January 15, 2008
Savagery struck
once again in Beirut Lebanon today. This time, the terrorists targeted both
Lebanese civilians and American diplomats, with the obvious purpose of plunging
Lebanon even deeper into crisis and sending a threatening message to nations
that are trying to assist the Lebanese, especially the United States of America.
Regrettably, this
kind of violence will continue as long as the Syrian- and Iranian-supported
Lebanese opposition pursues its agenda of crippling the Lebanese Government;
allowing the influx of arms and terrorists through the porous borders with Syria
to strengthen the “islands of insecurity” controlled by Hezbollah and the
Palestinians; and to turn those islands of lawlessness into havens for bombers
and assassins and into launching pads for operations similar to this latest
terrorist act.
Expressions of
indignation and words of condemnation have proven futile if they are not
followed by serious actions to confront and destroy the sources of this terror.
While some policymakers are still betting on peace efforts to produce diplomatic
solutions, the supporters of the terrorists who are killing our soldiers in Iraq
and spreading death and destruction throughout the region are openly in a proxy
state of war against America. Syria and Iran see the battle of Lebanon as a
must-win in order for them to defeat the US. They realize that the stabilization
of Lebanon would be detrimental to their ability to spread their influence and
to protect their oppressive regimes.
It is imperative
for the US, for its allies and for other friends of Lebanon in the Middle East
and elsewhere in the world to devise a plan for immediate and decisive actions
that leaves all options on the table. Syria and Iran represent a clear and
growing threat to world peace. If the bleeding of Lebanon is not stopped, they
will conveniently control the weakened country and turn it into a dangerous
haven for extremism. The dictators of Syria and Iran are betting that their
terror would erode the will of the Lebanese people and would shake the resolve
of the free world. They should be faced with a strong determination to render
them harmless as soon as possible.
The Lebanese
Information Center in the U.S. extends its deepest sympathy to the families of
the victims and wishes a speedy recovery for the injured. At the same time, we
express our heartfelt appreciation for the United States Government, its
Administration and Congress, for their noble commitment to uphold the
sovereignty and freedom of Lebanon.
