[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 25, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 STATEMENT OF CONCERN REGARDING THE TAKEOVER OF LEBANON'S INSTITUTIONS 
                    BY THE TERRORIST GROUP HEZBOLLAH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SUE WILKINS MYRICK

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 25, 2011

  Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, more than a week ago, a coalition led by 
the terrorist organization Hezbollah caused the crumbling of the 
Lebanese Government. Hezbollah is now seeking to form a new cabinet 
where the organization and its allies would control many crucial 
Lebanese ministries--including defense, interior, foreign affairs, and 
the finances of the country.
  This is an unprecedented power grab by a terrorist organization, 
which has a global reach in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin 
America, and even on our southern border and perhaps inside the United 
States itself. Hezbollah is the proxy army of Iran, and Iran has made 
it into the most well-trained and well-funded terrorist group in the 
world. The situation in Lebanon, and the growing global power of 
Hezbollah, should be a great cause of concern to Americans.
  The people of Lebanon, particularly the Lebanese youth, have been 
demonstrating in the streets of Beirut, Tripoli and other areas, 
sending America a clear message about their rejection of Hezbollah. For 
some time now, Lebanon has been under the threat of Hezbollah's 
powerful militia, which has thousands of rockets and missiles, and 
whose members--according to media reports--are likely to be indicted in 
the 2005 terror assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic 
Hariri. Hezbollah is using this militia to threaten and bully Lebanon 
so that it can create a new government that would become a puppet of 
the Iranian regime, much like the Syrian regime. We must not let Iran 
gain further influence in the Middle East.
  I ask Congress and the President to declare its solidarity with the 
Lebanese people and to reject any recognition of a Hezbollah 
government. I also call on the President to ask the United Nations to 
implement UNSCR 1559, which calls for disarming of militias in Lebanon, 
which are a threat to all of its peace-loving people. I also ask my 
colleagues in Congress to issue strong statements of support for the 
Cedars Revolution and to the people of Lebanon as they face the 
takeover of their country by terrorist organization Hezbollah.

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