Wikileak [22]: 'March14 urged the US to strike a deal with former SyG of Hezbollah...'

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000571

NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER/GAVITO

SUBJECT: LEBANON: ANTI-HIZBALLAH SHIA FIGURE TALKS UP FORMER HIZBALLAH SECRETARY GENERAL TUFAYLI

2. (C) In preparation for his second trip of the year to the U.S. to garner support for his anti-Hizballah movement, independent Shia figure Ahmad Assad ...Like Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea (ref B), Assad mentioned the name of former Hizballah Secretary General Sheikh Subhi Tufayli, arguing that he is "away from 

his old rhetoric and ready to leave (his past alliance)" and 

the U.S. should work with him. Assad explained that Tufayli 

has been accused of giving orders to kill a Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) officer during the 1990's. Tufayli claims he is innocent ...  

4. (C) Assad said that several years ago majority leader Saad 

Hariri had purportedly offered assistance to Tufayli to push 

the case along, but dropped his efforts, citing French 

resistance. Saad reportedly told Tufayli to wait until the 

last French presidential election, but Tufayli has not received a positive response to his appeals from Saad since President Sarkozy took office.

5. (C) Arguing that the U.S. should push the GOL to give 

Tufayli a trial, Assad said that Tufayli would be a valuable 

asset in countering Hizballah's influence. (Note: Tufayli remains on the USG Terrorist Watch List. End 

Note.)

COMMENT : (S/NF) This is the second time in two days Tufayli's name was passed to us. Assad was vague about Tufayli's exit from 

Hizballah. We know that Tufayli was expelled in 1998 from the 

organization and has since tried to rejoin as late as 2005. He was a founding member of Hizballah and served as Hizballah Secretary General from 1989-1991. He is wanted by the Lebanese authorities for killing soldiers and civilians in 1998 clashes. The list of his anti-U.S. rhetoric is long, including praise for the 9/11 attacks and a desire to have 

participated in the 1983 U.S. Marine barracks bombings. We 

plan to ask the French about their own interest in Tufayli. Our assessment is that Tufayli would not bring much Shia strength to Ahmed al Assad's organization; indeed, with Tufayli's reputation, legal problems, and reputation for corruption, he would more likely bring discredit. End comment. SISON