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CLAO
Founded in 1989 to
serve the USA and Lebanon.
THE COUNCIL OF LEBANESE AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS
E-mail: clao@clao.com
1-888-4 CLAO 89
Internet: www.clao.com
March 22, 2005
CLAO AT THE PENTAGON
A delegation from the Council Of Lebanese
American Organizations (CLAO) met with senior officials at the Pentagon
last week to discuss the prevailing situation in Lebanon. Representing
the Department of Defense were The Honorable Peter W. Rodman, the
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, and
Paul Hulley, the Middle East and North Africa Director. CLAO was
represented by its Chairman, Elie Najm, as well as Nabil Sahlani, Government
Affairs Chairman and David Epperly, the Director of Public Relations.
There was a frank and factual exchange of views
on developments in Lebanon in which ASD Rodman reaffirmed the US
Government's commitment to a policy aimed at removing all Syrian military
and intelligence personnel from Lebanon prior to the upcoming
parliamentary elections. On the elections, Rodman said the US plans to
continue its efforts in conjunction with the international community to
ensure they are held in a free and open atmosphere. He emphasized US
support for a free, democratic, sovereign, and independent Lebanon.
CLAO expressed its concern regarding the security situation in the country
both prior to Syria's withdrawal as well as afterwards, due to the
presence of Syrian covert operatives, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and
other foreign elements, in addition to large numbers of armed and militant
Lebanese surrogates. It was recommended by CLAO that the US could counter
this threat and ensure relative stability in Lebanon by providing support
to the Lebanese Army. CLAO cited the example of Iraq, and how US policy
there hinges on the formation of a reconstituted national army and police
force, but contrasted it to the situation in Lebanon where the Army is a
viable and pivotal institution. The Lebanese Army, CLAO pointed out, will
be in need of immediate and strong international support in the form of
equipment, supplies and training. CLAO cited the fact that the Army has
existed for the past 15 years under adverse conditions due to Syria's
total domination of all of Lebanon's government institutions. It will,
they added, require such backing to succeed in what will probably be its most
important and difficult mission to date, which is its deployment to the
entirety of Lebanese territory. Such a course of action would be crucial
in maintaining peace and stability in the country, lessen the likelihood
that foreign military intervention would be necessary, and bolster the
position of any new government that emerges after the spring elections.
Assistant Secretary Rodman expressed an interest in CLAO's recommendations
and said they would be taken into consideration during policy formulation
on Lebanon. He said the US would be interested in providing such support
to the Lebanese Army and recalled that it had done so in the past |
