According to the pro-opposition daily As-Safir, there appears to be some anticipation over potential changes in Lebanon's security services.
The paper reported on Monday that the new president Michel Suleiman called for decisions to oversee ‘balance’ within the ranks of the country's Internal Security Forces (ISF) during a meet and greet with several leaders from the security service. Note, the ISF has often been painted as a pawn of the Hariri bloc by the pro-opposition press, especially its intelligence branch.
Suleiman is also quoted in the story as confirming, “the importance of re-activating the leadership of the ISF within the framework of ‘national unity’, [in order] for all resolutions to be based upon the rules of national balance, which forms the true guarantee of our national unity”. If true, this could be translated as Suleiman pressing for a reshuffling of sorts.
However, while pro-majority papers also reported on the meeting, no mention was made of Suleiman's signaling for changes in the ISF in the spirit of ‘national unity’.
Coincidentally, this was followed on Tuesday by a report in As-Safir indicating that alleged long-awaited promotions will be given in both Lebanon's ISF and directorates of General and State Security in the coming days. As-Safir cited ISF head Gen. Ashraf Rifi as stating that these promotions have been delayed due to administrative issues.
These developments come as the country's cabinet is in the process of being formulated, which may also bode changes in ministries key to Lebanon's security services, such as that of the Interior Ministry. Lebanon's security establishment has become highly politicized in the wake of the Hariri assassination as the result of both events on the ground and corresponding media spin. However, whether or not As-Safir's reportage on these developments is accurate, key security posts and ministerial seats may very well become additional points of contention between the March 14 and March 8 coalitions in the near future.
