http://www.geostrategy-direct.com/geostrategy-direct/secure/2010/11_10/do.as p
Saudis abandons Lebanon's Hariri; Hizbullah conducts coup exercise http://www.geostrategy-direct.com/geostrategy-direct/images/2010/kingabdulla h2.jpg The king and his key advisers changed their minds in late September in wake of an assessment that Iran and Syria would force Hariri out of office. _____ . Reign: Aug. 1, 2005 - present . Age: 86 LONDON - Saudi Arabia, in an effort coordinated with Syria, has been steadily reducing support for Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Arab diplomatic sources said Hariri has been receiving messages from the Saudi royal family that indicated the end of Riyad's support for the pro-Western prime minister. They said the messages asserted that Saudi Arabia would not stop any Syrian campaign to force Hariri to step down. "The Saudis have decided that they would not block Syria's attempt to install a more friendly face in the position of prime minister," an Arab diplomat said. For several months, the sources said, Saudi King Abdullah sought to shield the 40-year-old Hariri from Hizbullah amid Syrian pressure to resign. But they said the king and his key advisers changed their minds in late September in wake of an assessment that Iran and Syria would force Hariri out of office. "The Saudis have never had much respect for Hariri, and now they are ready to cut their losses and let him go," the diplomat said. "The only thing the Saudis want is that there be no violence." The Saudi change of heart has been reflected in media owned by the royal family. On Oct. 26, the Saudi-owned A-Sharq Al Awsat published a column from editor-in-chief Tariq Al Homayed that called on Hariri to resign amid the crisis over the United Nations tribunal that was investigating the death of his father. "Accordingly, we believe that you should offer your resignation as prime minister, for no other Sunni politician will be able to assume office and make a decision that affects the tribunal," Al Homayed, regarded as close to the Saudi king, said. Al Homayed said Hariri has lost the respect of Syria, regarded as regaining control over Lebanon. The Saudi editor said Hariri has been subjected to intimidation and blackmail by Hizbullah, linked to the assassination of his father, a former prime minister. "Resign today your Excellency as you have completed your duties, and made enough sacrifices and concessions," Al Homayed said on Oct. 26. "The time has come, your Excellency, to do as your father did, God bless his soul, when he found that all his roads were blocked, and entrusted Lebanon and its people to God." http://www.geostrategy-direct.com/geostrategy-direct/images/2010/kingabdulla h3.jpg Saudi King Abdullah, left, meets with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri at Hariri's house in Beirut, Lebanon on Friday, July 30, 2010. <http://www.daylife.com/topic/Rafik_Hariri/photos/2> AP _____ The change in Saudi policy became apparent after the visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Lebanon in mid-October. The sources said Ahmadinejad warned the Saudi leadership that Hariri would be replaced because of widespread internal opposition. The sources said Hariri would seek to remain prime minister until the end of 2010. They said the prime minister has also sought guarantees for his personal safety. "Hariri would rather stay in Lebanon and keep running the family business," another Arab diplomat said. "But if he feels that he has lost the support of everybody, he will flee." Over the last few weeks, the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad has openly called for Hariri's resignation. Syrian Prime Minister Naji Otri has ridiculed Hariri and his pro-Western March 14th coalition as powerless. "We do not consider things in terms of the 14th, 15th, 16th of March, for it is a cardboard box," Otri said on Oct. 23. "March 14th and March 15th, who are these [groups]?" Meanwhile, Hizbullah was said to have conducted an exercise to demonstrate its ability to seize power in Lebanon. Lebanese sources said the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah concluded a command and control exercise meant to topple the Beirut government and take over the military and security forces. They said the exercise, conducted through simulators, showed that Hizbullah could seize power within hours. "This was designed to hold a security and military grip on large areas of Lebanon," the Lebanese daily Al Akhbar, regarded as close to Hizbullah, said. [The Hizbullah plot was also reported by a leading Saudi newspaper. On Nov. 2, the London-based A-Sharq Al Awsat quoted Lebanese security sources as saying that Hizbullah had met with the Shi'ite movement Amal and other groups to coordinate the coup.] On Nov. 1, Al Akhbar said Hizbullah conducted the simulation in late October. The newspaper said Hizbullah simulated a coup in Lebanon that took about two hours and did not involve major clashes. Lebanese sources said Hizbullah has deployed some 3,000 fighters in Christian areas along the Mediterranean coast north of Beirut. They said the operatives have been trained to raid the offices and homes of Lebanese leaders and hold them hostage. Al Akhbar said the exercise was meant to prepare a Hizbullah response to any UN indictment linked to the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005. Hizbullah has repeatedly warned that any indictment could spark a backlash against the government of Hariri's son, Prime Minister Saad Hariri. The newspaper said Hizbullah forces have already surrounded Hariri's mansion in Beirut. "The arrests aimed to restrict their movement and seize major cities in Lebanon, from Beirut and its surburbs to the Kesrouan highlands and north Lebanon and well as holding a grip on sea ports and border crossings to prevent the escape of personalities," Al Akhbar said. Hariri aides and supporters said the Al Akhbar report marked Hizbullah's psychological warfare campaign. They said Hizbullah has sought to intimidate Hariri and the March 14th majority coalition in parliament. "They want to mislead the probe so that we don't know who murdered ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri," Lebanese parliamentarian Talal Arslan said. "And I urge Prime Minister Saad Hariri to immediately act in order to foil the discord plotted for this country and prevent the accusation of the resistance." [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [email protected]. -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [email protected] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [email protected] Unsubscribe: [email protected] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. 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