GOOD MORNING AMERICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000100150029-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 29, 2012
• Sequence Number: 29
• Publication Date: October 20, 1982
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/29: CIA-RDP90-00965R000100150029-7
JACK ANDERSON C0MMEN'I'AR - "GOOD MORNING AMERICA" - 20 OCTOBER 1982
"Good morning, Joan.
There is a fascinating story behind the
Washington visit of Lebanon's new President Amin Gemayel. The story
is told in documents that are locked in the secret files of the Central
Intelligence Agency. Now these documents describe the behind the scene
skirmishing between Israel and the United States over the future of
Lebanon. The CIA correctly anticipated the Israeli invasion of Lebanon
more than a year before it happened. Now let me read a passage dated
March 6, 1981. It is stamped Secret. "Israeli incursions into Lebanon,
if not imminent are nevertheless inevitable." I am still quoting, "The
question is not so much whether or when such incursions will occur, but
the scope and purpose of such incursions and their potential for igniting
a wider and more dangerous confrontation." CIA not only expected the
Israelis to move into Lebanon but warned that Israel would use its
christian connections to dominate the future Lebanese Government. The
CIA, therefore, sought to counteract Israel's influence by secretly
supporting the same Christian militias. Letme read from an excerpt from
a Top Secret CIA memo. "It is concluded that the Agency should provide
military and financial assistance as requested to the phalanges militias.
Should the militias remain solely dependent upon Israeli support, the
U.S. will forfeit all influence in a post incursion environment." So the
CIA secretly funded the christian phalanges. This gave the Unified States
the ear of its leader, Bashir Gemayel. Washington persuaded him to
resist Israeli pressure and to refuse to sign a treaty with Israel.
Bashir's assassination brought his brother, Amin Gemayel, to power.
The United States immediately courted him. In response, he flew to
Washington and called for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from
Lebanon including Israeli forces. This means that the Reagan Administration
has successfully out maneuvered Israel. As one Israeli leader grumbled
privately, 'Lebanon will now become a U.S. protectorate.' David."
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/29: CIA-RDP90-00965R000100150029-7