[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19603-19606]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 AFFIRMING SUPPORT FOR THE SOVEREIGNTY AND SECURITY OF LEBANON AND THE 
                            LEBANESE PEOPLE

  Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1017) affirming support for the sovereignty and 
security of Lebanon and the Lebanese people, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 1017

       Whereas Lebanon's remarkable Cedar Revolution led to the 
     withdrawal of Syrian occupation troops in April 2005, the 
     most significant step toward true Lebanese independence and 
     sovereignty since the outbreak of civil war in 1975;
       Whereas the Cedar Revolution reached a dramatic crescendo 
     on March 14, 2005, when one million Lebanese demonstrated in 
     Beirut's Martyrs Square demanding freedom and independence 
     and an end to the Syrian occupation;
       Whereas true Lebanese independence and sovereignty was not 
     fully achieved even after the Syrian troop withdrawal for 
     many reasons, including especially the apparent ongoing 
     presence of Syrian security personnel in Lebanon, an ongoing 
     assassination campaign against Lebanese public figures who 
     oppose appeasement of Syria, and Hizballah's control and 
     militarization of southern Lebanon;
       Whereas, on August 12, 2006, during the fighting between 
     Israel and Hizballah, the Government of Lebanon for the first 
     time in decades called for the deployment of the Lebanese 
     armed forces throughout Lebanese territory ``such that there 
     will be no weapons or authority other than that of the 
     Lebanese state'';
       Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, 
     which ended the fighting, authorizes an enhanced United 
     Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to ``accompany and 
     support the Lebanese armed forces as they deploy throughout 
     the (Lebanese) South'', a process which is currently 
     underway;
       Whereas UNSCR 1701 also calls for the enhanced UNIFIL 
     force, at the ``request'' of the Government of Lebanon, to 
     assist the Government of Lebanon ``to secure its borders and 
     other entry points to prevent the entry in Lebanon without 
     its consent of arms or related materiel'';
       Whereas the Lebanese armed forces are inadequate to the 
     task of interdicting arms-smuggling along the Syrian border 
     without the assistance of an international force;
       Whereas the Government of Lebanon has not yet requested the 
     assistance of the enhanced UNIFIL force on the Syrian border;
       Whereas Syria is trying to intimidate Lebanon from 
     requesting UNIFIL assistance on the border, with threatening 
     statements such as the Syrian leader's warning that such 
     deployment would be deemed ``hostile''; and
       Whereas it is manifestly in the interests of the 
     international community, which seeks peace and stability in 
     the Middle East, to support the full sovereignty and security 
     of Lebanon: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends the many Lebanese who continue to adhere 
     steadfastly to the principles of the Cedar Revolution;
       (2) commends the democratically-elected Government of 
     Lebanon for its critical and courageous decision to deploy 
     the Lebanese armed forces, for the first time in decades, to 
     Lebanon's border with Israel;
       (3) affirms that the clear intention of the international 
     community, as expressed in United Nations Security Council 
     Resolution 1701, is that the flow of weapons to Hizballah 
     should cease and that Hizballah should be disarmed;
       (4) calls on all countries, and particularly countries 
     through which Iranian-supplied materiel passes en route from 
     Iran to Hizballah, to take every possible measure to prevent 
     the transfer of arms to Hizballah, so as to contribute to the 
     stability of Lebanon and of the region and to the enforcement 
     of the sovereignty of the Government of Lebanon over its own 
     territory, as required by UNSCR 1701;
       (5) calls on the international community to monitor the 
     compliance of Iran and Syria

[[Page 19604]]

     with the arms embargo on Hizballah, as these two countries 
     are the principal suppliers of weaponry to Hizballah;
       (6) calls on Iran and Syria to cease supporting Hizballah 
     with funds and arms;
       (7) condemns Syria's ongoing overt and covert campaign of 
     intimidation against Lebanon;
       (8) condemns the Syrian leader's outrageous claim that the 
     deployment of international peace-keeping forces on the 
     Lebanese-Syrian border would be ``hostile'' against Syria;
       (9) urges the Government of Lebanon to request without 
     delay international assistance including, but not limited to, 
     military forces, as needed, on the Lebanese border with Syria 
     so as to prevent the re-supply of weapons to Hizballah and to 
     ensure the full implementation of all aspects of UNSCR 1701 
     in spirit and intent, as well as in letter;
       (10) urges that such international assistance not impede 
     commercial, non-military trade between civilians on both 
     sides of the border;
       (11) believes that without such international assistance on 
     the Lebanese border with Syria another Hizballah-provoked war 
     will break out with horrendous consequences for the people of 
     Lebanon, Israel and the entire region;
       (12) pledges support for the democratically-elected 
     Government of Lebanon and the Lebanese people against Syria's 
     campaign of intimidation; and
       (13) re-affirms its strong support for Lebanon's 
     independence and for the full sovereignty of the Government 
     of Lebanon over Lebanese territory, through the instrument of 
     the Lebanese armed forces.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Issa) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the amended version of 
House Resolution 1017, introduced by my colleague and friend, Mr. 
Lantos, which affirms support for the sovereignty and security of 
Lebanon and the Lebanese people.
  Madam Speaker, what this resolution now does is urge the government 
of Lebanon to request assistance from the international community for 
military and other forms of support in securing their border with Syria 
in order to end the flow of weapons to Hezbollah.
  I want to thank Chairman Hyde for playing an instrumental role in 
negotiating language that addresses these concerns and enables the 
government of Lebanon to engage with and work closely with the 
international community so as to prevent another crisis in the region.
  The resolution recognizes the courageous efforts made by many 
Lebanese in their independent uprising on March 14, 2005, and commends 
the democratically elected government of Lebanon for their ongoing 
efforts to restore sovereignty and security throughout its territory.
  Despite the remarkable achievements of the Cedar Revolution, the 
government of Lebanon continues to experience challenges to its rule 
and sovereignty. Targeted killings of public figures and the recent 
conflict between Hezbollah and Israel illustrate the dangers of 
Lebanon's inability to control its borders and to provide sovereign 
support for all of its people. The war between Israel and Hezbollah was 
not a war between Lebanon and Israel, but it was a war all the same 
that Lebanon felt.
  Tonight, with this resolution, we are providing the encouragement and 
support to ensure that Lebanon is able to assert its sovereignty and, 
as such, assert its ability to live in peace with its neighbors.
  Madam Speaker, there is no greater role this Congress can play than 
to send a message, as we are here tonight on a bipartisan basis, to the 
people of Lebanon that their democracy, founded in 1943 and 
reestablished less than a year and a half ago, is a priority of this 
Congress and that we will stand in support of the Lebanese people and a 
democracy.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, this legislation would not be before the House today 
without the strong support of the chairman of the International 
Relations Committee, my good friend Henry Hyde. I also appreciate the 
support of our colleagues, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Gary Ackerman, the 
Chair and ranking member of the Middle East Subcommittee; and I want to 
express special appreciation to my friend Congressman Darrell Issa, 
whose work on this resolution has been so important and so valuable.
  Madam Speaker, just a few short weeks ago, upon the announcement of 
the cease-fire, I stepped off an American military helicopter that took 
me directly from the island of Cyprus onto the grounds of the U.S. 
embassy in Beirut. Coincidentally, this was the 50th anniversary of my 
first visit to Lebanon, during which I had the pleasure of attending a 
Shakespeare festival at the ruins of Baalbak. Our ambassador took me to 
see the top leaders of Lebanon to discuss the path forward on 
reconstructing that war-torn land and freeing it from the stranglehold 
in which Hezbollah has held it for far too many years.
  Madam Speaker, I was shaken by what I discovered. In my view, the 
Lebanese government fully understands that the flow of weapons from 
Syria and Iran to Hezbollah must end or they will once again find their 
nation at war not of their own making. But at the same time, without a 
word being said, I was left with the distinct impression that the 
Lebanese leaders are petrified of what may happen if they finally 
confront Syria's dictator in Damascus. A bold decision to ask for 
international troops to put a full stop to the deadly arms flow to 
Hezbollah could launch yet another round of Syrian-sponsored political 
assassinations and other bloody attempts to destabilize Lebanon.
  Madam Speaker, with the passage of this singularly important 
resolution, Congress is asking Lebanon's leaders to make a brave and 
courageous decision to ask the international community to deploy a 
robust international force to the Lebanon-Syria border to stop the flow 
of weapons to Hezbollah. We are being equally as clear that the United 
States is ready to pledge its wholehearted support for the Lebanese 
people against Syria's campaign of appalling intimidation.
  It is not in Lebanon's interest nor that of civilization as a whole 
to accept a world in which terrorist bands can trigger cross-border 
conflicts in violation of international law, and there will never be 
real democracy or sovereignty in Lebanon as long as Hezbollah is armed.
  Let's review for a minute how this whole conflict got started. 
Hezbollah terrorists, probably acting at Iranian behest, killed three 
Israeli soldiers and kidnapped two others. As we meet here tonight, the 
hostages remain in captivity. No representatives of the Red Cross have 
been allowed to visit them. And nobody even knows where they are, 
except the thugs who snatched them from their country's sovereign soil.
  The U.N. Security Council resolution ending the conflict is intended 
to prevent such aggression in the future, and the full deployment of 
the Lebanese armed forces to their country's southern border for the 
first time in decades is a long overdue and welcome development. A 
15,000 troop international force to assist in patrolling that border is 
a positive step forward.
  But the new security regime is far from perfect. It leaves far too 
much to the discretion of a weak Lebanese government and the too easily 
intimidated Lebanese military. For example, the international force 
will take no action against Hezbollah unless it is requested to do so 
by the Lebanese military. It is self-evident, Madam Speaker, that these 
rules of engagement will have to be reexamined and strengthened.

[[Page 19605]]

  But the most obvious flaw in the U.N. mandate is that it doesn't 
require an international force on Lebanon's border with Syria. It is 
left up to the Lebanese government to request such a force, something 
that causes Beirut to quake in its boots because of Syrian threats.
  Madam Speaker, Hezbollah's missiles and other major weapons come from 
Syria and Iran; and virtually all of them are smuggled in via Syria. To 
keep those weapons out of its house and out of Hezbollah's hands, 
Lebanon must hermetically seal its border to military trade. Until that 
time, we will face the resupply of weapons to Hezbollah and the near 
certain renewal of hostilities. Let me be clear, Madam Speaker. Unless 
international troops are on the Syrian border, the conflict between 
Hezbollah and Israel will flare again.
  Iran, Syria and their Hezbollah surrogates don't miss a minute of 
sleep caring about peace in the region or Lebanese sovereignty. They 
care only about increasing their own power, creating instability and 
destroying the State of Israel. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose 
primary instrument of diplomacy toward Lebanon is assassination, has 
said that he would consider an international force deployment on the 
Lebanese-Syrian border a ``hostile'' act.
  To buck up the Lebanese government against Syria's threats, our 
resolution pledges U.S. support for Lebanon against Syria's campaign of 
intimidation. Our resolution also commends the Lebanese government for 
its courageous decision to deploy Lebanese armed forces, along with 
UNIFIL, on its border with Israel, the first such Lebanese deployment 
in decades.
  Madam Speaker, this can be a watershed moment for the Middle East. 
The Lebanese and their government can achieve true independence and 
sovereignty. If they bring in an international force that can help seal 
the Syrian border, they will not only achieve those goals, they will 
usher in a new era of stability with their neighbors, and all of us 
then will have taken a giant stride toward Middle East peace.

                              {time}  2100

  It is up to the leaders in Beirut to display the necessary courage, 
and it is up to us to support them when they do so. I urge all of my 
colleagues to endorse both of these critical forces of action by 
supporting this resolution.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. I will close by noting that this is a very special evening 
tonight in this resolution. There are only four Arab American Members 
of Congress, Charles Boustany, Ray LaHood, Nick Rahall, and myself. It 
is uncommon for the kind of bipartisan support between all of us to 
come together on something. But the importance of Lebanese sovereignty 
and of a stable Lebanese democracy bring us together, and they are all 
cosponsors of the bill along with the gentleman, Mr. Lantos.
  In listening to Mr. Lantos, I have to say that never before have the 
two of us agreed so much on what must be done. The only thing that I 
noted when he was talking about the borders between Lebanon and Syria 
was that even today there are borders between Lebanon and Syria that 
have never been identified under an international law, and that is 
something, too, that a sovereign, stable, and able to enforce its own 
borders Lebanon would quickly be able to go to the United Nations and 
assert its fair international border; and I look forward to that.
  Last, in closing, I share with the gentleman from California and all 
the Members of Congress the call that he made for the return of the 
hostages taken from Israeli sovereign territory that in fact began the 
conflict that we are today trying to end forever by establishing a 
sovereign Lebanon, and part of that sovereignty will be to ensure that 
those Israeli soldiers are returned from Lebanon back to Israel, to 
their parents, to their families.
  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I recently traveled over the Labor Day 
Weekend to Lebanon and Israel. I traveled with two other Members of 
Congress. Our purpose was to assess the political and economic 
situation in both countries.
  We spent a full day on Saturday in Beirut. We were immediately struck 
by how few people were in the shops and cafes and very little traffic 
on the streets of Beirut. We visited the Jounie area which is north of 
Beirut to inspect a bridge that was destroyed. The neighborhood that we 
visited was a very peaceful residential area where there seemed to be 
no presence of Hezbollah. The bombing of the bridge completely cut off 
transportation for people from the north to travel to Beirut. It was 
estimated to take one year and $20 million to repair. This seemed to be 
an example of the extreme and uncalled bombing by Israel in a peaceful 
residential area. The outbreak of military hostilities between Israel 
and Hezbollah has had a profound negative impact on tourism and the 
overall economy of Lebanon. The internal Lebanese situation was 
problematic even before the current military crisis began. Prime 
Minister Siniora's government, elected last year, has been struggling 
to establish a new stable political order following the assassination 
of former Prime Minister Rafic al Hariri. The majority of Lebanon's 
Shia population is still pro Syrian. By contrast the Druze and Sunni, 
as well as much of the Christian communities are likely to maintain a 
broadly anti-Syrian stance. The President of Lebanon, Emile Lahoud is 
tied closely to Syria and unable to offer any strong leadership. The 
Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri is also close to the Hezbollah 
Leader Hassan Nasrallah. This leaves Prime Minister Siniora on his own 
in efforts to develop relationships with the world community to assist 
with funding. President Bush's $230 million commitment to Lebanon to 
assist with rebuilding plus Secretary Rice's visit to Lebanon has 
enabled Prime Minister Siniora to raise over $900 million for 
humanitarian and rebuilding funds. It is absolutely imperative that 
15,000 Lebanese troops be deployed to Southern Lebanon. Also, the 
deployment of United Nations troops along the Syrian border is critical 
to prevent Iran and Syria from rearming Hezbollah.
  Our visit to Israel was highlighted with meetings with the American 
Ambassador, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs 
Tzipi Livni, plus meetings with the Israeli government equivalent of 
our CIA and FBI. A new government under the Kadima party (forward) and 
headed by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was elected following the grave 
illness of Ariel Sharon. Prime Minister Olmert has been weakened and is 
falling in the polls for his handling of the attack on Hezbollah. Prime 
Minister Olmert is dealing with several internal issues including 
problems along the Gaza Strip and West Bank; a very weak Palestinian 
Authority; and fiscal and budget issues that affect the economy. In our 
meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Livni she made it very clear that 
Israel will continue to do all it can to assist with the implementation 
of U.N. Resolution 1701. Minister Livni said that she believes that 
Lebanon is the one Arab country in the region that Israel had 
confidence could become partners in the war against terror and had the 
potential along with Israel to stabilize the region. She also stressed 
that much work had to be accomplished by Lebanon to reach this goal.
  My own view of the situation having been in the region for four days 
is that Prime Minister Siniora is doing all he can to stabilize 
Lebanon. He is a man of great confidence and integrity. I believe he 
will be successful in meeting many of his goals. I also believe Israel 
is committed to implementing U.N. Resolution 1701 and developing 
opportunities to work with Lebanon to secure the Lebanese and southern 
border. The lifting of the blockade against ships entering the Lebanese 
ports which was announced upon our return to Washington is an example 
of this commitment and will go a long way to solving some of the 
serious economic problems in Lebanon. These ships off the Lebanese 
shore will now be inspected by officials of the German, Italian, and 
French governments. These inspectors will prevent Iran from shipping 
arms through the Lebanese ports. Obviously Iran is creating much of the 
backdrop, encouragement and arms for what has taken place between 
Lebanon and Israel. However, between the shared goals of Lebanon and 
Israel to stop Iran's progress I feel this can be accomplished. It is a 
long road ahead but I sense an air of optimism from both sides.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Res. 1017, affirming the sovereignty and security of Lebanon and urging 
the government of Lebanon to request a robust international force 
deployment on its border with Syria to prevent the re-supply of weapons 
to Hezbollah.
  I have long been an advocate for a secure and sovereign Lebanon. I 
believe that the democratic government of Lebanon is one of the most 
important democracies in the region, which warrants our recognition and 
protection.

[[Page 19606]]

  The remarkable Cedar Revolution led to the withdrawal and end of the 
Syrian military's occupation of Lebanon, which had lasted three 
decades. This was a significant step toward Lebanese independence and 
sovereignty since the outbreak of civil war in 1975. However, the 
presence of Syrian security personnel in Lebanon continues as does 
Syrian economic and military support to Hezbollah.
  During the conflict between Israel and Lebanon, the government of 
Lebanon called for the deployment of Lebanese armed forces throughout 
Lebanese territory. U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended 
this conflict, authorized an enhanced U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon 
(UNIFIL) to accompany and support the Lebanese armed forces as they 
deploy throughout the south of Lebanon.
  U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 also calls for the enhanced 
UNIFIL force to, at the request of the Lebanese government, assist 
Lebanon in securing its borders and other entry points to prevent the 
entry of arms or related materials without Lebanon's consent. I agree 
with this Resolution's urging the Lebanese government to request from 
UNIFIL a robust international force deployment on Lebanon's border with 
Syria so as to prevent the re-supply of weapons to Hezbollah and to 
ensure the full implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 
1701.
  Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the Lebanese armed forces need the 
assistance of an international force in order to adequately interdict 
arms-smuggling along the Syrian border. Although the government of 
Lebanon has not yet requested this assistance on the Syrian border from 
UNIFIL, they may have been discouraged by statements from Syria's 
President claim that he would consider the deployment of international 
force deployment on the Lebanese-Syrian border a ``hostile'' act. I 
believe that such a UNIFIL force on the Lebanese-Syrian border is 
manifestly in the interests of Lebanon and the international community, 
which seek the full sovereignty and security of Lebanon, and peace and 
stability in the Middle East.
  This is a defining moment in Lebanon's history. We must have and 
exercise the moral courage necessary to bring peace, stability, and 
justice to this troubled region of the world. The best way to honor the 
innocent victims of past conflicts in the Middle East is to ensure 
similar conflicts do not occur in the future. I urge my colleagues to 
support this important resolution, and I encourage continued 
humanitarian aid for the people still suffering in the region.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the amended 
version of H. Res. 1017, introduced by my colleague Tom Lantos, which 
affirms support for the sovereignty and security of Lebanon and the 
Lebanese people.
  Mr. Speaker, what this resolution now does is urge the Government of 
Lebanon to request assistance from the international community for 
military and other forms of support in securing their border with 
Syria, in order to end the flow of weapons to Hezbollah.
  I want to thank Chairman Hyde for his instrumental role in 
negotiating language that addresses these concerns and enables the 
Government of Lebanon to engage and work closely with the international 
community so as to prevent another crisis in the region.
  This resolution recognizes the courageous efforts made by many 
Lebanese in their independent uprising on March 14, 2005 and commends 
the democratically elected Government of Lebanon for their ongoing 
efforts to restore sovereignty and security throughout all its 
territory.
  Despite the remarkable achievements of the so-called Cedar 
Revolution, the Government of Lebanon continues to experience 
challenges to its rule. Targeted killings of public figures and the 
recent conflict between Hezbollah and Israel illustrate the dangers to 
Lebanon's stability. Furthermore, the increasing polarization and 
divide of the country's confessional communities demonstrates the need 
for a serious national dialogue that will deal with Lebanon's domestic 
struggles.
  The provocative unilateral actions implemented by Hezbollah this past 
summer is evidence of the destructive influences Syria and Iran 
continue to play in Lebanon. The people of Lebanon and their government 
did not have any say in the destruction and heartbreak that was imposed 
upon their nation, yet they must be the ones to pay the price. In a 
clear indication that Hezbollah is willing to use its weapons 
internally, unless the current form of government is changed, Hezbollah 
leader Hassan Nasrallah said he would only consider giving up its 
weapons when a strong, capable and just state was in place. This would 
strongly undermine Lebanon's democratic structures and could 
potentially lead to civil war and instability in the whole region.
  Lebanon seeks to build itself up once again from beneath the ashes of 
war and destruction. In the absence of a regional peace, this may very 
well be the last opportunity to save Lebanon from a failed state 
scenario.
  The United States has a vital interest in ensuring the security of a 
liberal democratic regime. It is important that United States 
assistance to Lebanon play a strategic role in strengthening Lebanon's 
central governing institutions that will ultimately lead to an 
empowered government that is able to meet the demands of all its 
citizens and comply with its international commitments and the major 
themes in this resolution.
  In addition, to security assistance that enables the Lebanese Armed 
Forces to secure its borders, assistance needs to be targeted toward 
the passage of a new electoral law and increasing reforms in the 
Ministry of Justice. The electoral commission has submitted their 
review and now the Lebanese parliament needs to respond. A more 
representative electoral law will defy the modes of traditional 
sectarian leadership in Lebanon that have lead to deadlock and 
stalemate.
  These steps are vital to restoring and maintaining Lebanon's 
sovereignty and security by reducing the influence of Iran and Syria 
over Hezbollah and contributing to a broader representation of all 
Lebanese.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Schwarz of Michigan). The question is on 
the motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1017, as 
amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

                          ____________________