[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 738 Engrossed in House (EH)]
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
October 15, 2007.
Whereas in 2004, Lebanon's current president had his term extra-legally extended
through the interference of Syria in Lebanon's internal affairs;
Whereas former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, the leading opponent of
continued Syrian domination of Lebanon and the extra-legal extension of
the president's term, was assassinated along with 22 people by a massive
car bomb on February 14, 2005;
Whereas investigators from the United Nations have suggested that officials of
Syria's government, at the highest levels, appear to be culpable for the
assassination of Rafiq Hariri and the 22 other people;
Whereas the people of Lebanon, following the murder of Rafiq Hariri, engaged in
a massive popular revolt known as the Cedar Revolution against Syrian
interference in their internal affairs and suppression of their national
sovereignty;
Whereas the Cedar Revolution, reinforced by international pressure, culminated
in the rapid withdrawal of Syrian occupation forces and free elections;
Whereas the current Lebanese government has been under steady attack by domestic
and foreign forces that have been engaged in instigating riots and
insurrection, suspending the operation of Lebanon's parliament, and
perpetrating horrific acts of terror against the Lebanese people;
Whereas Syria and Iran are seeking to dominate Lebanon through their campaign of
murder and intimidation aimed at the Lebanese parliamentary majority and
other anti-Syrian public and political figures;
Whereas Syria and Iran, through their Lebanese proxies, have demanded the
selection of another Lebanese president hand-picked by the Government of
Syria;
Whereas Syria and Iran, in clear contravention of numerous United Nations
Security Council resolutions, notably 1559 (2004), 1655 (2006), 1664
(2006), 1680 (2006), 1701 (2006), and 1757 (2007), have grossly violated
Lebanon's sovereignty by continuing to provide arms to illegitimate
Lebanese militias, Palestinian terrorist groups and other terrorist
organizations; meddling in Lebanon's internal political affairs; and
actively supporting efforts to prevent the election of a new president
in accordance with Lebanese law; and
Whereas a sovereign and independent Lebanon is in the national security interest
of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns the campaign of murder, terror, and intimidation aimed
at overthrowing the democratically-elected government of Lebanon and
establishing a new Lebanese government subservient to the will and
interests of Syria and Iran;
(2) condemns Syria and Iran for their gross interference in
Lebanon's internal political affairs, and particularly, the selection of
a new president, and gross violations of United Nations Security Council
resolutions protective of Lebanon's sovereignty and independence;
(3) condemns Lebanese political parties and actors who have allied
themselves with Syria and Iran to the detriment of their own country and
its national interests;
(4) condemns efforts by some Lebanese political figures to obstruct,
delay, and impede the legal and established processes of their country
for the selection of a new president according to the rule of law;
(5) affirms its continued strong support for Lebanon's
democratically-elected government, people and national sovereignty, and
its readiness to provide material support;
(6) calls on all nations to recognize and support Lebanon's
sovereignty and independence; and
(7) urges the President to use all peaceful means at the disposal of
the United States to help safeguard Lebanon's sovereignty and
independence.
Attest:
Clerk.