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Thursday, December 9, 2010     INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING

Document: Saudis pushed U.S. for 'Arab force'
to stop Hizbullah

LONDON — Saudi Arabia proposed an Arab military force to battle the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah.

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A U.S. government report said the Saudi leadership lobbied for the formation of an Arab League military mission that would battle Hizbullah in Lebanon. The Arab force was designed to receive military and intelligence assistance from both NATO and the United States.

"This would keep out Hizbullah forever," Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal said.


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Saud was quoted in a U.S. embassy cable that reported a 2008 meeting between the Saudi foreign minister and State Department official David Satterfield. The cable, released by WikiLeaks, portrayed the Saudi leadership as alarmed by the domination of Hizbullah in Lebanon as well as in neighboring Arab states.

"Specifically, Saud argued for an 'Arab force' to create and maintain order in and around Beirut," the U.S. cable said. "The U.S. and NATO would need to provide transport and logistical support, as well as 'naval and air cover'. Saud said that a Hizbullah victory in Beirut would mean the end of the Siniora government and the 'Iranian takeover' of Lebanon."

The Saudi foreign minister was quoted as saying that Hizbullah was receiving support from both Iran and Syria. Saud also warned that Iran was expanding throughout the region and using Shi'ites to undermine Sunni Arab states.

"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," the cable said.

The Saudi minister said Hizbullah represented a military threat that could be resolved only by force. He said the proposed Arab force should be deployed in Beirut under the cover of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

"Saud argued that the present situation in Beirut was 'entirely military' and that the solution must be military as well," the cable said. "The Lebanese Armed Forces were too fragile to bear more pressure. They needed urgent backing to secure Beirut from Hizbullah's assault."

Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora was said to have supported the Saudi plan. Egypt and Jordan were also briefed, but the cable did not report their response.

The United States, however, did not endorse the Saudi proposal. Satterfield was said to have questioned the Arab force, but added that Washington would examine any Arab decision.

"Satterfield said that the 'political and military' feasibility of the undertaking Saud had outlined would appear very much open to question," the cable said. "In particular, attempting to establish a new mandate for UNIFIL would be very problematic."



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