[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 14657-14659]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              CONDEMNING HEZBOLLAH AND ITS STATE SPONSORS

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 534 which was submitted earlier 
today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 534) condemning Hezbollah and its 
     state sponsors.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I have grave concerns about what the coming 
days hold for the situation in the Middle East. The spiral of violence, 
which began with the kidnaping of Israeli soldiers, is threatening to 
engulf the entire region. Unless something is done soon to stop the 
escalation, all out war--the likes of which has not been seen in the 
Arab-Israeli conflict for decades--could soon be upon us.
  Innocent lives are at risk. The rocket attacks on Israel are 
indiscriminate tools of terror. We know that Israeli bombs have also 
taken innocent lives, including those of children. How does this 
fighting serve any greater purpose? Can there be no other way to solve 
the important problems facing the region without shedding innocent 
blood in the process?
  Let us not forget that it is not only the lives of Israelis, 
Lebanese, and Palestinians that are threatened by the fighting. Press 
reports indicate that 25,000 Americans are in Lebanon, and some believe 
that number is far too low an estimate. I have learned that a number of 
West Virginians are in Lebanon now. Two of the families of West 
Virginians have children with them--children as young as 4 years old. 
One of these families has already fled Beirut into the countryside 
while they await word on when they can be transported to safety.
  I am hopeful that there are yet moderate voices in the international 
community which seek solutions to this crisis. There are calls for an 
international peacekeeping force to stabilize the Israeli-Lebanese 
border. There are also indications of behind- the-scenes diplomacy to 
unite all countries of the region in favor of a reasonable solution.
  The resolution before the Senate is not a voice of moderation. It is 
a resolution that proposes only to point fingers at who is to blame for 
the current violence. This is the wrong response to an international 
crisis and a humanitarian tragedy.
  Does this resolution help the Americans who are stranded in Lebanon 
amidst this fighting? It does not. I fear that this resolution might, 
in fact, unleash a violent anti-American backlash at a time when the 
State Department and our Armed Forces are struggling to find a way to 
rescue our citizens. The Senate should have more sense than to rush to 
pass such a provocative resolution at this time.
  Mr. President, now is the time for moderation and wise counsel. We 
need solutions, not recriminations. Why should the Senate pass a 
resolution, the only possible effect of which is to further entrench 
both sides of the current conflict? I cannot support a resolution that 
does not I have the practical effect of advancing us toward an end to 
this tragic violence.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, yesterday the Senate was advised by 
hotline that this resolution would be voted on last night by voice 
vote. I indicated a desire to be allowed to speak for no more than 15 
minutes before the vote, and that was agreed to. I said explicitly when 
further inquiry came to me that I would not in any way--in any way--
object to the Senate, if the leadership so desired, to voting on that 
measure last night by voice vote. I went back, checked with the senior 
staff of our cloakroom, and they verified it. There are e-mails to the 
effect that I said that.
  I did have an opportunity to speak last night at length--it is in 
yesterday's Congressional Record--regarding my concerns about that 
legislation, although I indicated in large measure I supported almost 
every provision, and we just participated in a voice vote where, in 
effect, my vote was counted in the ``yea'' column.
  Mr. President, I call to the attention of my colleagues my statement 
of yesterday beginning at page S7624.
  Mr. President, I awakened this morning to determine that the press is 
reporting the following:

       The Senate had been expected to quickly pass a resolution 
     Monday night, but Armed Services Committee Chairman John W. 
     Warner of Virginia blocked the vote.

  That message was skillfully distributed throughout the world--the 
worldwide press. It made CNN and other responsible news organizations. 
That was the deliberate attempt by some individual or individuals to 
distort the truth, to distort what is in the Record.
  Mr. President, I am pleased to say that the remarks I made last night 
were, in part, taken into consideration, and the resolution which the 
Senate will soon vote on does reflect what my principal concern was 
with regard to the first draft; namely, that there was no reference to 
some--upwards of 25,000 Americans seeking to return or leave that war-
torn area. Consequently, there is a provision, No. 11, placed in this 
resolution which says:

       Recognizes that thousands of American nationals reside 
     peacefully in Lebanon, and that those American nationals in 
     Lebanon concerned for their safety should receive the full 
     support and assistance of the United States Government.

  I am glad I did what I did--made it clear that this has worked its 
way into the Record. There are other concerns that I have which are 
cited in the statement that I made yesterday and I am delighted to have 
the opportunity to correct what was a deliberate attempt to distort the 
record.
  I thank my colleagues, and I yield the floor.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise in support of the resolution which 
I cosponsored and which the Senate passed today condemning the actions 
of Hezbollah and expressing our support for Israel.
  On July 12, Hezbollah forces launched an attack through Syria, 
crossing into Israel, killing eight Israelis and seizing two Israeli 
soldiers as hostages. This assault followed months of rocket attacks by 
Hezbollah on northern Israel. Those acts of terrorism created the 
situation that the world confronts today. Israel could not tolerate 
such assaults on its own soil. No nation could.
  Our country will stand with the Government and people of Israel as 
they defend themselves. The U.S.-Israel relationship is one of the most 
important and steadfast diplomatic bonds in the world. It is imperative 
that Congress express this support clearly and unequivocally. The 
resolution passed today makes this important statement, to our friends 
in Israel and to the world.
  When Hezbollah escalated its attacks against Israel earlier this 
month, they dragged Lebanon into a conflict that neither the Lebanese 
Government nor most of the Lebanese people sought. Israel was compelled 
to respond to the violence on their soil. That was a situation that 
simply could not continue. Nor can Israel afford to return to the state 
of affairs before the war. There must be a real change in Lebanon: the 
days in which Hezbollah could simply lob rockets across the Israeli 
border with impunity must end.
  I believe the United States must play a principal role in helping to 
forge a solution to this conflict and its underlying causes: the 
persistent attacks on Israel and the capture of Israeli soldiers.
  The conflict in Lebanon has broader international origins and 
threatens the stability of the region as a whole. Iran and Syria are 
involved. They have long bankrolled Hezbollah and may have been 
involved in the plans to seize the Israeli soldiers. One of their goals 
may have been to distract the world from

[[Page 14658]]

Iran's efforts at nuclear enrichment. If so, we cannot let them 
succeed. We must not let the world ignore Iran's efforts to move closer 
to the development of nuclear weapons.
  We are handicapped in the Middle East by U.S. failures to remain 
consistently engaged in the quest for peace over the last 6 years. U.S. 
engagement lends stability to the region; disengagement has the 
opposite effect. The war in Iraq also constrains our options in the 
Middle East.
  We need to take back control on other fronts--and the only way we can 
do that is to send a signal to the Iraqis that they need to take charge 
and take responsibility for their own affairs. We need to be able to 
dedicate our resources to other emerging threats and challenges, and we 
need to once again act as a pivotal peacemaker in the Middle East. I 
wish the resolution that we passed had discussed the need for sustained 
engagement at greater length and had placed increased emphasis on the 
need for regional diplomacy.
  Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and others in the Arab world have 
condemned Hezbollah's attacks on Israel. The Saudi foreign minister 
said, ``These acts will put the whole region back to years ago, and we 
cannot simply accept them.'' These unprecedented criticisms of 
Hezbollah by Arab leaders offer at least the prospect that maybe the 
situation offers a chance to move forward, rather than backward.
  Secretary Rice has said that when the moment is right she will go to 
the Middle East. I understand that she wants to lend her strength to 
the cause when and where it will do the most good, but I hope that 
moment will be soon. This conflict continues to increase in intensity 
and it could grow in scale as well. It is claiming far too many 
casualties on both sides. Israeli citizens have been killed by 
Hezbollah rockets that are now reaching deep into Israel. Casualties 
are especially high, as well, among Lebanese civilians. Over 200 
Lebanese civilians have been killed, caught in the crossfire of this 
conflict. Humanitarian concerns are growing as more Lebanese are 
displaced and as food and water in many shelters may be running low.
  There are also some 25,000 Americans in Lebanon. They have been 
trapped there. The Beirut airport has been bombed and so have many 
roadways. Some Americans have escaped by taking backroads to Syria. 
That is a telling measure of how desperate the situation is for them. 
According to media sources, at least 8000 Americans want to leave. 
Their loved ones in this country are frantic with worry. I have 
constituents who are still trapped there. I am sure virtually every 
other senator does as well. People are frustrated by the pace of the 
evacuation, and I can understand that. Several hundred Americans have 
been evacuated, including children who were in Lebanon alone or 
individuals in need of medical care. But thousands of Americans remain 
trapped there.
  U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman said that by the end of the week, 
the evacuation will proceed at a pace of 1,000 Americans a day. Since a 
Swedish ship departed today with over 1,000 Scandinavians and other 
Europeans and with some 200 Americans on board, it is difficult to 
understand why we cannot marshal the resources to evacuate our citizens 
more quickly.
  I have also received many calls from constituents who were appalled 
to learn that one of the first things that Americans trapped in Lebanon 
hear from the State Department is that they will be charged for the 
cost of their evacuation to Cyprus. The United States must make clear 
to all the parties involved that we will move quickly to evacuate our 
citizens. Those Americans should not bear the costs of this regional 
crisis.
  Secretary Rice has emphasized the need to safeguard civilian lives 
and to ``create sustainable conditions for political progress.''
  The Israeli soldiers who are being held hostage by Hezbollah, and the 
soldier captured by Hamas, must be released immediately and 
unconditionally. The rocket attacks on Israel, which began long before 
this new phase of the conflict, must end. All the parties involved must 
commit to abide by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559, 
which was adopted in 2004. This resolution requires that all militias, 
including Hezbollah, be disarmed and disbanded.
  All of these principles are embodied in the legislation passed by the 
Senate today, along with an absolutely clear statement that we stand 
with Israel. To make these principles a reality and to protect the 
lives of the innocent civilians caught in the crossfire in both Israel 
and Lebanon will clearly require sustained U.S. engagement in a 
regional solution.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I urge adoption of the resolution.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the resolution.
  The resolution (S. Res. 534) was agreed to.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the preamble 
be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 534

       Whereas Israel fully complied with United Nations Security 
     Council Resolution 425 (adopted March 19, 1978) by completely 
     withdrawing its forces from Lebanon, as certified by the 
     United Nations Security Council and affirmed by United 
     Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on June 16, 2000, when 
     he said, ``Israel has withdrawn from [Lebanon] in full 
     compliance with Security Council Resolution 425.'';
       Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 
     (adopted September 2, 2004) calls for the complete withdrawal 
     of all foreign forces and the dismantlement of all 
     independent militias in Lebanon;
       Whereas despite Resolution 1559, the terrorist organization 
     Hezbollah remains active in Lebanon and has amassed thousands 
     of rockets aimed at northern Israel;
       Whereas the Government of Lebanon, which includes 
     representatives of Hezbollah, has done little to dismantle 
     Hezbollah forces or to exert its authority and control 
     throughout all geographic regions of Lebanon;
       Whereas Hezbollah receives financial, military, and 
     political support from Syria and Iran;
       Whereas the United States has enacted several laws, 
     including the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty 
     Restoration Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note) and the Iran 
     and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note), that 
     call for the imposition of sanctions on Syria and Iran for, 
     among other things, their support for terrorism and terrorist 
     organizations;
       Whereas the Government of Israel has shown restraint in the 
     past year even though Hezbollah has launched at least 4 
     separate attacks into Israel using rockets and ground forces;
       Whereas, without provocation, on the morning of July 12, 
     2006, Hezbollah launched an attack into northern Israel, 
     killing 7 Israeli soldiers and taking 2 hostage into Lebanon;
       Whereas on June 25, 2006, despite Israel's evacuation of 
     Gaza in 2005, the terrorist organization Hamas, which is also 
     supported by Syria and Iran, entered sovereign Israeli 
     territory, attacked an Israeli military base, killed 2 
     Israeli soldiers, and captured an Israeli soldier, and has 
     refused to release that soldier;
       Whereas rockets have been launched from Gaza into Israel 
     since Israel's evacuation of Gaza in 2005; and
       Whereas both Hezbollah and Hamas refuse to recognize 
     Israel's right to exist and call for the destruction of 
     Israel: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) reaffirms its steadfast support for the State of 
     Israel;
       (2) supports Israel's right of self-defense and Israel's 
     right to take appropriate action to deter aggression by 
     terrorist groups and their state sponsors;
       (3) urges the President to continue fully supporting Israel 
     as Israel exercises its right of self-defense in Lebanon and 
     Gaza;
       (4) calls for the immediate and unconditional release of 
     Israeli soldiers who are being held captive by Hezbollah or 
     Hamas;
       (5) condemns the Governments of Iran and Syria for their 
     continued support for Hezbollah and Hamas, and holds the 
     Governments of Syria and Iran responsible for the acts of 
     aggression carried out by Hezbollah and Hamas against Israel;
       (6) condemns Hamas and Hezbollah for exploiting civilian 
     populations as shields and locating their military activities 
     in civilian areas;
       (7) urges the President to use all available political and 
     diplomatic means, including sanctions, to persuade the 
     governments of

[[Page 14659]]

     Syria and Iran to end their support of Hezbollah and Hamas;
       (8) calls on the Government of Lebanon to do everything in 
     its power to find and free the kidnapped Israeli soldiers 
     being held in its territory, and to fulfill its 
     responsibility under United Nations Security Council 
     Resolution 1559 (adopted September 2, 2004) to disband and 
     disarm Hezbollah;
       (9) calls on the United Nations Security Council to condemn 
     these unprovoked acts and to demand compliance with 
     Resolution 1559, which requires that Hezbollah and other 
     militias be disbanded and disarmed, and that all foreign 
     forces be withdrawn from Lebanon; and
       (10) urges all sides to protect innocent civilian life and 
     infrastructure and strongly supports the use of all 
     diplomatic means available to free the captured Israeli 
     soldiers.
       (11) recognizes that thousands of American nationals reside 
     peacefully in Lebanon, and that those American nationals in 
     Lebanon concerned for their safety should receive the full 
     support and assistance of the United States government.

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