CLAO

Founded in 1989 to serve the USA and Lebanon.

THE COUNCIL OF LEBANESE AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS

       Eastern USA: P.O. Box 181116 Cleveland, OH 44118  ***  Western USA: P. O. Box 661823, Los Angeles, CA 90066

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March 23, 2005                                                                                                               

Lebanon Attacked by Syrian Terrorists - Again 

The Council of Lebanese American Organizations (CLAO) decries the latest Syrian terrorist attack in Lebanon.  The attack in Kaslik early this morning, which left three dead and scores injured is yet another proof of the Syrian agenda to re-ignite strife in Lebanon.  As announced in his speech to the Syrian Baa'th party leaders, Mr. Assad is violently and deceptively signifying to the world that the Lebanese need the Syrian presence to ensure stability in Lebanon.  If the Syrian intelligence services and their proxy Lebanese security apparatus can keep the peace, how did they allow for the assassination of Prime Minister Hariri? 

This latest attack, the attack last week in Jdeideh, and the assassination of Prime Minister Hariri have Syrian fingerprints all over them.  As it is doing in Iraq, the Syrian regime is yet again using the arsonist fireman tactic to spread fear, doubt, and instability.  Let there be no doubt, the world sees through these despicable terror tactics, and the world demands that the Syrian occupier and its intelligence agents leave Lebanon.

CLAO is grateful to President Bush and Secretary Rice for their steadfast commitment to democracy and freedom in Lebanon and the Middle East.  The people of Lebanon are unarmed and they desire to live freely and peacefully.  CLAO calls on the world to counter the Syrian destabilization plot and to stop all further bloodshed in Lebanon by taking the following emergency measures:

• The formation of an international coalition force, spearheaded by the US and France to be deployed to Lebanon in the shortest term possible in support of the Lebanese Army’s efforts to protect the people and to maintain order.
• The launching of an international investigation of all the Syrian regime’s humanitarian crimes against Lebanon and its people, including but not limited to this latest and previous attacks, the assassination of Prime Minister Hariri, and the illegal detention and torture of all Lebanese detainees in Syrian jails.

Anything less than the above, will encourage the Syrian regime to continue on its dangerous path of death and destruction.