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Thursday, November 11, 2010     INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING

Congess: U.S. aid to Lebanon may arm Hizbullah

WASHINGTON — Congress is concerned that U.S. weapons to Lebanon could be transferred to the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah.

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The Congressional Research Service has asserted that a key issue for Congress was whether American weapons and equipment could end up with Hizbullah. CRS, in a report titled "Hizbullah: Background and Issues for Congress," said Hizbullah was blocking the development of Lebanon's military and security forces, Middle East Newsline reported.

Since 2006, the United States has transferred more than $720 million in military and security assistance to Lebanon. President Barack Obama has requested $246 million for military and security aid to Lebanon in fiscal 2011, which began in October 2010.


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The report, dated Oct. 8, was released amid the congressional freeze of $100 million in U.S. military aid to Lebanon in wake of a shootout along the border with Israel in August. CRS said Hizbullah, with more than 40,000 missiles and rockets, would block any disarmament attempt by the Lebanese government.

The report also outlined U.S. military aid to Lebanon. Under the Obama administration, Washington has helped train and equip a new 700-man border force comprised of the military and ISF. The force would focus on Lebanon's eastern border with Syria.

"The United States is caught in a Catch-22; it cannot equip a Lebanese Army capable of confronting Hizbullah militarily without altering the military balance in the Levant and possibly affecting Israel's Qualitative Military Edge," the report said. "Furthermore, many analysts question whether the LAF, even with more advanced training and equipment, possesses the political will to confront Hizbullah."

"They might argue that the LAF and Hizbullah are, to a certain degree, natural allies, bound by a common threat perception and a regional outlook that is not shared by the United States," the report said.

CRS also dismissed the prospect that Washington could conduct a dialogue, let alone reach an understanding, with Hizbullah. The report cited Iranian sponsorship as well as significant Syrian support for Hizbullah.

"Given these positions most observers believe that prospects for accommodation and engagement between the United States and Hizbullah are slim, even as the group's close relationships with Syria and Iran, its pivotal role in Lebanese politics, and reinvigorated U.S. engagement in regional peace efforts increase Hizbullah's potential influence over stated U.S. national security objectives," the report said.

Still, CRS has not ruled out the prospect that the administration could decide to engage Hizbullah. The report cited statements by Obama's security adviser, John Brennan, who argued that Hizbullah contained moderate elements that could be encouraged by Washington.

"The administration has since walked back these comments, and officials at all levels have reiterated that the United States does not engage with terrorist organizations," the report said. "For the time being, U.S. policy makers at all levels appear to reject this option."



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