Does "Loving" Lebanon Mean Never Having to Say You're Sorry?

Jeffrey Feltman Moves On

By FRANKLIN LAMB
CounterPunch

"......Following a total of nearly seven years service in Israel, at both the US Embassy and the US Consulate, Foreign Service Officer Feltman was sworn in as US Ambassador to Lebanon on July 22, 2004, with the help of former US Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk's an ardent Zionist and current Washington DC based activist for AIPAC and an Arab/Muslim bashing mouthpiece for the Israel Lobby. Feltman acquired Indyk's support to be Israel's man in Lebanon during the year (2000-2001) they worked together in Israel. Feltman was Ambassador Indyk's Special Assistant.

But, no sooner had Feltman arrived in Beirut than he was handed a thick file which included nearly a dozen unfinished projects. They were not just your everday, easy make work projects and he has failed at every one of them.

According to a Staffer at the Lebanon Desk at the State Department (202-644-4000) who was not authorized to speak publicly on this subject: "State expected Feltman to advance at least some of this shit!" indicating a list fairly well known to Foggy Bottom denizens. Some of the items:


-- Formulate ways to weaken Hezbollah and the influence of the Lebanese Resistance in Lebanese politics and the Region

--Sharply reduce, with the eventual objective of elimination, Syrian and Iranian influence in Lebanese politics and help identify their 'assets'.

--Conduct and coordinate with visiting US officials, on site visits and undertake discussions with Tripoli/Bignin/Akkar Sunni groups with respect to a possible joint US-Lebanese Airbase at Kleit

-- Analyse the feasibility of a North Lebanon Sunni Army to check the Southern Shia military power

--Facilitate the establishment of a new Shia political party in the Tyre area in order to counter and weaken Amal and Hezbollah

-- Analyze the prospects of a civil war in Lebanon involving March 14 Christians and Sunni Muslims against (Aounist) Christians and Shia Muslims

-- Investigate and analyze the possibility of Lebanon being divided into Autonomous Regions a la Iraq .

-- Advance the plans to build an enlarged and more secure US Embassy in Baabda

--Bolster the acceptance and popular standing in Lebanon of the Maronite Lebanese Forces and the Druze Socialist Party led by Samir Geagea and Walid Jumblatt respectively ( Meanwhile, Feltman's bosses in Washington were telling Walid Jumblatt this week that he can count on US military help for the ' autonomous zone' he dreams about to combat Hezbollah and the Lebanese Resistance)

-- Continue analysis of the feasibility of a US-Lebanese Strategic Alliance with a possible NATO aspect

And the list goes on.....

In the final analysis, Jeffrey Feltman's work record, including his nearly 7 years in Israel and 40 months in Lebanon suggests that Israel arranged for Feltman to be posted to Lebanon to do Israel's work.

In that task he succeeded, but many of the nearly 50,000 US citizens in Lebanon think we Americans can do better next time by bringing in an envoy that will put American and Lebanese interests before Israel's."