The Obama Administration is said to have convinced Rep. Howard Berman (D – CA) to drop a block on all military aid to Lebanon following the completion of an extensive review of the aid already provided to the nation’s military.
Berman, who is the head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, blocked the $100 million in planned aid in retaliation for a border clash between Israel and Lebanon and a number of other Congressional officials were demanding Lebanon promise that its military would not use any US-provided arms against Israeli troops, should Israel follow through on repeated threats to invade Lebanon.
Pressure to restore the aid has been on for awhile, following suggestions that the Iranian government might replace the aid, giving them closer ties to the Lebanese government.
The Obama Administration has argued that arming the Lebanese military is “in the interest of America’s national security,” which seems to be a euphemism for ensuring that the US retains its own influence within Lebanon.
Now,let's see how this works. Our congress wants the Lebanese army not to use our measly(100 million dollar arms) gift against Israeli troops when Israel fulfills it's threat to attack Lebanon? Can any one please explain this arrogant insanity?
While I am all for free trade with all, and no entangling overseas alliances (why does THAT sound familiar?) I'm surprised this is even news at all. Why not send the cash to Lebanon- surely it will come with a caveat that it be spent on US goods and services- and weapons- similar to the deal we give the Israelis on a much larger scale. Besides, I'm just waiting to wake up to the news that Israel is having another go at Lebanon (and probably having it's a** handed to it by the Hezbollah like last time) and what better way to foster peace and goodwill than by supporting and arming both sides of a conflict?
The USG is running trillion dollar plus budget deficits, and is stilling handing out billions of dollars all over the world to buy influence/ It is time to stop all aid, military or otherwise, to ALL countries/ Why should hard pressed American taxpayers be forced to hand over thier hard earned money to the crooks in the government Lebanon or the war criminals in the government of Israel? End the wars/ End all foriegn aid/ Close all overseas military bases/ Slash the military budget by at least 75%/ That would be a good start to getting government spending under control/