The issue of building a US airbase in northern Lebanon has resurfaced. Senior US political and military officials have been flocking into Lebanon since the Israeli war against Lebanon in 2006, the last of whom is Eric Edelman, the US Undersecretary of Defense for policy, heading a Pentagon delegation. The Lebanese daily Assafir raised speculations of a likelihood to build US military bases in Lebanon and alter the Lebanese army’s creed. “It is perceived that the US is focusing on the army’s directive which includes the fundamental national policy adopted by the army, particularly article five which stresses on the brotherly and special ties between Lebanon and Syria and article eight which underscores supporting the resistance,” Assafir said.
In the report which the daily said is based on “reliable sources”, the Eric Edelman delegation met with the head of the unconstitutional government Fouad Saniora, Defense Minister Elias el-Murr and Army General Michel Suleiman and tackled four issues: the military situation in Lebanon, security and intelligence, the situation of the Lebanese Army and Lebanese state policy.
US Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffery Feltman, who reportedly attended the Pentagon delegation meeting dismissed Assafir daily report as insulting to the Lebanese army. Sources closed to Saniora’s unconstitutional government brushed aside as fabricated reports that the US had proposed building military bases.
Earlier reports revealed that a US airbase in the north of Lebanon would be built in the model of El-Udeid base in Qatar, for covert operations against the Syrian regime and to safeguard the oil pipelines of Baku-Tiflis-Ceyhan and Mosul-Kirkuk-Ceyhan.
“According to the US plan six military bases will be set up, three in Iraq, one in Jordan, one in Saudi Arabia and one in Lebanon. It is believed that the Lebanese government is approving the establishment of the base and the name of the base will be the US-Lebanese Center for Rehabilitation of the Army in order to cover the real activity of the base,” Amin Hotait, a retired army colonel said.
Prominent Journalist Franklin Lamb said that the project is being promoted as a ‘US – NATO’ base that will serve as the headquarters of a NATO rapid deployment force, helicopter squadrons, and Special Forces units, to make it more palpable.
“The Pentagon and NATO HQ in Belgium have given the project which, will sit along the Lebanese-Syrian border, using this vast area “as a base for fast intervention troops”, a name. It is to be called The Lebanese Army and Security training centre”. The base will provide training for the Lebanese army and security forces fighting Salafi, Islamist fundamentalists and other needs,” he said. As reported by the NATO headquarters in Brussels, an American-German-Turkish military delegation toured and surveyed Akkar region. US Embassy ‘staff’ have reportedly visited Kleiaat airport earlier this year to look over the site. US Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch also had a quick look at the site during his recent visit.
The Pentagon argues that the military base will contribute to the development and the economic recovery in the region, advising the Lebanese government to focus on the financial aspect and positive reflection on the population of the region. Contenders for the billion dollar project, according to the Pentagon procurement office could be Bechtel and Halliburton and other Contractors currently doing projects in Iraq.
Former Lebanese Prime Minister Martyr Rafik Hariri, saw potential for the Kleiaat airport as well. But he very much opposed a US airbase. He was assassinated in 2005.
“According to Washington observers watching developments, the base has been pushed by elements in the office of the US Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the urging of Israeli operative Elliot Abrams. AIPAC can be expected to do the necessary work in Congress and with House Foreign Affairs, Appropriations, Intelligence, and Armed Service committees hermetically sealed by stalwarts of the Israel Lobby, it can be expected that it will be added as a rider to an unsuspecting House bill coming along,” Lamb wrote.
“We need to get this base built as quickly as possible as a forward thrust point against Al Qaeda and other (read Hezbollah) terrorists”, according to AIPAC staffer Rachael Cohen.
“The question for Lebanon is whether the Lebanese people will allow the base to be built. Few in North Lebanon doubt that Israel will have access to the base.”
The Pentagon delegation headed by Edelman highlighted the issue of “extensive Russian presence” North of Syria; a threat to US presence in the region. The delegation also pointed to an ongoing “US – Russian cold war”, new strategies adopted by Moscow and new moves which require a change of US strategy, especially in Lebanon, which is the closest location to the Russian base on the Syrian Port city of Lathikiya.
Hey Saker,
Sorry to burst your bubble but the report is load of bs.
The ultimate question you have to ask yourself is: why would the US even bother?
To hit Syria? To hit Al Qaeda? Not necessary. Despite all the rumbling and tumbling in Turkey, Incirlik Air Base is still functional (and pretty damn close to Syria) and any move by the Turkish gov’t otherwise would ultimately bear massive political ramifications – ramifications that wouldn’t go down so well the Turkish military which is keener than ever to escalate dislodge the Islamist gov’t currently in place.
Apart from Incirlik, the US has its naval capabilities (aircraft carriers) some of which are a stone’s throw away from Syrian territory.
The US also has its bases in Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain – not to mention Greece, Israel, and its naval arsenal off of the Red Sea. All these have air assets that could reach Syria within minutes.
So really, the source (traditionally aligned with Syrian interests) and the facts, should be immediately tell you to ignore the story – there are far “stabler” areas in the region where any right-minded Air Force General would rather have a base.
In any case, nice blog you’ve got going here. Feel free to check out my blog, and if you find it interesting then maybe we can setup a blog links exchange. Let me know at:
blacksmithsoflebanon@gmail.com
or just leave me a message in one of my comments sections.
Cheers!
Howdi dear visitor,
No need to apologize for bursting anyone’s bubble. I posted this stuff here, as everything else which I re-post, FYI and to get comments. I personally do not have any strong feelings on this issue (yet). Putting a base in Lebanon sounds incredibly arrogant and stupid, for sure, but then every single thing the Neocons in their imperial hubris did so far was, indeed, arrogant and stupid.
This story was first reported by Debka, which I ignored, then by Press TV which picked my interest, and then by Al-Manar which really got me intrigued as Al-Manar usually gives good info (although with a clear pro-Hezbollah slant).
At least one Lebanese blogger thinks that this is plausible: http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/10/17/a-us-military-base-in-lebanon/
Anyway, I am not taking any position on this, just re-posting articles about this rather bizarre idea.
Cheers!
FYI – http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/914668.html
Hey Saker,
I understand. The story did get a lot of airtime and print space in Lebanon too, but nevertheless, its a stupid idea (as you yourself pointed out).
In any case, Lebanon’s top Army commander said it was a ludicrous report (check it here) and in almost every case in which the idea has been presented seriously, the sources lead back to Syrian/Iranian regime hacks).
As for Mustapha (the other Leb blogger), I posted the same comment there as I did here (as did almost everyone else who commented – including Mustapha himself).
We don’t really buy into it, like I said its a propaganda play to get a certain segment of the population riled up.
:)
Here’s the government denying it.
On the Haaretz article, the issue of a ‘strategic partnership’ between Lebanon and the U.S. is an important one, and one that doesn’t hold negative connotations for most people.
The reason for that is that Hizballah seeks to justify its presence on the pretext that the Lebanese Army is weak (never mind that its weak because of Hizballah’s ally Syria’s determinance to keep it that way) and that, therefore, Hizballah must assume it onto itself to protect Lebanon from Israel.
By building up a strong Army, we hope to remove that pretext and get those guns out of Hizballah’s hands – thereby reducing Iran’s and Syria’s abilities to use us as their regional pincushions everytime they want to send a message to anyone in the Middle East (or the world). Did I mention they write those messages with our blood? Who needs drama when you live in that kind of reality!? Well we’re trying to change that.
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Hey blacksmith,
The talk of the base in/around Kleiaat has been off and on for months.
You might be interested to know that
Eric Edelman actually contradicted Feltmann’s story on the meeting.
The current Lebanese government has failed miserably and has succumbed to US/Israeli pressures. At least half the nation, if not more, is unrepresented in the current government. A clear alarm, signalling the similarity with the political state of affairs in neighbouring US cronies.
We have war criminals like Mr Geagea and Mr. Jumblatt who are today the supposedly reformed democrats!
There is clearly a US agenda for Lebanon and the moves such as the base, are a clear case of leverage to pro-US groups within Lebanon.
On the need for such a base, you count out the strategic importance of Lebanon in the context of the Middle East. Of course we could very well ask, what the need was for a base in the 80s? But just to make the point, the US Congress claimed last year that Hezbollah was the “A Team of Terrorists” beating Al-Qaeda to top-place.
On your position vis-a-vis Hezbollah and the need for them in the defense strategy for Lebanon, perhaps we should first ask why the US always sends the Lebanese army third-class weaponry? (I guess third-class is somewhat generous)
You realize, of course, that your comment makes no sense at all right?
Way to go on the Al Manar source…real accurate.
As for the rest of your babble…you do realize that I was arguing against a base right? Good.
As for the gov’t failing, I have no idea what you’re talking about. The gov’t is made up of parties representing the majority in Parliament (that is how democracy works right?).
In fact, its the opposition who have failed – as an opposition, as political parties adhering to a political framework, and as militant groups who resort to violence to achieve their means – so far all of their efforts have failed.
Saker, where are we on the blog links exchange? Don’t get me wrong or anything, but debates are quite time consuming and should only be pursued with a long-run relationship in mind, thats why I generally don’t pursue them on blogs which don’t have a long-running relationships with mine. Now you gotta start somewhere and thats what I’m doing here, but if you’re not interested thats fine but theres no point in my repeat visits.
Let me know, a simple yes or no will do.
Nice try Blacksmith.
Lebanon is a CONFESSIONAL Democracy. You know what that means? I suppose not. I guess those of your calibre would start with wikipedia as starters’ for resources. I’d suggest you ‘wiki’ it.
Of course the current government being a majority is in itself questionable. Sayyed Nasrallah has called on for one-man, one-vote process to elect the new president. Isn’t that a much higher form of democracy than that which you claim to adhere to?!
On the point on your somewhat confused argument “supposedly” against a base, the point is not whether the Lebanese Army should be strong enough to protect Lebanon or not. The point in the Lebanese context is the strings attached to the process of the strengthening of the Army.
@blacksmith: no
Blacksmith,
Suggesting that the Lebanese government is one that is “democratic” and also representative of the majority is a “Joke”. Anybody conversant with the demographics in Lebanon would not dare suggest anything close to that view.
Please do a bit more research, the illegal entity that so happens to govern Lebanon at the moment is simply clinging to power due to its alignment with the American Embassy, and the corrupt sheikhdoms of the Middle East. Unfortunately, I cannot refer to it as a government, for that will be an injustice to the essence of the English word itself.
(Bolicarlo)