WikiLeaks: Fatfat Said Hizbullah is a Regional Problem
Former minister Ahmed Fatfat said Hizbullah is valuable in solving internal conflicts but becomes a problem when dealing with regional issues, revealed a leaked U.S. Embassy cable published exclusively in Al-Akhbar on Friday.
The WikiLeaks cable dated May 23, 2006, spoke of a meeting between then Acting Interior Minister Fatfat, then U.S. State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism Henry Crampton, then U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman, ISF chief Ashraf Rifi, and an American diplomat.
Crampton advised Fatfat to form an intelligence council responsible for guiding political authorities to control terrorism.
He explained that the council would be aimed at presenting guidance to Lebanese politicians because it seems that they probably don't understand the nature of the dangers of combating terrorism.
It seems there is no communication between Lebanese politicians and the security forces authorities, Crampton added.
For his part, Fatfat stated that social and economic issues are behind the presence of extremists in North Lebanon and the only solution to halt any terrorist act is to provide Palestinian refugees with a better standard of living.
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