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Monday, October 18, 2010     GET YOUR INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING

Congress questioning aid to Lebanon in view of Iran's 'increasing dominance'

WASHINGTON — Congress, withholding U.S. aid to Beirut, has begun to regard Lebanon as a military ally of Iran.

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House and Senate members have become concerned with Lebanon's emerging strategic alliance with Iran and Syria. The members were said to have concluded that the United States cannot continue military aid to Lebanon amid its cooperation with Iran.

"U.S. assistance to the Lebanese armed forces cannot be reviewed in a vacuum, separate from the increasing influence of Iran, Syria, and their proxy Hizbullah over the Lebanese government," Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said.


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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.




Comments


Lebanon is deeply divided, many in the country DO NOT support Iran and in fact would like to gain aid from the U.S. Helping Lebanon militarily, economically and with developmental projects would greatly help Lebanon out of Iran's orbit. Historically Lebanon has almost always looked West, Hizbullah is a threat, but records show the Lebanese army has used U.S. military aid responsibly. With external help, Lebanon will more easily reject a rapprochement to Iran.

George      6:13 p.m. / Tuesday, October 19, 2010


The U.S. government must stop all aid to lebanon, because the government of Lebanon is controlled 95% by Hizbullah. My son an American citizen was arrested [and held] for the last 12 days in Lebanon for fabricated charges. You have to the see the way how they are treating him because he is a U.S. citizen.

Kal Mardini      4:49 a.m. / Tuesday, October 19, 2010

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