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Week Ending February 18, 2005
Senate Resolution 63 calling for an investigation into the assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and urging steps to pressure the Government of Syria to withdraw from Lebanon.
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BRIEF
Blown up with 16 others by a car bomb, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon was recognized as a strong force towards freedom, democracy and anti-terrorism in that very unsettled part of the Middle East. Concluding that the bombing was intended to intimidate the Lebanese people and push the country towards chaos the Resolution encourages a UN investigation into the death.
All attention is turned to Syria as the culprit and that is a particularly popular view from the US perspective because Syria is suspected of and accused of supporting and even instigating insurgent efforts in Iraq. The US has indicated its discomfort with Syria since the US invaded Iraq.
Syria, however, has been an occupier of Lebanon territory for nearly thirty years at the request of the Lebanese Maronite Christians who have, for that time been in a civil war with Lebanese Muslims over who controls the country. Syria, it has been said, agreed to participate in the Lebanese civil war to at least protect itself from that war spilling over the border or to avoid invasion of Lebanon by Israel. Later, a treaty called for Syria's withdrawal from Lebanon but Syria has not complied.
Syria has its own concerns with Christian / Muslim tension and a continuing conflict with Israel since Israel took over the Golan Heights in the 1967 Arab - Israeli War. Syria still occupies part of Lebanon with about 16,000 troops.
Causing further suspicion of Syria as responsible for Mr. Hariri's death is Syria's support for Hezbollah (Hizbollah) a terrorist group that operates in the southern part of Lebanon close to the Israeli border.
The Resolution condemns the attack and urges states in the region to investigate who is responsible for it and bring them to justice.
Sponsor: Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE)
Vote: Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent (Feb. 17, 2005)
Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.
## All Rights Reserved. © 2005 TheWeekInCongress.com No reproduction or distribution without written permission from TheWeekInCongress.com.
THE RESOLUTION
S. Res. 63
Whereas on February 14, 2005, Rafiq Hariri, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon, was assassinated in a despicable terrorist attack;
Whereas the car bomb used in the assassination killed 16 others and injured more than 100 people;
Whereas the intent of the terrorists who carried out the assassination was to intimidate the Lebanese people and push Lebanon backward toward chaos;
Whereas Rafiq Hariri served as Prime Minister of Lebanon for a total of 10 years since the end of the Lebanese war in 1991;
Whereas Rafiq Hariri helped revitalize the economy of Lebanon and rebuild its shattered infrastructure and pioneered and directed the rebirth of Beirut's historic downtown district;
Whereas Rafiq Hariri stepped down as Prime Minister on October 20, 2004;
Whereas Syria maintains at least 14,000 troops and a large number of intelligence personnel in Lebanon;
Whereas there is widespread opposition in Lebanon to the continuing Syrian presence in Lebanon;
Whereas the United Nations Security Council issued a Presidential Statement (February 15, 2005) condemning the terrorist bombing that killed Rafiq Hariri and calling on ``the Lebanese Government to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this heinous terrorist act'';
Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 (September 2, 2004) calls for the political independence and sovereignty of Lebanon, the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon, and the disarmament of all militias in Lebanon;
Whereas Syria is the main supporter of the terrorist group Hezbollah, the only significant remaining armed militia in Lebanon;
Whereas Hezbollah supports Palestinian terrorist groups and poses a threat to the prospects for peace in the Middle East;
Whereas the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note) was enacted into law on December 12, 2003; and
Whereas the President has recalled the United States Ambassador to Syria for urgent consultations: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) condemns the cowardly and despicable assassination of Rafiq Hariri, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon;
(2) extends condolences to Prime Minister Hariri's family and the people of Lebanon;
(3) supports United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 (September 2, 2004), which calls for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon;
(4) urges the President to seek a United Nations Security Council resolution that establishes an independent investigation into the assassination;
(5) urges the President to consider imposing sanctions under the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note); and
(6) supports the call of the Lebanese people for an end to Syria's presence in Lebanon, and for free and fair elections monitored by international observers.
Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, my resolution, S. Res. 63, calls for an international investigation into Monday's assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri of Lebanon. The resolution also urges the President to take steps to pressure Syria to leave Lebanon.
“The despicable murder of Rafiq Hariri has deprived Lebanon of a dedicated and effective leader.
“It also is an attempt at intimidating the Lebanese people and pushing the country backward toward chaos. It must not succeed.
“In Lebanon and beyond, many suspect that Syria is responsible. That's understandable--Syria has an extensive intelligence and military presence in Lebanon, its opposition to Hariri is well known, and it continues to play a destabilizing role in Lebanese affairs.
“Syria must get out of Lebanon--now.
“Prime Minister Hariri's emergence as an opponent to Syrian meddling in Lebanon was seen as a serious threat in Damascus. The fact that he was a Muslim holding such opinions was even more problematic, as this reflects the spread of anti-Syrian sentiment in recent years beyond the Maronite Christian community.
“Cooperation across confessional lines in Lebanon complicates the ability of Syria to maintain its grip over Lebanese affairs.
“That is why Syria forced Prime Minister Hariri to resign last October. And that is why Syria, through its Lebanese allies, had been trying to dilute Hariri's influence by redrawing electoral districts ahead of parliamentary elections due later this Spring.
“The resolution I have introduced condemns the assassination, extends condolences to Mr. Hariri's family and the Lebanese people; it demands that Syria immediately withdraw its troops and intelligence personnel from Lebanon; it urges the President ask the United Nations Security Council to go beyond Tuesday's statement condemning the assassination by passing a resolution establishing an independent investigation.
“I would add parenthetically that many in Lebanon are skeptical of an investigation that would be carried out by a government they perceive as taking its orders from Syria.
“The resolution urges the President to consider imposing additional sanctions under the Syria Accountability Act.
“Finally, it supports the call of the Lebanese people for an end to Syria's presence in Lebanon, and for free and fair elections for parliament this Spring monitored by international observers.
“ Mr. President, I'd like to add a word about what this resolution does not do. It does not in any way, shape, or form even hint at supporting the use of force against Syria.
“I think it is important to state that clearly, given the mistrust of many in Congress over the administration's intentions after the mishandling of Iraq.
“The intent of this resolution is to encourage the President to work with the international community to investigate the assassination and to use diplomatic pressure for Syria to leave Lebanon.
“In fact, this tragic incident offers an opportunity to work closely with France. It was French-U.S. cooperation which resulted in the passage of a United Nations Security Council resolution last September calling for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon. And just yesterday President Chirac made a personal visit to Lebanon to console Hariri's family. I commend him for this important gesture.
“I urge President Bush to use his meeting with President Chirac on Monday to coordinate the next diplomatic steps.
“If France were to recall its Ambassador to Syria, the rest of Europe would follow France's lead. If France and the United States together called for a United Nations Security Council resolution to establish an independent investigation, I believe such a resolution would pass. Such cooperation would send a signal more powerful to the Syrians than any unilateral U.S. moves.
“Given the lingering mistrust between Europe and the U.S. over Iraq, France may at first be hesitant. That is why I believe President Bush should engage personally with President Chirac to develop a joint diplomatic strategy and to dispel any apprehensions about our intentions.
“Mr. President, Rafiq Hariri's assassination was about more than the murder of one leader. It was an attempt to kill the hopes and aspirations for freedom in Lebanon.
“There are those who argue that we have no national interest in the independence of Lebanon. Given our bitter experiences in Lebanon, I can understand their apprehensions. But I disagree that we have no interest in Lebanese independence.
“The Syrian presence in Lebanon enables the terrorist group Hezbollah to continue to operate as the only significant armed militia 14 years after the end of the Lebanese civil war. Hezbollah enables Syrian and Iranian hardliners to try and derail renewed hopes for Israeli-Palestinian peace. Based on my recent meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, it is clear that Hezbollah, through its support for Palestinian terrorist groups, is seen as a significant threat to a fragile peace process.
“That is why I believe we do have an important interest in diminishing Syria's involvement in Lebanon.
“At this moment, it is essential that the forces of terror hear a unified voice from the civilized world. They must not be seen as succeeding, lest they are emboldened to take even more aggressive action in other arenas. Instead, Monday's attack must be seen as a decisive setback for Syria and its allies.
“I urge the President and the Secretary of State to act quickly on the recommendations offered in this resolution.
“Rafiq Hariri's death must not be in vain, and the Lebanese people whom he served deserve answers--and action.” ## All Rights Reserved. © 2005 TheWeekInCongress.com No reproduction or distribution without written permission from TheWeekInCongress.com.