Wikileaks Cables Reveal How March 14 Team Sabotaged Russian Deal to Equip Lebanese Army
New Wikileaks cables on Lebanon were revealed and published by Al Akhbar daily, this time revealing how the March 14 camp sabotaged the Russian MiG-29 fighter jets deal, which was supposed to be supplies from Moscow to the Lebanese army as a gift from Russia.
The deal was later disabled by Head of Future Movement Saad Hariri, Defense Minister Elias Murr, and Head of Lebanese Forces Executive Board Samir Jaejae, in cooperation with US officials, especially former US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Sisson, and US Assistant Secretary of State David Hale.
A week after Russia declared its will to present the Lebanese army with some 10 MiG-29 fighter jets in January 2009, Sisson wrote in one of the revealed cables, "We will continue working backstage to insure that the army does not need the MiG jets, finding the army not capable of affording the expenses of maintenance, which gives the Lebanese government an excuse to refuse the Russian offer".
Murr to Sisson on the Russian Jets Deal: Be Sure I Will Stall the Issue
According to the cable revealed, of the label 08Beirut1780, Ambassador Sisson met with Minister Murr in December 22, 2008, and during the meeting, the latter tried to justify his acceptance of the Russian offer.
He said that during the meeting he held with his Russian counterpart in December 16 2008, the Russian Defense Minister gave Murr a 6-page Arabic document, stating the details about Russia's gift to the Lebanese army, which includes 77 tanks, 72-T and 130 millimeters Mortars, in addition to 50 thousand missiles added to all tanks and artillery.
Murr also added to Sisson that he gave the documents back to his Russian counterpart after thanking him and clarifying to him that the Lebanese army no longer needs the offer. According to the cable, the Russian Defense Minister expressed anger and asked what Lebanon's needs were.
In this context, Murr told him that Lebanon needed MiG-29 fighter jets, and after 25 minutes, the Russian Minister said, "Moscow will grant Lebanon 10 MiG-29 jets for free". Murr thanked the Russian Minister, and claimed he would need the cabinet's approval before any agreement is sealed.
Murr told the US Ambassador that he did not have any choice but to accept the offer, saying, "If both the tanks and jets offers were refused, then he [Murr] will be accused of treason against his country and of working for the US". He affirmed that the Russian offer could be exploited as a play card against Hizbullah.
Elias Murr confirmed to the US Ambassador Sisson that he will take measure leading to a conclusion that the Russian offer is not of high value for Lebanon on the financial level. He told Sisson, "Be confident that I will not take any decision before the end of 2009, and I will stall this issue".
Hariri: MiG-29 Fighter Jets Prevent Repetition of May 7 Events by Hizbullah
On the same level, the cable labeled 08Beirut1783, documented in December 17 2008, stated that now Caretaker PM Saad Hariri said in his meeting with David Hale that "Possessing MiG-29 Fighter Jets will be a positive step for the March 14 forces". He also added, "Hizbullah will not be capable of repeating the May 7 events in presence of the MiG-29 jets. The presence of these jets could complicate the "Israeli" reconnaissance flights in the South, and could most probably weaken its weapon exploitation excuses". Hariri also stated that "Hizbullah is threatened by the MiG deal".
Commenting on Hariri's stance, Ambassador Sisson expressed, "The Embassy did not sense a negative reaction from Hizbullah regarding this deal". She also pointed out that a Hizbullah representative confirmed in an official statement, his party's support to arming the Lebanese army, whoever the donator was, as long as it is to confront "Israel".
On the level of deactivating the arms deal, former PM Foad Siniora has a big role, where according to Wikileaks, he commented on the Zionist enemy's fears regarding Lebanon possessing MiG-29 fighter jets. Siniora confirmed to Hale that "Announcing this deal was good for the Lebanese army's spirit and for the country, and has made Hizbullah and Syria uncomfortable".
Jaejae: 10 Jets Do Not Threaten "Israel's" Security
The US Assistant Secretary of State continued went on his meetings with Lebanese politicians, where he visited Lebanese Forces' Samir Jaejae on December 19 2008. According to the Wikileaks cable labeled 08Beirut1799, Jaejae told David Hale, "The Lebanese Army has a strange doctrine. Do you think that accepting those fighter jets will shift it to a Russian doctrine?"
Jaejae succeeded in soothing Hale after he weakened the image of the Lebanese army's determinations and capabilities, saying, "The Lebanese army needs hundreds of MiG-29 fighter jets, and early warning aircraft, in addition to a 10 year training deal, to succeed in threatening "Israel's" security."
Qahwaji: The Army Needs Helicopters
As for MP Walid Jumblatt, he clarified, "We do not need the MiG-29 jets".
On another hand, Lebanese Army General Jean Qahwaji rejected Hale's excuses by simply affirming, "The army needs helicopters".
Murr: We Will Not Request MiG-29 Fighter Jets Before 2040
Two month after Hale's meetings tour, then US Ambassador to Lebanon met again with Lebanese Defense Minister on February 26, 2009, according to cable 09Beirut235. During the said meeting, Murr complained from the Russian Ambassador's insistence on sending a Lebanese Army unit to Moscow to train on MiG-29 fighter jets. Murr said he was postponing the Russian offer, and simply wishes it would disappear.
Murr's sarcasm over the possibility that the Lebanese Army would possess the Russian jets was stated in the cable 09Beirut400 dated in April 6 2009, in which he told Sisson, "Lebanon will not accept any MiG-29 fighter jets soon, not before 2040".
Washington to Tel Aviv: Military Help to Lebanon Depends on Your Acceptance
A cable labeled 07TELAVIV867 revealed the US concern that "Israel" is taken into consideration on the level of presenting the Lebanese Army with military aid. According to the Wikileaks revealed cable, the US Ambassador to "Israel", Richard Jones, told "Israeli" Transportation Minister, Shaoul Mofaz that Washington attempts to present the Lebanese Army with military equipments, and has sent a list of equipments to the Foreign Minister's office and Defense Ministry to be revised.
Jones explained that the list includes coded wireless weapons, night vision goggles, and anti tank missiles. He hoped "Israel" would allow delivering the aforementioned equipments to the Lebanese Army, adding that "The US wants to enhance the abilities of the Lebanese Government, so it would be able to confront Hizbullah and other militias".
In this context, Mofaz warned saying, "According to "Israel's" information, the Shiites represent 50% of the Lebanese population, which would make it harder for the Army when confronting Hizbullah".
The US assurances did not succeed in dropping the "Israeli" objections, which according to cable 08TELAVIV1693, was the center of discussion over the Lebanese issue during the meeting held in July 16 2008 between Under US Secretary of State John Rodd and "Israeli" officials.
The "Israeli" officials on their part said they believe that "Equipments like sniper glass, anti-night tank missile could be exploited against "Israel" and not against Hizbullah".
The same attitude was expressed by "Israeli" War Ministry's Director, Benhas Bukhares during his meeting with US Ambassador to Tel Aviv James Cunningham. (Cable 08TELAVIV2236)
The same cable mentioned that Bukhares doubted the US decision regarding enhancing the capabilities of the Lebanese army, affirming "He was hoping "Israel" and the US would reach an agreement in this regard".
On another hand, Major Fred Bullock (cable 08TELAVIV) said that there should be at least clear standards regarding the US support to the Lebanese army, which requires the army to conduct a better implementation of the UN Security Council resolution, including securing the borders and pursuing Hizbullah.
The "Israeli" concerns from the Lebanese Army armament stayed the same according to cable 09TELAVIV1688, which also includes the report of a meeting held between US Assistant Secretary of State for Military and Political Affairs Andrew Shapiro and a group of political officials.
During the meeting, all sides discussed the Lebanese situation, which then had just overcome the parliamentary elections. The "Israeli" officials, on behalf of their government, requested from the US delegation to give them a chance to continue negotiations regarding the US plans concerning the Lebanese Army.
On this level, Shapiro noted, "The need to enhance the Lebanese institutions, including the military army institution, is more important now than any other time". The "Israeli" War Minister General Director referred that although the elections in Lebanon resulted in a positive outcome [for March 14], yet Hizbullah remains to be powerful.
On his part, Head of the Strategic Department in the "Israeli" army's planning department, Yossi Heiman, expressed "deep concerns" regarding the coordination taking place between Hizbullah and the Lebanese army.
Director of the Zionist War Ministry's Political Security Department, Amos Gilad believed, "The "Israeli" government does not think the Lebanese army would hold any attack against "Israel". Yet the Zionist government, with reference to the relations between Hizbullah and the Lebanese army, is sure that the "Israeli" army will at some point confront the Lebanese army in any conflict triggered with Hizbullah".
