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Article: Alliance With a Lebanese Leader; At Israeli's Urging, Casey Pressed Covert Aid for Bashir Gemayel Series: VEIL: The Secret Wars of the CIA, 1981-1987 Series Number: 4/6
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- September 29, 1987
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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In early 1982, CIA Director William J. Casey received a visit
from Israel's defense minister, Ariel Sharon, a burly, truculent
former general with extreme, hawkish ideas. Lebanon, and the
Palestine Liberation Organization strongholds in that country, were
on Sharon's mind. Israel was determined to drive the PLO terrorists
out of southern Lebanon. It was also trying to extend its influence
over that country, torn by fighting between Christian and Moslem
groups, by giving covert paramilitary support to the main Christian
militia-the rightist Phalangist Party, headed by Bashir Gemayel, a
baby-faced ruthless warlord.
At 34, Gemayel had developed into one of Lebanon's most powerful
and ...