Thursday August 12, 2010

I've Been Thinking:

Howard L. Berman (D-CA) is the Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. On August 2, Berman put a hold on $100 million of US aid to Lebanon for 2010, another $100 million was held for 2011.

August 2 was the day before the cross border sniper killing of an Israeli officer.

In the official Committee statement released on August 9 Berman said:
"I have been concerned for sometime about reported Hezbollah influence on the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and its implications for our military assistance program for Lebanon. For that reason, on August 2, I placed a hold on a $100 million dollar security assistance package to the LAF. The incident on the Israel-Lebanon border only one day after my hold was placed simply reinforces the critical need for the United States to conduct an in-depth policy review of its relationship with the Lebanese military. I strongly condemn the unprovoked attacked by the Lebanese Army that resulted in the death of an Israeli officer. Until we know more about this incident and the nature of Hezbollah influence on the LAF -- and can assure that the LAF is a responsible actor -- I cannot in good conscience allow the United States to continue sending weapons to Lebanon."

The Congressman is 100% correct.

It was not luck or karma that influenced Berman to shut the money down on that day. It was scrutiny. The Chairman and the Committee are correct to have suspicions because Hezbollah is so fully integrated into the Lebanese Army.

Within hours of the announcement the Iranian Ambassador met with the Lebanese Minister of Defense and promised Lebanon whatever they need. That's right, all of Lebanon's needs will be catered to on a silver platter by Iran.

The United States disciplines Lebanon and the Iranians reward them for the very same act. The Middle East is a very complicated region.

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