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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000236 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/HARDING 
STATE FOR INL/AAE, NEA/ELA 
ROME FOR DHS/ICE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PREL NAS PTER IS SY LE
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF INTERIOR WELCOMES ENHANCED COOPERATION 
WITH U.S. 
 
BEIRUT 00000236  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison 
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: In a February 13, 2008 introductory meeting 
pro-Hariri Interior Minister Hassan As-Sabaa welcomed 
Ambassador and communicated his strong interest in the active 
collaboration between the USG and the MOI in security related 
matters.  He stressed the continuing need for further 
assistance for not only the Internal Security Forces (ISF), 
but also for the Directorate General of General Security 
(Surete General - SG), the two key internal security related 
agencies under MOI's authority.  Discussing the MOI 
preparations to guard against an outbreak of violence on 
February 14 due to the converging of thousands in Beirut to 
attend rival faction sponsored events, Sabaa stated that 
meticulous plans had been put into place by the ISF and 
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to minimize the possibility of 
violence.  The Minister provided a brief overview of his 
Ministry's role in border security, highlighting in the 
particular the important immigration and border inspection 
functions of the Surete Generale. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (U) The Ministry of Interior has authority over the ISF 
and the SG.  Its current minister since 2005, Hassan Sabaa, a 
Sunni, is a member of the March 14 coalition and has close 
ties with the Hariri family.  In his welcoming remarks to the 
Ambassador and INL Lebanon Director he referenced the strong 
and close relationship his Ministry has had with the USG. 
Desirous of continuing and strengthening those ties, Sabaa 
remarked on the significant and unending need for training 
and equipment to strengthen the ISF and make it a national 
force, capable of providing internal security and protection 
for all Lebanese. 
 
USG Assistance to ISF Through INL's 
Police Modernization Program 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) Providing an overview of the USG's commitment to 
enhance the professionalism and effectiveness of the ISF, 
Ambassador introduced the Embassy's new INL Director and 
outlined the current progress of the new INL Lebanon Police 
Modernization Program, funded by Congress last year with a 
$60 million supplemental appropriation.  She noted that two 
thirds of these funds will be used to provide training to 
8,000 ISF cadets and 1,200 instructors, refurbish the Police 
Academy, the Central Control and Command Center, and 18 
additional police substations throughout the country, provide 
state-of-the-art communications equipment, 300 unarmored 
police vehicles, individual police gear for 4,000 policemen 
and police riot gear and civil disorder management equipment 
for 2000 more. 
 
¶4. (U) The Minister thanked the Ambassador and reiterated 
that the ISF needs considerable training and equipment to 
make it a truly effective force.  Any and all assistance the 
USG can provide in this regard is welcomed and his ministry 
will cooperate fully in having the programs implemented by 
his directorates.  He stressed that much had been done to 
raise the level of the ISF during Prime Minister Siniora's 
administration.  The number of its personnel rose from 13,000 
to 24,000.  In 2005 only 8,000 ISF members had pistols and 
rifles and now all have weapons, he reported. He conceded, 
however, that they have a continuing need for more training 
and equipment, as well as upgraded facilities. 
 
Current Security Situation 
-------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Responding to the Ambassador's query on security 
preparations for handling the two large events planned on 
February 14 (the anniversary of former PM Hariri's 
assassination, and the funeral for Hezbollah military 
commander Imad Mughniyah killed the day before in Syria), 
Sabaa calmly responded that the LAF, SG and ISF are 
cooperating to provide full security in Beirut. Sabaa noted 
that a central situation room had been established, with all 
security forces, including ISF, LAF, and State Security, 
together monitoring the evolving situation, and therefore 
able to react immediately if any unrest occurred.  To prevent 
against an increased risk of violence arising if both groups 
passed each other in the streets, the ISF and LAF have set up 
 
BEIRUT 00000236  002 OF 002 
 
 
increased security near Baabda and Beirut International 
Airport and the ISF is 100 percent deployed throughout all of 
Beirut. Traffic control would divert the two factions down 
different roadways to minimize the possibility of conflict 
arising through chance meetings on the streets. Sabaa 
mentioned that he was pleased to hear that Hezbollah did not 
put out an official call for followers to gather to mourn the 
death of their military leader.  Hezbollah had informed them 
that they will each have to arrive separately, utilizing 
their own transportation, and not Hezbollah-provided buses. 
 
 
¶6.  (C)  Sabaa attributes the current political tension to 
the March 8 faction and Syria, which he states wants to 
continue the political vacuum caused by the delay in the 
presidential elections.  The aim has been to ignite small 
outbreaks of petty violence to create an atmosphere of 
insecurity and instability to prevent a large turnout at the 
February 14 rally commemorating Hariri. 
 
Border Security and the SG 
-------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (U)  When asked what role the MOI has in border security, 
the Minister responded that the only role is through the SG 
with its immigration-related functions. He said that customs 
is handled through the Ministry of Finance and that the LAF 
covers the ports, but that SG fills the immigration inspector 
function at the Beirut International Airport (BIA) and mans 
four land border crossing points.  He explained that 
currently the ISF has no border security role, but that once 
the Common Border Project pilot program gets underway, the 
ISF will occupy the position of Assistant Commander to LAF's 
Commander.  According to Sabaa, although the Pilot Program 
started two and one half months ago, nothing has happened to 
date with it, and he is unaware of ISF's activity in border 
protection to date, outside of its security role in policing 
at the BIA. 
 
¶8.  (U) Sabaa welcomed any assistance and training the USG 
could provide for the SG.  He noted that it holds an 
important role in his Ministry, both in terms of its 
immigration role, but also its security and information 
functions. 
 
SISON