Wikileaks [29]: Saud al Faisal: Destroying Hezbollah is an "easier battle to win"...

Wednesday, 14 May 2008, 09:24

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 000768

SUBJECT: LEBANON: SAG FM SAYS UN PEACE KEEPING FORCE NEEDED NOW

1. (S) SUMMARY. S/I Ambassador David Satterfield and an MNF-I/Embassy Baghdad team met with SAG Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal on May 10. While Iraq was the main topic discussed, Saud brought up events taking place in Beirut and emphasized the need for a "security response" to Hizballah,s "military challenge to the Government of Lebanon."....

2. (S) Opening a discussion with S/I Satterfield focused largely on Iraq, Saud first turned to Lebanon ..... Saud argued that the present situation in Beirut was "entirely military" and that the solution must be military as well..... What was needed was an "Arab force" drawn from Arab "periphery" states to deploy to Beirut under the "cover of the UN" and with a significant presence drawn from UNIFIL in south Lebanon "which is sitting doing nothing."...

3. (S) Satterfield asked what support this concept had from Siniora and from other Arab states. Saud responded that "Siniora strongly supports," but that only Jordan and Egypt "as well as Arab League SYG Moussa" were aware of the proposal, lest premature surfacing result in its demise. No contacts had been made with Syria on any Beirut developments, Saud said, adding, "what would be the use?"

4. (S) Saud said that of all the regional fronts on which Iran was now advancing, the battle in Lebanon to secure peace would be an "easier battle to win" (than Iraq or on the Palestinian front). Satterfield said that the "political and military" feasibility of the undertaking Saud had outlined would appear very much open to question. In particular, attempting to establish a new mandate for UNIFIL would be very problematic. Satterfield said the US would carefully study any Arab decision on a way forward. Saud concluded by underscoring that a UN/Arab peace-keeping force coupled with US air and naval support would "keep out Hezbollah forever" in Lebanon.