It was aimed at “modernizing” a fighting force that has mostly stayed on the sidelines in the nation’s recent wars, but the US military aid to Lebanon has proven more of a political football for officials to pull away every time the Lebanese do anything the US doesn’t like.
The US pulled all military aid from Lebanon in August to “punish” them for a brief border clash with Israel, then threatened to pull it again in October to punish them for allowing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to visit. The second time, however, officials apparently didn’t realize that they still hadn’t restored it from the first time (which they did in mid-November).
Now, officials are all riled up to do it again, with Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen citing the “overthrow” of the Hariri government as the primary justification. By overthrow, of course, she means the shift in ruling blocs that is common in a parliamentary system of government.
The Council on Foreign Relations termed the situation an “emergency” and insisted that the new Lebanese govenrment was “a menace to Lebanon and to American interests.” The military aid football, it seems, will be pulled out again soon.
If Lebanon was smart, it would tell America to shove its "aid".
Resist Empire of Terror and its Satraps, defend dignity, independence and Liberty!
I think Lebanon should tell the USA to shove it up their arses! Besides the less military you have the less you are going to think of using war as a political tool, a lesson we americans will soon come to realize, maybe.
The people of Lebanon have for too long been subjected to US interferrence. They should tell Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and the other Israeli proxies who dominate US MIddle East policy to keep the money. If Lebanon needs money, the Iranians will provide it with fewer strings attached plus, the Iranians do not provide bombers to Lebanon’s enemy.
"The second time, however, officials apparently didn’t realize that they still hadn’t restored it from the first time (which they did in mid-November)." The American government is the laughing stock of the world