Wikileaks: Khoja says “We Should Help Hariri, Jumblatt, and Jaejae with Money and Arms”
Local Editor
According to cable number 06BEIRUT2323 dated 11 July 2006, Head of the Progressive Socialist Party MP Walid Jumblatt (in a meeting on July 7 with the US ambassador to Lebanon back then Jeffrey Feltman and other employees from the US embassy in Lebanon) described his last visit to Saudi Arabia as an attempt to convince Saudi King Abdullah of financing the March 14 political powers. He added that such financing would limit the wave of "Shiite expansion" prevailing in Lebanon and the region, by that implying to Hizbullah and its number one supporter Iran, as well as their Alawite supporter Syria.
According to the cable, King Abdullah did not show positive attitude during a meeting on the 4th of July in Jeddah. "King Abdullah was not receptive to the suggestion ... his predecessor was much more generous," noted Jumblatt.
The cable also noted that Jumblatt instead of being ashamed, he was happily bragging about the letter he sent to his partner in the March 14 camp Saad Hariri, expressing his hope that the Hariri fleet of Gold and Emeralds arrives safely from KSA.in another cable entitled "Jumblatt wants Hariri to Open His Wallet", Jumblatt told the ambassador that the Lebanese government should move fast in order to beat Hizbullah's efforts in the reconstruction process.
He considered that (Lebanese PM Fouad) Seniora has done a good job during the War with "Israel", yet he complained "Seniora is bold in dealing with the reconstruction process." Jumblatt advised that Seniora should stay side by side with Nabih Berri, and show up in the destroyed Beirut Southern Suburb, and that he should have raised a draft-law for the reconstruction process, stood up and said "I am the PM of Lebanon."
Jumblatt said the Lebanese government should reconstruct at least half of the destructed houses in the Dahiya and the South, but within only one year, before the Hizbullah machine proceed in the process. Jumblatt asserted that Hariri should start spending his millions on the reconstruction especially in Sunni regions such as Akkar in North Lebanon, where almost 15 thousand Sunnis were displaced and ran away to Syria during the war, and that this step should take place before the Sunnis turn into supporters to the Syrian cause.
"We do not need democracy now, we need money," Jumblatt said adding that Hariri had given him a "small sum" of 1 million dollars which he can spend in two or three months.
The cable also considered Jumblatt's fears concerning the weak and stingy Sunni leadership headed by Saad is because it shows huge difference between the Sunni leadership and Hizbullah's organized and funded Shiite machine.
Also, another cable under the number 09BEIRUT537 dated 14 May 2009 quoted Jumblatt as saying that "All the March 14 camp finally received funds from Saudi Arabia".
On another note, the Saudi ambassador to Lebanon back then Abdel Aziz Khoja in cable number 07BEIRUT133 dated the 25th of January pointed out that he still does not know the results of the Saudi-Iranian talks, noting that the US ambassador to Lebanon at the time Jeffrey Feltman was very optimistic on the developments taking place in Lebanon.
According to Khoja, the Saudi strategy followed to find an exist in Lebanon is useless, especially that Iran is the strongest partner to Hizbullah and has great influence on the party, adding that a Sunni-Shiite conflict does not serve Iran's interests. This took place while the March 14 was preparing to start the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Khoja, in the meeting with Feltman said that the March 14 has achieved many battles but wondered if they can continue for longer. He whispered to Feltman saying "WE have to help Saad Hariri, Walid Jumblatt, and even Samir Jeajea with money and weapons."
Another cable under the number 06BEIRUT2703 dated 20 August 2006 noted that Marwan Hamedeh and Naila Moawad urged during their meeting with the US ambassador Jeffrey Feltman at the time on the 20th of August that Kofi Anan should bring along the head of UN legal bureau Nicolas Michel (back then) when he travels to Beirut the coming week. Consequently, Michel would work on finish the draft of the Hariri tribunal and then, Kofi's visit to Lebanon would be in the correct context and would leave Syria without balance. They also reiterated that Michel's efforts should include finding other ways to expropriate Hizbullah and Syria's supporters. Another point Hamedeh and Moawad said the March 14 "cash" money should be used to compete with Hizbullah, especially that people do not remember those who build the bridge but do remember who gave them money.
Hamedeh had said that he and the PSP leader would soon head to KSA, hoping that the US would say a few nice words to the Saudis so that they would give Walid 3 or 4 million dollars to keep the Druze on the side of March 14.
According to cable number 06BEIRUT2323 dated 11 July 2006, Head of the Progressive Socialist Party MP Walid Jumblatt (in a meeting on July 7 with the US ambassador to Lebanon back then Jeffrey Feltman and other employees from the US embassy in Lebanon) described his last visit to Saudi Arabia as an attempt to convince Saudi King Abdullah of financing the March 14 political powers. He added that such financing would limit the wave of "Shiite expansion" prevailing in Lebanon and the region, by that implying to Hizbullah and its number one supporter Iran, as well as their Alawite supporter Syria.
According to the cable, King Abdullah did not show positive attitude during a meeting on the 4th of July in Jeddah. "King Abdullah was not receptive to the suggestion ... his predecessor was much more generous," noted Jumblatt.
The cable also noted that Jumblatt instead of being ashamed, he was happily bragging about the letter he sent to his partner in the March 14 camp Saad Hariri, expressing his hope that the Hariri fleet of Gold and Emeralds arrives safely from KSA.in another cable entitled "Jumblatt wants Hariri to Open His Wallet", Jumblatt told the ambassador that the Lebanese government should move fast in order to beat Hizbullah's efforts in the reconstruction process.
He considered that (Lebanese PM Fouad) Seniora has done a good job during the War with "Israel", yet he complained "Seniora is bold in dealing with the reconstruction process." Jumblatt advised that Seniora should stay side by side with Nabih Berri, and show up in the destroyed Beirut Southern Suburb, and that he should have raised a draft-law for the reconstruction process, stood up and said "I am the PM of Lebanon."
Jumblatt said the Lebanese government should reconstruct at least half of the destructed houses in the Dahiya and the South, but within only one year, before the Hizbullah machine proceed in the process. Jumblatt asserted that Hariri should start spending his millions on the reconstruction especially in Sunni regions such as Akkar in North Lebanon, where almost 15 thousand Sunnis were displaced and ran away to Syria during the war, and that this step should take place before the Sunnis turn into supporters to the Syrian cause.
"We do not need democracy now, we need money," Jumblatt said adding that Hariri had given him a "small sum" of 1 million dollars which he can spend in two or three months.
The cable also considered Jumblatt's fears concerning the weak and stingy Sunni leadership headed by Saad is because it shows huge difference between the Sunni leadership and Hizbullah's organized and funded Shiite machine.
Also, another cable under the number 09BEIRUT537 dated 14 May 2009 quoted Jumblatt as saying that "All the March 14 camp finally received funds from Saudi Arabia".
On another note, the Saudi ambassador to Lebanon back then Abdel Aziz Khoja in cable number 07BEIRUT133 dated the 25th of January pointed out that he still does not know the results of the Saudi-Iranian talks, noting that the US ambassador to Lebanon at the time Jeffrey Feltman was very optimistic on the developments taking place in Lebanon.
According to Khoja, the Saudi strategy followed to find an exist in Lebanon is useless, especially that Iran is the strongest partner to Hizbullah and has great influence on the party, adding that a Sunni-Shiite conflict does not serve Iran's interests. This took place while the March 14 was preparing to start the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Khoja, in the meeting with Feltman said that the March 14 has achieved many battles but wondered if they can continue for longer. He whispered to Feltman saying "WE have to help Saad Hariri, Walid Jumblatt, and even Samir Jeajea with money and weapons."
Another cable under the number 06BEIRUT2703 dated 20 August 2006 noted that Marwan Hamedeh and Naila Moawad urged during their meeting with the US ambassador Jeffrey Feltman at the time on the 20th of August that Kofi Anan should bring along the head of UN legal bureau Nicolas Michel (back then) when he travels to Beirut the coming week. Consequently, Michel would work on finish the draft of the Hariri tribunal and then, Kofi's visit to Lebanon would be in the correct context and would leave Syria without balance. They also reiterated that Michel's efforts should include finding other ways to expropriate Hizbullah and Syria's supporters. Another point Hamedeh and Moawad said the March 14 "cash" money should be used to compete with Hizbullah, especially that people do not remember those who build the bridge but do remember who gave them money.
Hamedeh had said that he and the PSP leader would soon head to KSA, hoping that the US would say a few nice words to the Saudis so that they would give Walid 3 or 4 million dollars to keep the Druze on the side of March 14.
Hamedeh said "In Lebanon, we are like whores; we remember those who give us cash not those who 'build bridges'..."
On another note, Hamedeh said that the Arab Gulf peoples are afraid of the speeches of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and Hizbullah SG Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah "We can worry about reform later, but we now have a battle of existence to fight, and money is the best enemy weapon."
In another cable related to PM Fouad Seniora under the number 06BEIRUT2702, the Lebanese PM at the time said that he asked the Saudis and Kuwaitis to refrain from sending the 500 and 300 million dollars as aid for reconstruction after the July war, justifying "I do not want this money to arrive to Nabih Berri's pocket!" Seniora said that the "Israeli" military attacks only make Hizbullah stronger, refusing the fact that the Lebanese government is neglecting its responsibilities concerning the resolution 1701. He asked Feltman "Is there any one in your government thatr understands that the deployment of the Lebanese army in the South is a historic event?" reiterating that the liberation of the Shebaa farms is the "key".
