Tenet Given Assurances that No al-Qa'ida Cells Infiltrated Lebanon by Nicholas Nasif Al-Nahar November 28, 2002 [FBIS Translated Text] A security official has recently returned from Washington after three days of meetings with CIA Director George Tenet and his assistants for terrorism and Middle Eastern affairs. The talks dealt with the security cooperation between Lebanon and the United States within the framework of the US-led international campaign on terror. The meeting was one in a series of periodic meetings held every one or two years. The CIA holds such meetings with security officials in the countries of the region, especially the Arab countries, in the context of a cooperation program that started before 11 September 2001. But after this date the program acquired extreme importance and turned into organized work, with continuous exchange of information, and with the objective becoming more specific: chasing al-Qa'ida Organization. In the three days of meetings Tenet and his aides asked the Lebanese security official a few questions that, most likely, were also put to Syrian security authorities, which hold similar meetings with CIA officials, and for the same purpose, but in Damascus. The questions were: 1. Are there active al-Qa'ida cells or cells for other extremist fundamentalist organizations like "Usbat al-Ansar" in Lebanon? 2. Were there any attempts by al-Qa'ida members to flee to Lebanon from Afghanistan? The US intelligence monitored attempts by al-Qa'ida members to find safe places in many countries in the world to rebuild their cells. 3. Is Lebanon watching closely the al-Qa'ida cells operating in Lebanon? 4. The US security officials also inquired about a number of people whom the CIA classifies as "international terrorists". These are wanted people and they do not number more than five. The Americans wanted to know if these people might be living in or frequenting Ayn al-Hulwah camp in Lebanon. In the meetings Tenet and his aides also inquired about the security situation on the Blue Line on the border between Lebanon and Israel. The answers given by the Lebanese security official were as follows: 1. As for al-Qa'ida Organization, we uncover secret cells from time to time. The latest was the cell that the Lebanese intelligence uncovered in October. The cell was made up of two Lebanese and a Saudi national. The three were arrested and referred to the Public Prosecution. 2. Members and activities of Usbat al-Ansar are under observation through strict military measures the Lebanese Army is taking around Ayn al-Hulwah camp in Sidon, the stronghold of this group. The Lebanese intelligence is also intensifying its effort to gather information about the group from inside and outside the camp to prevent it from carrying out any subversive acts in the country. Ayn al-Hulwah camp is almost the only point of security weakness in Lebanon. Extremist groups fled to the camp to hide from the Lebanese authorities, especially from the judiciary. They sought refuge in the camp because they know the Army would not enter it for reasons linked to the conflict with Israel and the desire not to take any step that would encourage settling the Palestinians in Lebanon and depriving them of the right to return to their country. Unlike what happened in the meeting that was held two years earlier, Tenet and his assistants did not ask why the Lebanese Army does not enter the camp. 3. The Lebanese security services have information that al-Qa'ida members might try to sneak into Lebanon from Afghanistan with a view to hiding and rebuilding terrorist cells. Lebanon is cooperating in this respect with the American and European intelligence agencies, which regularly provide Beirut with information about the possibility of such infiltration, and sometimes with names of potential infiltrators so that they can be pursued. This cooperation is part of Lebanon's effort within the international campaign against terrorism and particularly against al-Qa'ida Organization. Tenet's answer was that the American intelligence is pursuing these people with keen interest, that it will not allow them to rest or settle anywhere, and that it will prevent, by force, any attempt to reorganize the cells of this extremist organization. Tenet also appeared interested in showing his country's concern over the relationship and cooperation between al-Qa'ida and Usbat al-Ansar. This cooperation, he said, threatens Western interests and stability worldwide. 4. In all the measures it takes and the arrangements in makes Lebanon coordinates with the Syrian intelligence. 5. Lebanon is committed to security and stability on the Blue Line, which extends from Al-Naqurah in the west to Al-Wazzani river in the east. Stability along this line is guaranteed by the government, Hizballah, and the inhabitants. The UN force offers support and information in this regard. There is a collective responsibility to prevent any attempt by Palestinian groups or any other extremist groups to infiltrate the Blue Line or commit violations that would create chaos and trouble in the region. But Shab'a Farms are not part of this line because they are Lebanese lands occupied by Israel. Lebanon reserves the right to resistance against the occupation in the farms with a view to liberating them, which is a legitimate right. Tenet and his aides asked if Hizballah coordinates his attacks on the Israeli army in the Shab'a Farms with any quarter. He was referring to the support that the Lebanese Government and Syria provide for these attacks. The Lebanese security official replied that Hizballah is so politically mature that it can decide on its own the time and type of its attacks on the Israeli army. The US intelligence officials did not discuss Hizballah's connection with international terrorism. Nor did they describe the party as a terrorist organization, as it is traditionally described by the US Administration. They only asked about the party's activities in the Shab'a Farms. As a result of the discussions, Tenet and his aides expressed satisfaction with stability in Lebanon and with the cooperation of the Lebanese security services with the CIA station in the American Embassy in Beirut. This is a constant and accurate cooperation in the fight against terrorism. The Lebanese authorities deal seriously with the information they receive from the CIA station, and they regularly supply the station with information within the anti-terror plan. Tenet said the CIA is ready to meet the needs of the Lebanese security agencies in terms of technology, expertise, and training within the fight against terrorism. While discussing this cooperation, Tenet did not hesitate to praise the role that the Syrian intelligence is playing through cooperation with the CIA and the pursuit of terrorists. He told the Lebanese security official that one of his aides, namely the chief of the counter-terrorism bureau, will visit Damascus soon to thank the Syrian authorities for the full support and assistance they are offering within the international anti-terror campaign, especially with regard to the pursuit of al-Qa'ida and the gathering of information about the organization. This reflects the stability of and clear improvement in the US-Syrian relations, at least on the level of security cooperation. [Description of Source: Beirut Al-Nahar (Internet Version-WWW) in Arabic -- Independent, moderate, centrist, and christian; root URL: http://www.annahar.com.lb]