WikiLeaks: Feltman Says Should Beat Iran in Reconstructing Lebanon

A leaked U.S. Embassy cable published exclusively in Al-Akhbar on Friday revealed that then U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman had presented the American administration with a list of suggestions for reconstructing Lebanon after the July 2006 war.

According to the WikiLeaks cable, dated August 14, 2006, the ambassador said that despite the ceasefire between Hizbullah and Israel, the situation could easily spiral out of control should either of them cross any red lines, which would discourage countries from sending troops to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

He added that the U.S. administration should take the initiative to uncover the cluster bombs Israel dropped over Lebanon at the end of the war given that the U.S. is responsible for arming Israel.

Feltman’s suggestions included providing housing for the displaced residents, reopening hospitals, and facilitating transportation in the South.

In the long run, he said, the U.S. should be prepared to reconstruct the most heavily damaged areas of fighting in order to beat Iran’s funding of such projects.

He stressed that the U.S. needs to be generous, flexible, and swift in its action.