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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Congress may condemn Syria and Iran over Lebanon interference |
| 2007-10-17 |
| U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, submitted a resolution condemning Syria and Iran for their interference in Lebanon's internal affairs. It also condemned the Lebanese allies of Damascus and Tehran for acting against Lebanon's national interests. The resolution resolves that the House of Representatives "condemns the campaign of murder, terror and intimidation aimed at overthrowing the democratically-elected government of Lebanon and establishing a new Lebanese government subservient to the will and interests of Syria and Iran." The house also "condemns Syria and Iran for their gross interference in Lebanon's internal political affairs, and particularly, the selection of a new president, and gross violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions protective of Lebanon's sovereignty and independence." The text also condemned "Lebanese political parties and actors who have allied themselves with Syria and Iran to the detriment of their own country and its national interests." The measure criticized and condemned "efforts by some Lebanese political figures to obstruct, delay, and impede the legal and established processes of their country for the selection of a new president according to the rule of law." It affirmed the "continued strong support for Lebanon's democratically-elected government, people and national sovereignty, and its readiness to provide material support." The resolution called on "all nations to recognize and support Lebanon's sovereignty and independence" and urged the U.S. President to "use all peaceful means at the disposal of the United States to help safeguard Lebanon's sovereignty and independence." It noted that in 2004, Lebanon's "current president (Emile Lahoud) had his term extra-legally extended through the interference of Syria in Lebanon's internal affairs." It recalled that ex-Premier Rafik Hariri "the leading opponent of continued Syrian domination of Lebanon and the extra-legal extension of the president's term, was assassinated along with 22 people by a massive car bomb on February 14, 2005." Ackerman (pictured right) noted that "investigators from the United Nations have suggested that officials of Syria's government, at the highest levels, appear to be culpable for the (Hariri) assassination." He also said that the majority government of Premier Fouad Saniora "has been under steady attack by domestic and foreign forces that have been engaged in instigating riots and insurrection, suspending the operation of Lebanon's parliament, and perpetrating horrific acts of terror against the Lebanese people." Ackerman noted that "Syria and Iran are seeking to dominate Lebanon through their campaign of murder and intimidation aimed at the Lebanese parliamentary majority and other anti-Syrian public and political figures." He said that "Syria and Iran, through their Lebanese proxies, have demanded the selection of another Lebanese president hand-picked by the Government of Syria." Ackerman concluded that "Syria and Iran, in clear contravention of numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions, notably 1559 (2004), 1655 (2006), 1664 (2006), 1680 (2006), 1701 (2006), and 1757 (2007), have grossly violated Lebanon's sovereignty by continuing to provide arms to illegitimate Lebanese militias, Palestinian terrorist groups and other terrorist organizations; meddling in Lebanon's internal political affairs; and actively supporting efforts to prevent the election of a new president in accordance with Lebanese law." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Is this all Congress is good for these days? They can't pass a single appropriations bill, but have no problem meddling with their futile, finger-waving resolutions. A pox on the lot of 'em. |
| Posted by: Spot 2007-10-17 08:02 |
| #1 RAWSTORY > EX-US ARMY CAPTAINS - US MUST DRAFT OR WITHDRAW. US must suppor its own policies + troops as AMAP, or else get out of Iraq. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-10-17 03:56 |