{"id":102076,"date":"2017-11-20T12:00:52","date_gmt":"2017-11-20T12:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=102076"},"modified":"2017-11-19T17:28:46","modified_gmt":"2017-11-19T17:28:46","slug":"western-intelligence-saad-hariri-resigned-to-avoid-his-fathers-fate-and-salvage-lebanon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2017\/11\/western-intelligence-saad-hariri-resigned-to-avoid-his-fathers-fate-and-salvage-lebanon\/","title":{"rendered":"Western Intelligence: Saad Hariri Resigned to Avoid His Father\u2019s Fate and Salvage Lebanon"},"content":{"rendered":"

16 Nov 2017 – <\/em>Last week\u2019s resignation of Lebanon\u2019s popular Prime Minister Saad Hariri has fueled a plethora of politically inspired conspiracy theories.\u00a0 At the forefront are some of Iran\u2019s several Lebanese proxies who immediately in knee-jerk fashion accused Saudi Arabia of holding Hariri hostage while they demanded the PM\u2019s return to Lebanon. For what purpose is still not clear. Many in Lebanon believe it to give his stalkers time to organized Hariri\u2019s assassination.<\/p>\n

Lebanon\u2019s virulently anti-Palestinian President Michel Aoun (who has sworn that if he is President, Palestinians in Lebanon will never be allowed the elementary civil right to work) was handpicked and put into his position by Hezbollah after a 19-month Presidential vacancy, immediately demanded to know why PM Hariri did not inform him in advance. And, Aoun added, why was not Lebanon\u2019s Internal Security Force (ISF), or Lebanon\u2019s army, Parliament and airport officials not told of Hariri\u2019s plans, destination and schedule?<\/p>\n

Beirut and Washington DC sources have suggested to this observer that Hariri\u2019s thinking and motivation for a quick departure from Lebanon was influenced by reports delivered to him personally from three Western security agencies that have for the past six months been monitoring the movements of certain security agents from Hezbollah. These elements, it is claimed have been using \u2018secured\u2019 mobile phones while stalking Hariri since his appointment as PM one year ago much as was done to shadow his father Rafik, twelve years ago. The intelligence agencies are said to believe, as do most Lebanese, including a majority of Shia, that the Hezbollah members, currently being tried in absentia before the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) in The Hague blew up Saad\u2019s father and 21 others on February 14, 2005.<\/p>\n

Saad Hariri was reportedly shown demonstrative and probative evidence that those currently watching and recording most of his moves, including his convoy routes and frequented destinations, constitute a mortal danger to him and that he urgently needs to take immediate security measures and even leave Lebanon until the threat could be removed. French, German, British and American officials, with knowledge of the intelligence reports have said even publicly that they do not credit the Aoun-Hezbollah-Iran claims that Hariri is being held hostage by Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, some Western countries and that their security forces have \u2018activated\u2019 assets in Lebanon to investigate the threats.<\/p>\n

The West as well as the Arab countries are backing Hariri. On 11\/13\/2017, France’s Foreign Ministry insisted that an essential condition for the stability of the region is that Iran stop interfering in Lebanon’s domestic affairs. The Ministry\u2019s spokeswoman read the statement:\u00a0 “Mr. Saad al-Hariri called on Iran yesterday to stop interfering in the affairs of Lebanon and its neighbors. We believe that this is an important condition for the stability of the region.\u201d<\/p>\n

The preceding day, 11\/12\/2017, the UAE Minister of State for Defense Affairs warned a gathering of U.S. government, military and business leaders that Iranian-sponsored terror, while \u201csimilar\u201d to al-Qaeda and ISIS, \u201chas greater potential\u201d for impacting negatively on the region and the world. He added: \u201cIran has exceeded all limits, and this has serious repercussions on world peace.\u201d \u00a0Moreover, distributed on the sidelines of the meeting were summaries and some copies of newly released CIA documents from the 2011 Navy SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden. This observer has not read the physical documents but they allegedly\u00a0contain demonstrative evidence that Iran provided\u00a0funds, military advisers, staffers, travel documents and\u00a0 coordination<\/a>\u00a0to al Qaeda. Similar accusations are made with respect to claimed Iran assistance to ISIS while claiming that Iran needs ISIS to continue its mayhem in Syria and Iraq to have \u201cResistance\u201d projects in both countries as it continues to colonize them. As it is doing to Yemen and has already accomplished, many believe, in Lebanon.<\/p>\n

The main immediate cause of the current Lebanese crisis and possibly another civil war is grounded in the proxy confrontation between Iran and Saudi Arabia Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Qatar, Afghanistan, Palestine and beyond.\u00a0 Very recent history has witnessed permutations in these confrontations which have brought the tensions to a head. “We are in the eye of the storm,” Hariri announced on 11\/12\/2017 on Future TV. Lebanon\u2019s Prime Minister communicated between the lines that the unity government he formed a year ago was to construct and honor an agreement for any Lebanese militia not to interfere in regional affairs and it was agreed that Lebanon would \u2018disassociate\u2019 from regional war. But that Hezbollah was not serious and never intended to honor the agreement per orders from Iran. And that this has been the case since Hezbollah entered Lebanon\u2019s fractured political arena in 2005.<\/p>\n

Hezbollah\u2019s critics have meanwhile called for addressing the political content of Hariri’s resignation. \u00a0Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea challenged Iran and Hezbollah on 11\/11\/2017 insisting that \u201cif Hezbollah\u2019s March 8 alliance truly wants PM Saad Hariri’s return they would withdraw from the crises in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Hariri became Prime Minister, it was to be of a \u201cconsensual\u201d government. But it was never so intended by one side and was dominated by parties taking orders from Tehran.<\/p>\n

Hariri stated in his interview with Future TV that \u201cHezbollah is a regional issue, not just a Lebanese issue.\u201d \u00a0He explained to the Lebanese public that his resignation was totally his own decision dismissing as ludicrous reports that he was forced by anyone to resign. But he also made clear that he needs to focus seriously on security arrangements before returning to Lebanon. Hariri added: \u201cThe Syrian regime does not want me alive and a lot of parties do not want Saad Hariri. I Wrote the resignation letter and I had to resign in an unusual fashion for security reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is no secret in Lebanon that Saad Hariri\u2019s life has been in danger. In addition, confidential information from a few Western and Middle Eastern security agencies who track Hezbollah\u2019s security movements in Lebanon reportedly warned MP Hariri that he was in imminent danger.\u00a0 \u201cI remember what happened when my father was martyred. I don’t want the same thing to happen to me,” Hariri said. As noted above, his father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, was killed by a car bomb in Beirut in 2005 widely attributed to Hezbollah against which massive relevant, material, probative and likely juridically dispositive evidence has been amassed in the soon to rendered verdict by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) in The Hague.<\/p>\n

On 11\/12\/2017 Aoun reiterated, allegedly on instructions from his handlers, that \u201canything declared by Prime Minister Saad Hariri from Riyadh will be a subject of suspicion.\u201d\u00a0 Aoun continued, \u201cThese circumstances make anything that PM Hariri has issued or will issue, and anything attributed to him, a subject of suspicion and ambiguity.\u201d Aoun added that Hariri’s stances \u201ccannot be recognized as official or emanating from his free will.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hezbollah\u2019s Hassan Nasrallah has argued the same thing while instructing Al Manar, Al Mayadeen, Press TV and other Iran paid for media not to air Hariri\u2019s news conference of 11\/12\/2017. Lebanon\u2019s President also instructed Lebanon\u2019s state television channel to black out Hariri\u2019s interview. Why Aoun deemed it in the interest of the Lebanese people not to listen to their Prime Minister\u2019s interview on an important security issue has not been explained despite media requests..\u00a0 Others insist Aoun was instructed by Hezbollah not to allow Hariri\u2019s interview to be aired.<\/p>\n

So what is one to think about Aoun\u2019s complaint that Hariri was somehow insubordinate by not detailing to him in advance his security plans.\u00a0 Or, perhaps more relevant, to Lebanon\u2019s Internal Security Agency (ISF) or the Lebanese army?\u00a0 The frank answer is that Aoun is considered by many in Lebanon and the region as Iran\u2019s agent and not Lebanon\u2019s legitimate President. Aoun cannot be trusted with Lebanese security matters because many if not most of Lebanon\u2019s supposed secrets are channeled from his office to Hezbollah and then to the Iranian Embassy where reports claim \u00a0Nasrallah\u2019s second favorite hideout is four levels underground.<\/p>\n

Aoun was appointed by Hezbollah. Aoun cannot be trusted to safeguard Lebanon\u2019s security issues, many Western countries and even members of Lebanon\u2019s Parliament believe.\u00a0 With respect to the ISF, it is considered largely controlled by Hezbollah via its Shia pro-Hezbollah Director, Abbas Ibrahim. Many Lebanese and foreign observers also believe this to be the case with Lebanon\u2019s army, most of its soldier\u2019s being Shia. Lebanon\u2019s army, according to two Sunni soldiers on active duty, increasingly takes its orders from Hezbollah as was exposed during the recent Lebanon-Syria border fighting. The Lebanese army has also been accused of protecting many of the Iran\/Hezbollah arms depots in south Lebanon and along the Syrian border in the Bekaa Valley. This, as UNIFIL tends to nod off when Hezbollah units appear in a particular area.<\/p>\n

So it may not be too surprising that PM Hariri did not telegraph to perceived Iran-Hezbollah loyalists the advanced details of his plans and movements. Nor is it particularly suspicious, contrary to some media assertions. Or that Mr. Hariri did not cancel some appointments for the subsequent couple of days and that is somehow proof that he was kidnapped.\u00a0 In fact, the Prime Minister did not suddenly cancel his schedule until he departed Lebanon so as not to arouse suspicions and alert his possible assailants. Most of us would likely have done the same thing.<\/p>\n

PM Saad Hariri\u2019s speech accused Iran of \u201cmeddling in the region\u201d and blamed Hezbollah for taking Lebanon \u201chostage\u201d and that he had reason to fear assassination like his late father, Prime Minister Rafik Hariri who was killed on February 14, 2005.\u00a0With unusual bluntness Saad Hariri informed the world that the hands which seek to subjugate Lebanon and the region \u201cwill be cut off.\u201d Hariri declared that it is no longer sensible for him to share a government with the armed \u201cResistance\u201d militia Hezbollah.<\/p>\n

Lebanon\u2019s gifted people now face yet another escalating and dangerous crisis largely imposed from without but made deadlier by local collaborators and foreign proxies.<\/p>\n

________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/em>\"\"<\/a>Franklin P. Lamb, LLB, LLM, Ph.D. is a Fellow at Oxford University-UK, Law Professor, Legal Adviser to the Sabra-Shatila Scholarship Program, Shatila Camp\u00a0 (SSSP-lb.com<\/a>), and a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment<\/a>.\u00a0 As a volunteer with\u00a0the Palestine Civil Rights Campaign, Beirut and Washington, DC he is committed to help achieving\u00a0the Right to Work and the Right to Home Ownership for every Palestinian Refugee in Lebanon. Lamb\u2019s recent book, <\/em>Syria\u2019s Endangered Heritage: An international Responsibility to Protect and Preserve, is <\/em>available on Amazon and other ebook outlets as well as at www.syrian-heritage.com <\/a>. For Syria Heritage updates, please visit: www.syrian-heritage.com<\/a>. To provide a meal to a Syrian refugee child in Lebanon please visit: <\/em>http:\/\/mealsforsyrianrefugeechildrenlebanon.com<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. Lamb is reachable c\/o <\/em>franklin.lamb@hmc.ox.ac.uk<\/strong><\/a> or fplamb@gmail.com<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

16 Nov 2017 – Last week\u2019s resignation of Lebanon\u2019s popular Prime Minister Saad Hariri has fueled a plethora of politically inspired conspiracy theories. Beirut and Washington DC sources have suggested to this observer that Hariri\u2019s thinking and motivation for a quick departure from Lebanon was influenced by reports delivered to him personally from three Western security agencies that have for the past six months been monitoring the movements of certain security agents from Hezbollah.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":58355,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-102076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-transcend-members"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102076","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102076"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102076\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102076"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102076"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102076"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}