Via FLC
JUNE 13, 2006 06BEIRUT1915: Jeffrey Feltman describes Saad Hariri:
... Hariri, according to Feltman, " is prone to quick anger, especially when it is exposed to criticism. When angry, he frowns and interrupt the conversation... Hariri could not focus long on a single topic. He skims from one discussion to another ... It is rare for Hariri, to stick to one subject for more than minutes, he multitasks by flipping television channels on the flat screen (which is like properties owned by Hariri, huge), cuts a cigar, buzzes an aide, .... all while having a serious dialogue with his interlocutors. ... Some accuse him of excessive self-confidence, while others point out that the claim of self-confidence is nothing but a mask that hides behind Hariri and his sense of insecurity... Feltman notes in his report that Hariri 'loses patience with him' when he brings up the subject of his relationship with other Sunni figures ... or when talking about Christian concerns... . Feltman says Hariri ignores the U.S. Embassy' tips on 'consulting with its Sunni allies in Tripoli such as Mosbah Ahdab and Mohammad Safadi. When Feltman raised his concern that should Hariri 'continues to ignore Tripoli', Syria's allies were going to 'fill the vacuum'. Hariri replied: 'I am THE Sunni leader of Tripoli'..... Feltman allocated a full paragraph of the report to 'rumors surrounding Hariri's personal life': 'several mistresses, impropriety in his drinking habits, childish & reckless behavior' ..... Feltman said he did not 'coraborate any evidence' of these rumors but noted that, Samir Geagea told that during a 'dry' banquet in Quraytem, Hariri served rice wine (Sake). Feltman noted that Hariri's private plane contained 'an impressive collection of Cheval Blanc....
'The good old days at Trattu, Washington, DC'
.... Feltman sees Hani Hammoud as the 'engine' of the Future Movement and believes that Hammoud is jealous of Amal Mudallali ... As for the Wissam Hassan, Feltman recalled that he was responsible for the security of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and noted with suspicion that he was 'absent from the Hariri motorcade... allowing all kinds of conspiracy theories'. The report also notes that Wissam Hassah is 'unreliable, and hated by the other Lebanese figures, including the leaders of the March 14, most notably, Walid Jumblatt'. However, Hariri 'claims that he tested Hassan's loyalty' ...
The 'tense relationship' between Hariri and Siniora, haunted Feltman. He describes it as a question of 'dignity'. Siniora often complained to Feltman that Hariri 'dealt with him as an employee', when Hariri complained that Siniora treated him 'like a child'. Feltman relays the accounts of a number of Lebanese leaders participating in the national dialogue, that when Hariri 'haughtingly' addresses Siniora by his first name 'Fuad' he adds laughing 'I mean Your Excellency'. March14 leaders are unanimous in saying that Hariri 'envious' of the international attention that Siniora gets, concluding that 'maybe Nazik poisoned the relationship between Saad and Siniora'. After that, Feltman quotes Saad's displeasure with Butros Harb & Nayla Mouawad, as 'too Christian to be good for Lebanon'. As for Michel Aoun, he is the worst in Hariri's view. As for the Shi'as, and although they are Lebanese, Hariri sees them as 'different, and a potential threat'..."
Posted by G, M, Z, or B at 8:27 PM
Uprooted Palestinian
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