Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, cited the visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to
Lebanon in mid-October. During his two-day visit, Ahmadinejad pressed
Lebanon to
join Iran's alliance of Arab states.
"Ahmadinejad's visit to Lebanon illustrates the increasing dominance of
Iran and its allies over Lebanon," Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, a former House
subcommittee chairwoman, said. "Serious questions remain about whether U.S.
security assistance to Lebanon advances American interests and whether it
should continue."
In August 2010, Congress placed a hold on $100 million in U.S. military
and security assistance to Lebanon, Middle East Newsline reported. Several House members said Ahmadinejad's
visit would delay any review of the hold.
Lebanon has received more than $720 million in U.S. military and
security aid since 2006. In 2010, the United States provided its first heavy
weapons to the Lebanese Army.
Despite Ahmadinejad's visit, the administration of President Barack
Obama said it would relay additional U.S. military and security aid to
Lebanon. On Oct. 14, the State Department maintained that U.S. assistance to
Lebanon has helped it resist Iran's orbit.