Wikileaks: Michel Sleiman 'threatens Ziad Baroud' & concerns that 'Hariri had not received campaign funds from the Saudis'

SUBJECT: LEBANON: DEFMIN MURR MAKES A PLEA FOR MORE U.S. MILITARY SUPPORT, DISCUSSES UPCOMING ELECTIONS 

D. 2008 BEIRUT 1780 

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 

2. (C) The Ambassador, accompanied by PolOff, met with Defense Minister Elias Murr at his home in Rabieh April 4, on the eve of Murr's departure for Washington. They spoke of the many successes resulting from the U.S. assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), including the LAF's ongoing counterterrorism efforts, its work in Nahr al-Barid and other Palestinian refugee camps, ....  3. (C) Looking forward to meeting SecDef Gates and other U.S. officials in Washington, Murr noted that he would be the first Christian political figure from the Middle East to go to Washington since Obama's election. .... Murr made a plea for the announcement of an additional close-air support deliverable from the U.S. during his trip. Murr requested "some sort of aviation to sell to Christian voters during the elections." .... 4. (C) Murr feared Hizballah and Free Patriotic Movement opposition Christian leader Michel Aoun would attack him in the headlines if he returned from the U.S. "empty-handed." He stressed that he remained firmly opposed to Hizballah .....  he said, Druze leader Walid Jumblatt has been "hurting March 14 in the Christian regions" because of his perceived overtures to Hizballah. Sighing, he added, "We would win it all if (Kataeb leader and former president Amine) Gemayel and (Lebanese Forces leader Samir) Geagea were not involved -- people do not like either of them." 

9. (C) Murr said he was concerned that Saad Hariri had not yet received campaign financing from the Saudis and wondered whether the Saudis were stalling or had decided to forgo financing March 14's campaign.   11. (C) Recounting a recent conversation with President Sleiman, Murr said that the president was disappointed that the independent Christians were choosing not to run in the election, citing prominent industrialist Nemat Frem in particular. Sleiman reportedly conveyed to Murr his frustration with Hizballah, saying, "I will fight Hizballah to the end." Murr said he sensed a change in Sleiman's attitude toward Hizballah from when he was LAF Commander ...  Sleiman saw that Hizballah's only "gift" to Sleiman was the presidency ... Murr claimed that Interior Minister  Ziad Baroud had been making frequent visits to Michel Aoun's residence, which is near Murr's. When he passed this information on to Sleiman, Murr said, the president threatened Baroud with making him resign. (Note: Baroud and Murr hold two of the three ministries appointed by the president. End note.) SISON