Why Lebanese-Americans should support GW Bush

1. On December 12, 2003, President Bush signed into law the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act (SALSRA) which states that “the full restoration of Lebanon's sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity is in the national security interest of the United States” and that “Syria is in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 520 (September 17, 1982) through its continued occupation of Lebanese territory and its encroachment upon Lebanon's political independence”

2. On May 11, 2004, President issued an Executive Order Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Export of Certain Goods to Syria: "All property and interests in property of the following persons, that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of United States persons, including their overseas branches, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in:

persons who are determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to be or to have been directing or otherwise significantly contributing to the Government of Syria's military or security presence in Lebanon;"

3. On June 5, 2004, and in a joint press conference with French President Jacques Chirac, President Bush said:“The people of Lebanon should be free to determine their own future, without foreign interference or domination”.

4. June 9,2004, and following the G-8 summit hosted by President Bush at Sea Island Georgia, and in response to the President’s initiative, the 8 World Leaders stated their support for “strict respect for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized boundaries."

5. July 17,2004, President sent a special representative from the White House to the NAM (National Apostolate of Maronites) Convention in Orlando, and in a letter addressed to the Lebanese-Americans Maronites, the President re-asserted his commitment to the “sovereignty, independence and democracy of Lebanon”, and his pledge to have “Syrian troops leave Lebanon, and the Lebanese people to regain their freedom”.

6.In meetings with Lebanese-Americans, the President repeatedly stresses the need to get Syria out of Lebanon, the role of Lebanon in spreading Democracy and Freedom in the Region, and the importance of Lebanon to the United States strategy in the Middle East.

7. President's Bush foreign policy team at the State Department, the Pentagon and the National Security Council are the first Administration calling Syrian presence in Lebanon "an occupation", and asking Syria to leave Lebanon.

State Department on Syria and Iraq

Daily Press Briefing  Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman  Washington, DC  July 26, 2004
QUESTION: I'm just trying to get your reaction to the strides that Mr. Allawi has made during -- over the weekend with his contacts with the Arab  governments. He seems to have made good steps in bringing the other Arabs to help pick Iraq; and in particular, in Syria he was able to make real giant steps with the Syrian Government in coming to a strategic, economic and -- oh -- around the bilateral relations with Syria. And the Syrian Prime Minister, while Mr. Allawi was beside him, he said that Syria is not going to deny -- or not deny -- or admit those infiltrators but Syria says that Syria opposes an infiltration of any militants across the borders. What is your evaluation of  Mr. Allawi's accomplishments in his recent trips?  MR. ERELI: I don't really have too much of a comment on President Allawi's travels. I'll leave the Iraqi Prime Minister to speak for himself about what he sees as -- or to comment for himself on his trips and his discussions with  foreign leaders. Obviously, as we've said before, we welcome and support and encourage Iraq's reintegration into the region. It certainly -- certainly -- is that -- the fact that that reintegration is taking place is, I think, clearly demonstrated by the warm reception which Prime Minister Allawi has received. And so to that extent, it's something worth noting and worth praising.As far as the infiltration of foreign fighters from Syria into Iraq, that continues to be a problem. Prime Minister Allawi has spoken about it. Our military has spoken about it. There have been some steps taken but much more needs to be done, and that is something we and the Iraqis and others who support the future peace and stability in Iraq look to Syria to take action on.  QUESTION: He met with the top intelligence officers privately and he and the Syrian officials have talked about the efforts, the joint efforts, that they're going to start making together, you know, taking together -- Iraqis, Syrians --  in order to stop that infiltration. Aren't you willing to even admit that there is a good -- that it is a good step that the two countries are, you know, they have come to this point and there is a goodwill on the Syrian part?  MR. ERELI: I'll put it this way: As I said before, it is laudable that Iraq is being received and accepted by the countries of the region. As far as Syrian steps to limit infiltration from Syria into Iraq, actions speak louder than  words.