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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Ahmadinejad Lebanon visit complicating US military aid
2010-10-17
Congress put a hold on $100 million annually for Lebanese army; State Department pressing for funding to resume.
Because State likes going native.
The recent visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is complicating the administration's efforts to get American aid to the Lebanese military back on track, according to Capitol Hill sources.

Two members of Congress put a hold on the $100 million annually allocated to the Lebanese army over concerns that American assistance and equipment could make their way to Hizbullah. The hold comes amidst signs of possible cooperation between the Islamic militant group and some elements of the Lebanese Armed Forces.

The administration, which requested the aid for the LAF but can't disburse the money until the congressional holds are lifted, sees aid to the LAF as a major way of bolstering those elements in Lebanon which are opposed to Hizbullah.
Except that the Lebanese army has long since been thoroughly infiltrated by Hizb'allah's men. Giving anything to the Lebanese army is merely a polite way to give it to Hizb'allah.
The LAF funding was put on hold this summer by House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Howard Berman (D-California) and Nita Lowey (DNew York), chairwoman of the House appropriations subcommittee on foreign operations.

Lowey spokesman Matt Dennis said Thursday that there had been no change in the status of her hold following the Ahmadinejad visit Wednesday, and indicated that Lebanese press reports that she had taken further action in the wake of his trip were incorrect.

Berman's office also successfully shepherded two additional measures bolstering Israeli security through Congress as part of a larger act dealing with cooperation on security issues. The act was recently signed into law by US President Barack Obama.

The first of Berman's measures classifies Israel as a major non-NATO ally entitled to an expedited process -- 15 days down from the standard 30 -- for congressional review of defense exports. The move puts Israel on par with Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and other key non-NATO countries.

The second provision extends the Pentagon's ability to store surplus weapons in Israel for a reserve stockpile which could be transferred to Israel in the case of an emergency.
Posted by:trailing wife

#2  Who's got a handle on just how much aid is being given away? I think it should be in the published budget. Isn't there also a State Department document?
Posted by: Skidmark   2010-10-17 22:52  

#1  "Just say no!"

Nancy R.
Posted by: borgboy   2010-10-17 17:22  

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