Wikileaks: Lebanon shocked at Hezbullah telcom network
The Lebanese government was 'shocked' two years ago at the extent of Hezbullah's telecommunications network according to cables disclosed by Wikileaks. Lebanon passed on information about the fibre optics network -- allegedly financed by Tehran -- to the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy was "stunned" by the discovery, according to the correspondence revealed in Britain's Guardian newspaper.But of course he did. After all, what this article doesn't tell you is that the telecommunications network still exists and is still controlled by Hezbullah. What could go wrong?
Marwan Hamadeh, the Lebanese minister of communications, warned the U.S. charge d'affaires of the risks after Hizbullah indicated it would see any action against the telecoms network as "equal to an Israeli act of aggression," said the cable.
According to the correspondence, the minister highlighted "the system as a strategic victory for Iran, since it creates an important Iranian outpost in Lebanon, bypassing Syria.
"He sees the value for the Iranians as strategic, rather than technical or economic."
But for Hizbullah it was "the final step in creating a nation state," according to the cable.
"Hizbullah now has an army and weapons; a television station; an education system; hospitals; social services; a financial system; and a telecommunications system."
Hamadeh described the U.S. cable quoting him as "a story full of slanders and fabrications" and declined to comment further, according to the Guardian, citing Lebanese media.
Labels: Hezbullah, Marwan Hamadeh, telecommunications network, Wikileaks
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:13 AM
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