Al-Akhbar and Wikileaks

I woke up today and learned that Al-Akhbar has a lot of wikileaks documents about the STL that are supposed to embarrass many March 14 figures. I tried logging into Al-Akhbar‘s website but couldn’t get in (fodder for conspiracy theorists). I’ll check them out as soon as I can, but here are some thoughts I had:

1- Why are the leaks exclusively on Al-Akhbar, a newspaper which has always had an anti-STL agenda?

2- Let’s suppose that the leaks were indeed given to Al-Akhbar earlier to have an exclusive early analysis, why have the originals not been released yet on Wikileak’s website?

3- I am not saying that Al-Akhbar made the leaks up (the volume is too large), but are we supposed to take their word for some of the more explosive details?

4- Let’s suppose that the leaks are indeed true, isn’t their publishing by Al-Akhbar redundant because those who read Al-Akhbar are already pre-disposed to believe the leaks, as opposed to those who mistrust Al-Akhbar won’t believe anything it publishes?

Something is fishy about the whole issue, and the least I can say is that Wikileaks is promoting an agenda..

PS: I’ll be offline for the next few hours, so please do use the comments space to discuss the details

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  • CopyCat

    this is due to large traffic. I managed to get through this morning. There is also the paper edition (i guess not for you).
    I don’t think there is anything fishy about it. Al-Akhbar has excellent reporters and they WANT to publish this as opposed to Al-Mustaqbal newspaper ye3ni? The newsletter of the FM? or Al_nahar, co-owned by Hariri? or the Daily Star, also co-owned by Hariri? As-Safir is the same for you. Al-Diyar? No one wants this hot potato. It shows how the Saudi King prostrates to the U.S like a 12 year old schoolboy before the headmaster. It shows March 14 in very bad light. And the leaks are indeed true. they are published in English on Al-Akhbar’s website. They can’t make stuff up in English without being caught (at the linguistic level).
    Al-Akhbar today is the only “real” newspaper in this country, or as close as it gets to that. (just like Al-Jadid is the only TV station)
    I hope you will have the courage and impartiality to acknowledge that the FM and Saad Hariri and March 14 can make mistakes (I am not saying at all that they are outright traitors and conspirers against other fellow Lebanese in Cahootz with the U.S (and Israel?), lasama7alla!)

    • Traffic

      You say “They can’t make stuff up in English without being caught (at the linguistic level)”.

      Really, you’re saying that we should disregard that they may have doctored these documents on the basis that it would be almost impossible to find someone who speaks/writes proper English among HA sympathizers!
      These are the same people that “fakko el shifgha taba3 el tiyyaghat el Isghaeliyye”! Give them some credit…

      BTW Mustapha, Kudos on the new highlight system…

      • http://beirutspring.com Mustapha

        Thanks, I think copycat is not saying that they can’t be doctored, he’s saying that they can’t be made up entirely (so many documents) because they would inevitably fall into inconsistencies with existing documents.

  • Elie

    Mr Copycat – I can’t discuss much as your favorite TV is Al Jadid and your favorite Newspaper is Al-Akhbar. Kudos to you on your choices.

    Mustafa has a point, Wikileaks released data to The Guardian, Le Monde, Der Spiegel, El Pais and New York Times.
    Cables from Beirut Embassy haven’t been released yet on wikileaks (well just one), so how exactly did they get hold on those?
    Are they offering Assange safe haven in Beirut?

    I wonder though how come Al-Akhbar “leaked” only the cables that make sense to its followers?

  • CopyCat

    that’s just the beginning i think…more to come…
    no idea how Assange gave them to al-akhbar. Probably because they have been in touch with him recently (they interviewed him i think as of late). He is obviously anti-American, so he won’t give it to Fox News or something.
    What is the point exactly? My point is that al-akhbar wants them, hence they got them. Meanwhile, Al-mUstaqbal or other pro-saudi newspapers completely ignored them. they are no independent papers in the Arab world, including al-akhbar (but it is as close to independent as possible)

  • http://blog.libnanews.com/frenchy frenchy

    http://www.al-akhbar.com/ar/node/216626
    arabic countries are relunctant to publish the leaks , notably because it shows their converging interest with Israël about Iran etc…

  • Elie

    There are 2368 wikileaks cables originating from Lebanon (http://public.tableausoftware.com/views/Cablesbyorigin/CablesbyOrigin)

    Al-Akhbar released 28 selected ones at the right moment in time. Can’t be by chance.
    The point is there are many leaks out there that will not look good to March 8 guys – but Al-Akhbar wouldn’t release those just yet.

    Though I have to hand it to you – no independent media in the middle east (Al-Akhbar being just one of the pack)

    We’ll wait and see. It’s not all so rosy yet.

  • Elie

    That’s how much close we get to Syrian documents (that as pointed out weren’t part part of the “independent” Al Akhbar newspaper released docs)

    http://www.al-akhbar.com/ar/node/216506

    Bellemare complained that the Syrians treat UNIIIC
    as “school kids in short pants.” He explained, “They provide
    us with 40,000 pages in Arabic. After we translate them and
    find nothing of interest, they feign surprise and hand us
    another 40,000 pages in Arabic.” He assessed that the
    Syrians are nervous because they do not know what information
    UNIIIC has collected to date.

  • http://beirutspring.com Mustapha

    I highlighted some of the major points in the comments. (If you can’t see the highlights, just do a hard-refresh to your browser.)

    I also want to add this point: Doesn’t this sound all funny against the backdrop of Iran calling the leaks a “Zionist conspiracy?”

    • mas

      Yes it does! just as funny as you claiming Wikileaks is promoting an agenda!
      Al-Akhbar were the ones who initiated contacts with Wikileaks, they were at Assange’s news conference in Switzerland. It’s just natural for Wikileaks to send the docs to news organizations with whom they have established relationships (such as the Guardian and NYT).
      In any way, Al-Akhbar may have exclusivity over the avant-premier of the docs, and might be censoring some and highlighting others, but all the docs will be available on the Wikileaks website after some time.

      • f

        This is pure speculation, but I’d doubt that al-Akhbar got the files directly from Wikileaks. From what I understand, the original handover of data was very cloak-and-dagger. Even the NYT only got the data from the Guardian.

        If Akhbar’s cables are authentic (and for now, there’s no good reason to assume they aren’t), they may well have received them from one of the other news outlets with or without Assange’s permission, which could explain why they aren’t on Wikileaks yet.

        However, FWIW, I can imagine plenty of people will be forging “cables” that serve their interests especially while we are waiting for the full dump to take place. So we all should maintain a certain degree of viligance and skepticism if anything truly damning (for either camp) is revealed, until it can be corroborated via posting on the Wikileaks site.

  • CopyCat

    “Al-Akhbar is the worst propaganda newspaper ever and i don’t trust any word published on its pages. And i’m not exagarating here, anyone who knows me knows that i was employed at Al-Akhbar for one year and a half in the international news section and i know how they make their news.”

    Can you please elaborate on that? Your statement is not exactly proof of your extraordinary claims. Being neutral and being independent are two non mutually exclusive things. There is no proof to date that Al-Akhbar is controlled by Hezbollah. There is a major difference between the tone of al-akhbar and that of religious Hezbollah outlets. AL-Akhbar is pro-gay rights pro-abortion for example (they ran editorials and articles to that effect). How is that in line with wuilayat al faqih?
    its main financier is Hassan Khalil, who as far as I know is nonpartisan. a big bulk of its contributors are communist, not former commuitsts, but current communists.
    Now, is the newspaper pro march 8? that is a difficult question to answer. they have criticized march 8 many times, and not just superficially, but quite painfuly. their pro-Hezbollah stance is not absolute. it only stems from their historical background (Joseph Samaha etal).
    Finally, I am not a fanboy of Al-Akhbar. there is nothing in this country that is beyond corruption. But I mean give me the name of one independent outlet in this part of the world? or even the world at large? there is nothing that is completely independent. but to call it a propaganda piece is beside the truth. to call Al-Mustaqbal a propagna piece would make sense since they have a little picture of Saint Rafik on top.

    Re the wikileaks issue, of course they will be selective. They of course they have an agenda. they are not the red cross (Which also probably has an agenda of its own).

  • CopyCat

    Besides, you obviously did not read them. Many of the leaked documents involve Syria and Hezbollah, such as in their possible role in assassinating Mughniyeh:

    ISF OFFICIALS SEE BASHAR’S HAND
    ——————————-

    11. (S/NF) Mid-level officials from Lebanese Internal
    Security Forces (ISF) told emboffs they believe Syrian forces
    affiliated with President Bashar al-Asad may be responsible
    for the assassination in an effort to force a compromise in
    the ongoing political impasse by lessening pressure on Syria
    (Ref A). The officials further speculated that the attack
    would be a severe blow to Hizballah, leading to extensive
    confusion and lack of cohesion. They attribute their
    assessment to alleged tension between al-Asad and his
    military intelligence chief Asef Shawkat resulting from a
    disagreement between the spouses of the two men. The ISF
    officials further noted that al-Asad was becoming
    increasingly independent, sidelining
    previously trusted advisors such as Shawkat.

    Source: http://www.al-akhbar.com/ar/node/216445

  • CopyCat

    Tony, again, read this:
    According to Bellemare, appointing a Lebanese Deputy
    Prosecutor has become problematic. He reported that during
    January 2008, he interviewed candidates and the UN Office of
    Legal Affairs (OLA) will submit his confidential
    recommendation to the cabinet, which will appoint the
    individual. He expected that the cabinet would discuss the
    appointment in time for the March 1 deadline (reftel).
    However, he relayed that he heard majority leader Saad Hariri
    was displeased with his recommendation, believing the
    candidate is “too independent”, and may request his Future
    Movement ministers to block the appointment.

    So Hariri did not want a judge because he “Was too independent”. what does that mean? it means he cannot be bribed to become a stooge of Hariri’s…again, it is you who are selective, not al-Akhbar!! it is you who has an agenda…by the way, you said syria was not mentioned. but nor was saudi arabia. this is only because there is MORE TO COME tomorrow as the editorial in al-akhbar said. it’s just that they didn’t get around to the bits about Syria, but I assure you , they will be published. (Who knows how many from Syria, btw?)

  • CopyCat

    Your statements are one-liners without proof or arguments. Okay you said I don’t have to believe them, and so I don’t.
    I’m not an Al-Akhbar fanboy at all. But what you said completely applies to every single newspaper in Lebanon. Al-Safir for example. The status of the media in Lebanon is saddenning. But please tell me who is doing real journalism without an agenda in Lebanon?
    Al-Akhbar’s agenda is pro-Hizb, anti-STL (blindly). But on the other side, such as nowlebanon, the saudi media, Al-Mustaqbal, Future TV, MTV it is the exact opposite: blind anti-Hizb, pro-STL!

  • f

    M, when you get a chance, can you set up a new thread to discuss the content of the cables? There’s some fascinating stuff in there.

  • CopyCat

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/01/wikileaks-cables-cyprus-rendition-torture

    Wikileaks reveal US spy planes overflew Lebanon from Cyprus to spy on Hezbollah.

  • Mustapha

    Hey guys,
    I want to set up a sort of summary for the items on on Al-akhbar.

    If I were to chose the top 5 items, which ones would they be?

  • Shiwa7ad

    I came late to this thread and there’s little I can add. All I can say is that I hope all data will be disclosed. As to Elias el Murr, the guy was a March 8 ally at the time, and the support that he and his father gave to the Aounists helped them replace the slain Pierre Gemayel by a Aounist deputy. And anyway he’s not counted as a March 14 member, he’s one of the guys of the president, the same president who owes his election to his stance that “The Army doesn’t intervene in civil wars.” And if he said all what is mentioned in the cables he is too stupid and too crazy to be a minister at all, let alone a defense minister. But I don’t believe at all Hezbollah will officially treat the wikileaks as credible, or ask anything about them, because they may contain data that are incriminating for them. At the very least, they completely destroy the hypothesis of Israeli guilt for the Hariri assassination. There might be cables that implicate Hezbollah in the assassination, and anyway, they have to follow Iran, who deemed the revelations not credible, and just psychological warfare. And besides, it is not that good for Hezbollah if it appears that everyone except their staunchest supporters hate them: Either they try to punish them, but that’s a lot of people to punish, or they don’t do anything, and they lose their intimidation power.

  • CopyCat

    Mustapha, I’d wait until tomorrow, when more leaks are published. Al-AKhbar updates its website at 2 AM beirut time, so keep checking!

  • http://beirutspring.com Mustapha

    f, CopyCat

    Thanks for help. I think we’ll wait till tomorrow for dust to settle and more stuff to come out..

  • f

    How much do guys think this is actually going to affect Lebanese politics? Presumably as more cables are released, few major figures will be left unscathed. Can the files be dismissed as pseudo-heresay?

    Angry Arab seems convinced that this is a watershed moment, but I’m not sure. Though undoubtedly it will consolidate existing divisions and animosity…

  • Shiwa7ad

    I think this will affect Lebanese politics, but not in favor of a particular side. AngryArab is a propagandist, and he always sees March 14 losing. Any revelation about the assassinations would favor March 14, and already they revealed that Chirac and Dagan were absolutely convinced the Syrians were responsible for the killing of Hariri. The only person embarrassed not on M8 side is Elias el Murr. And those leaks have until now been only published on Al-Akhbar and not on the wikileaks site.

    • f

      Good points about Abu Khalil. I referenced him as his views align closely with a certain M8 demographic, but one which is admittedly rather narrow. It’s probably in all the political camps’ interests to play down the various Wikileaks reveals, but I do wonder what political repercussions they may have behind the scenes.

      Guess we may have to wait till Assange publishes the 2010 cables…

  • A Purple Monkey

    One thing that should not be dismissed when looking at these leaks is giving credit to politicians that deserve it. I’m talking about Fouad Siniora. There have been several leaks of his words and they’ve all been entirely aligned with his public discourse. So far, the guy seems like the only honest politician in the Arab world. I hope this still holds true after all the leaks are published so that the man may finally receive the credit he deserves!

  • Thinkaboutit

    I think the doc are true cause see the whole pic if they dare to pubish a false one it s gonna be a disaster for their whole credibility
    Remember the photographer in 2006 israel war on lebanon he put a smoke on the pic and yet it was a disaster for credibility of the whole war correspondant from lebanon
    The israeli alleged that the bombing pics where a lie set up by hezbollah militia
    Returning to wikileaks i think two newspaper will be intrested al akhbar and alsafir
    Yet if one day we will see leaks from the iranian ambassy welll looool it is gonna be the headline of alnahar and almustakbal newspaper

  • http://man2ouche.wordpress.com yasmine

    Actually – if you notice on the WikiLeaks page, there is a section for Media. Well, Al Akhbar contacted them and they work with WL to have the cables published in Arabic.

    How they get them is simple. Through an electronic drop box – it’s actually a one way thing. I know this for a fact since I am working with New TV on the updates on this and spoke with them about it. Plus, it’s also on the info section on WL’s page.

    As for an agenda – well, everyone has one. Al Akhbar probably saw this as a great way to increase viewer-ship…. Like all things in Lebanon – it’s the money that directs actions.