[Now Lebanon] WikiLeaks: Berri sought US help against ‘bastard’ Emile Lahoud

[Moussa]

http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=308942

WikiLeaks: Berri sought US help against ‘bastard’ Emile Lahoud
September 7, 2011

Speaker Nabih Berri described former President Emile Lahoud as a “bastard”
during a meeting with former US Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman in
2007, a leaked US cable said.

According to WikiLeaks, “Berri sought Washington’s help in derailing what
the speaker suspected is a diabolical Syrian-inspired plot Lahoud plans to
implement to destroy Lebanon's parliament.”

“Berri outlined a scenario in which Lahoud, drawing on his insistence that
the [then cabinet headed by Fouad] Siniora does not legally exist, will use
a creative interpretation of the constitution to dissolve parliament
unilaterally when it fails to meet in its ordinary session that expires May
31,” Feltman said in his remarks, according to the cable.

The US envoy reportedly stated that “Lahoud will argue that he is free to
appoint a new prime minister and cabinet, without the need for
parliamentary approval…And this sets up a scenario in which Lebanon is
plunged into new legislative elections.”

“The emerging pro-Syrian majority would then elect Lebanon's new president,
or the Lahoud-appointed cabinet would inherit the powers of the
presidency.”

Lahoud’s scheme as described by Berri would, at least, set up two entirely
parallel structures: two PMs, cabinets, parliaments, and presidents. But it
would be more likely that Lebanon would be plunged into chaos, with
institutions splitting and the army sitting on the sidelines as the two
parallel structures battled for supremacy.

The cable quoted Feltman as saying that “Berri advocated a first step …
[which is to] open the parliament, and thus prevent Lahoud from dissolving
it.”

In 2004, the Syrian government decided to extend the term of Lahoud, then
Lebanon's president, for three years, sparking a wave of protests demanding
Lahoud’s resignation after the 2005 assassination of former PM Rafik
Hariri.

WikiLeaks has unleashed a torrent of more than a quarter million
confidential US cables detailing a wide array of potentially explosive
diplomatic episodes.

-NOW Lebanon

[Basil]

Lahoud represented too closely the interests of the Assad government and Berri represents more local Lebanese politics, but he has not done much to promote bridge building between the Lebanese, but he may be a bridge one day. He's more moderate than some of his allies. He seems to be pragmatic and seeks to survive in his community. Lahoud was too much of a puppet.

Basil

Post by Moussa
http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=308942
WikiLeaks: Berri sought US help against ‘bastard’ Emile Lahoud
September 7, 2011
Speaker Nabih Berri described former President Emile Lahoud as a “bastard”
during a meeting with former US Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman in
2007, a leaked US cable said.
According to WikiLeaks, “Berri sought Washington’s help in derailing what
the speaker suspected is a diabolical Syrian-inspired plot Lahoud plans to
implement to destroy Lebanon's parliament.”
“Berri outlined a scenario in which Lahoud, drawing on his insistence that
the [then cabinet headed by Fouad] Siniora does not legally exist, will use
a creative interpretation of the constitution to dissolve parliament
unilaterally when it fails to meet in its ordinary session that expires May
31,” Feltman said in his remarks, according to the cable.
The US envoy reportedly stated that “Lahoud will argue that he is free to
appoint a new prime minister and cabinet, without the need for
parliamentary approval…And this sets up a scenario in which Lebanon is
plunged into new legislative elections.”
“The emerging pro-Syrian majority would then elect Lebanon's new president,
or the Lahoud-appointed cabinet would inherit the powers of the
presidency.”
Lahoud’s scheme as described by Berri would, at least, set up two entirely
parallel structures: two PMs, cabinets, parliaments, and presidents. But it
would be more likely that Lebanon would be plunged into chaos, with
institutions splitting and the army sitting on the sidelines as the two
parallel structures battled for supremacy.
The cable quoted Feltman as saying that “Berri advocated a first step …
[which is to] open the parliament, and thus prevent Lahoud from dissolving
it.”
In 2004, the Syrian government decided to extend the term of Lahoud, then
Lebanon's president, for three years, sparking a wave of protests demanding
Lahoud’s resignation after the 2005 assassination of former PM Rafik
Hariri.
WikiLeaks has unleashed a torrent of more than a quarter million
confidential US cables detailing a wide array of potentially explosive
diplomatic episodes.
-NOW Lebanon