[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     COMMENDING PROGRESS IN LEBANON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 29, 2005

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend Secretary of State 
Condoleezza Rice for her visit to Lebanon last week, which recently 
held elections for a new Parliament. During her brief stay, Secretary 
Rice asserted the necessity for the uninhibited growth of democracy in 
that region and demanded the complete removal of foreign occupiers.
  Lebanon carries in its history a long tradition of foreign 
occupation. After plunging into civil war in 1975, Syrian troops 
forcefully occupied Lebanon. Throughout subsequent decades, the Syrian 
military unjustly held Beirut, with their tenure characterized by 
violent bombings and raids on the Lebanese people. The United States 
has long opposed this occupation of Lebanon, and Congress has 
continually insisted on their removal.
  Syrian and Iranian sponsorship of terrorist ally Hezbollah threatens 
the emerging Lebanese democracy. I praise the heroic Lebanese citizens 
on their insistence for the Syrian exodus in early 2005, despite the 
Hezbollah security threats. I also laud them on their fair elections 
for their first National Assembly after the termination of the Syrian 
presence. Accordingly, this provides an opportune time for self-
determination and democratic changes in the region.
  It is imperative that the U.S. continues to support Lebanon's desire 
for full security control and territorial autonomy so this budding 
democracy can materialize. Yet as Lebanon gains control over their 
country, they should simultaneously avoid isolating themselves from 
their neighbors. Israel and Lebanon share a number of parallel 
interests and could markedly benefit from stronger relations with the 
other. Syria has strangled trade with Lebanon since their withdrawal; 
additionally, trade between all three nations has essentially come to a 
standstill recently. There should be a push for increased commercial 
exchanges between Israel and Lebanon, especially with the United States 
through the Qualifying Industrial Zone. I recommend that as Lebanon 
stabilizes and secures itself as a viable democracy, we consider their 
addition to the QIZ, which would encourage the Middle East peace 
process via economic integration.
  Assuring that emerging democracies in the Middle East are safe and 
stable should be a top priority of the U.S. With respect to Iraq, much 
work still remains. This administration, through Operation Iraqi 
Freedom, has presented a poorly executed plan to instill democracy in 
Iraq. I believe that what America, Iraq, and the Middle East at large 
need is a plan for success. My amendment to the State Department 
Authorization Act called for a plan for a success in Iraq, this 
accepted bipartisan amendment calls on the President to present a 
strategy indicating how we would provide for a stable Iraqi government 
and strong Iraqi police force, hence allowing for a lessened US 
presence there. This could be done by mobilizing an international 
effort through increased presence of NATO forces in Iraq. NATO 
participation in Iraq would open up the doors for other non-NATO 
countries to share the burden of the war. Furthermore, we should also 
better train the Iraqi military police, hence providing real security 
to the communities of Iraq.

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