The Americans asked Bassil to look after their interests … the first of which was the extension of the intelligence director

It has now been declared that the most important American condition required of Washington’s Representative Gebran Bassil to guard against the evil of sanctions was the announcement of the dissolution of the alliance with Hezbollah. And it was learned that Bassil’s refusal led to the US isolation decision. But what was not announced were the other conditions. It has been argued, on a small scale, that the US “demands” also included facilitating negotiations for the demarcation of the southern maritime borders, in line with US proposals. The mediator, dubbed just, used the sword of sanctions to impose his terms in the demarcation negotiations, before the negotiations even reached a critical point.

The US Ambassador, Dorothy Shea, brought additional terms to Basil. By the way, those who know her unanimously agree that she tries to show a rudeness, far removed from diplomatic behavior, sometimes to ridiculous limits, such as her intention, for example, to repeat the words of commentators and politicians of the team of 14 March on the finger of Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah! It was precisely in this context of shamelessness that Chia transmitted to Bassil a condition that excludes sanctions, which is that the head of the Free Patriotic Movement agrees to thwart any attempt to “go east.” Any ideas related to improving Lebanon’s relations with China and Russia, or with regional countries close to Lebanon, Bassil should work to prevent them from being implemented. The United States of America sees this as a strategic policy modification that will weaken its influence.
On the subject of heading east, Shea added a specific order related to the Lebanese army, which is preventing the supply to the military of any equipment, armament or equipment from outside the North Atlantic alliance and the countries that revolve around it. the American orbit. The military must remain captive to weapons and ammunition that exclusively come from the United States of America. And any cooperation with other countries, Washington will see that it undermines its interests, and Bassil has to promise to avoid it.
Also in the Lebanese army, the Americans have interests that Bassil must protect. Clearly, and without any diplomatic effort, Shea told Batroun’s deputy that he must commit to protecting the army commander, General Joseph Aoun, and most importantly, the extension to the intelligence director, Brigadier General Tony Mansour. He did not use the word extension, but said that what the president of the powerful Lebanese bloc must guarantee is “not to fire Brigadier General Tony Mansour.” She believes that the position of intelligence director is held by Mansour. Referring him to retirement on the day he turns fifty-eight, as stipulated by law, is dismissal in the eyes of the ambassador and her administration. She was not satisfied with that. I also brazenly asked Bassil to commit to holding a meeting, under his auspices, with both General Joseph Aoun and Brigadier General Tony Mansour, to witness a reconciliation between the “leader” and the “director”, for one side, and the head of the movement, on the other. After the meeting, Bassil must announce the dissolution of his alliance with Hezbollah.
Bassil’s refusal to comply with US conditions, and then the announcement of the sanctions decision against him, was not the conclusion of Washington’s demands on the intelligence director’s extension. After that, Xia insisted on pushing for what she calls “not firing General Mansour.” I sent a message to Bassil through one of his aides, threatening more penalties if December 8 passes and Mansour remains as intelligence director.

Xia stipulated that Basil would commit to holding a meeting, under his patronage, with the army chief and the intelligence director.

The roughness description here is no longer helpful in expressing what the US administration is doing in the military specifically. There is a country that appoints officers to fill sensitive positions in the army. In a country whose people complain about the allocation of political, sectarian and sectarian powers to all administrative, security and judicial positions, an unaccounted for “sect”, which is the strongest, and a political force that is not known. They denounce, and which is also the strongest, also comes to claim its part. The danger in the matter is that this state is nothing more than the first ally of the first enemy of Lebanon, and its supporter in all its wars against him, but in Lebanon the door was opened to appoint the occupant of the most dangerous security position. .
The political message of Xia’s performance does not require much effort to explain. In the context of promoting its interests in Lebanon, the priority of the United States of America, at present, is to implement the military, military and security decision, in parallel with attacking Hezbollah allies. In this context, what is required is the political protection of the commander of the Armed Forces, General Joseph Aoun, before he becomes a candidate to succeed Aoun in Yarzeh.

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