbeat about the future of the ISF.  When 
he was appointed ISF Director General last year, the ISF 
counted some 13,000 personnel.  Currently, the ISF numbers 
19,000.  According to ISF calculations, the ISF will need to 
raise its personnel level to 28,000 to secure a country of 4 
million people.  Rifi expected the ISF to reach 28,000 in 
four to five years, with delays due only to budgetary 
constraints.  Rifi was also encouraged by increased 
cooperation between the ISF and other security agencies, 
especially the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) military 
intelligence.  He explained that this closer coordination 
began following the massive March 14, 2005 rally in Beirut. 
Rapid expansion in the ranks of the ISF was made possible 
with LAF help.  When the ISF ran out of training facilities, 
the LAF lent some of its bases for ISF basic training.  The 
instructors were ISF, but used LAF facilities.  Rifi reported 
that the ISF counterterrorism department holds routine 
meetings with LAF military intelligence and maintains regular 
communication with LAF intelligence.  This year saw the first 
joint ISF-LAF operation, which resulted in the capture of 
those suspected of bombing an army barracks in Sidon.  The 
various security agencies are now routinely exchanging both 
operational and analytic information with each other, 
according to Rifi. 
 
RIFI ACKNOWLEDGES CHALLENGES 
AND ASKS FOR U.S. ASSISTANCE 
---------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (S)  In response to questions by Ambassador Crumpton and 
the Ambassador, Rifi acknowledged some of the challenges 
facing the ISF.  First, there is no single GOL authority to 
coordinate the various intelligence and security agencies. 
The prime minister has a committee for this but is it more 
ceremonial than practical.  Rifi said he supports a national 
intelligence council.  Currently, the ISF reports to the 
Prime Minister, Interior Minister, and any other interested 
ministries.  Second, Rifi expressed frustration with the 
perception among many Christians that the ISF was turning 
 
BEIRUT 00001678  002 OF 002 
 
 
into an agency dominated by Sunnis.  The rumor appears to 
have been started by pro-Syrian Lebanese after the ISF began 
its probe into the assassination of Rafiq Hariri.  Rifi said 
he met with Maronite Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Sfeir on this 
issue and had increased the number of Christian officers in 
the ISF's intelligence unit.  Rifi explained that it is 
difficult to recruit Christians at the entry-level rank of 
"policeman."  Christians want to be sergeants or officers and 
are often unwilling to accept a lower rank.  Third, Rifi 
acknowledged that security progress can and has been limited 
by political realities. 
 
¶5.  (S)  Rifi, though confident that the ISF can guarantee 
Lebanon's security, said that continued and enhanced U.S. 
assistance was crucial to the success of ISF counterterrorism 
efforts.  When asked by Crumpton for ISF needs, Rifi replied 
that the ISF maintains a long list of requirements.  The USG 
can help in the form of moral support, specialized training, 
technical equipment, and officer exchanges.  Counterterrorism 
is a new mission for the ISF, Rifi explained, so it needs 
help developing professionalism.  Rifi asked that the USG 
provide more assistance as soon as possible to assist the 
rapid expansion of both the ISF's ranks and its mission. 
 
¶6.  (S)  Rifi said the ISF list of requirements allows him to 
keep track of the assistance the ISF receives from its many 
donor countries, including the U.S., European Union, United 
Kingdom, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.  When a need is met 
through international assistance, it is crossed off the list. 
 Rifi noted that British security officials have held a 
seminar for the various security agencies.  He was especially 
laudatory of Jordan, describing its support as excellent. 
Jordanian security officials have been training ISF 
personnel, and recently invited them to Jordan for further 
training.  In addition, Saudi Arabia has finally come around 
and offered to assist Lebanese security services.  Rifi 
agreed that one of his biggest needs was training, due to the 
ISF's surge in recruitment of new officers.  He thanked 
Crumpton for USG support, explaining that the GOL knows that 
the USG is behind the increased support of other countries 
for Lebanon. 
FELTMAN