Love from: Charlie Stuart

Beirut Times

American TV Crew Detained for

Alleged Spying on Hezbollah.

Beirut, Lebanon February 10, 2003. This morning an American tv documentary crew

was detained by Hezbollah security and questioned about their surveillance of Al Manar

TV’s headquarters. Hezbollah officials said the crew were CIA agents who were

scouting for a possible bomb attack. Charles Stuart, the producer/director said that he

and his crew were there to interview Al Manar officials for a documentary about

American culture and its influence in the Middle East. “We are not CIA, that’s for sure,”

said Stuart. “And neither is my crew.” The cameraman Hossam Aboul-Magd, an

Egyptian national, said he was a freelancer working with Stuart and confirmed the film

they are shooting is about Hollywood’s projection of the Arab world. Soundman Ahmed

Magi, another Egyptian national, nodded his head in agreement.

The role of a fourth person with Stuart and his crew was not clear. Lauren Walters,

another American, was taking pictures of buildings near Al Manar’s headquarters and it

was his actions which angered Hezbollah guards. “He is an agent provocateur from the

American CIA,” said Hezbollah. “He had his camera pointing upward toward the

balconies of buildings surveying for sniper positions as cover for Stuart and crew to

plant their incendiary devices. This is the work of the US, the Great Satan. Maybe this

man Walters is a little Satan.” In response, Walters said, “I liked the rugs hanging from

the balconies, that’s all.” Hezbollah officials laughed off that comment. “We’ve heard

that one before from the CIA.”

When asked what his role was in the production, Walters launched into a long response

about how he has known Stuart and his family for a long time, their wives are friends

and they have children the same age.

All equipment was confiscated and the crew was called in for questioning. Stuart, his

crew and the unapologetic Walters were released several hours later after a long lecture

from Hezbollah. As the crew left the scene, Walters was heard asking Stuart if their

squash game was still on for later in the day.