U.S. to Determine Position on Cabinet Based on Miqati’s Handling of STL Arrest Warrants

W300

The American administration will likely determine its strategy towards the Lebanese government during the upcoming weeks based on Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s handling of the arrest warrants issued by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, revealed official American sources to the pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat on Wednesday.

They added that the U.S. is adopting a “calm tone” in tackling the Lebanese file “seeing as it has other foreign priorities in the Arab world, such as the peace process and the situation in Egypt, Syria, Libya, and Yemen.”

The American administration had voiced its disappointment with the new Lebanese government line-up, saying that the cabinet’s position on the STL will determine the administration’s stand on Lebanon, continued the sources.

The daily quoted an American official as saying that Miqati’s handling of the arrest warrants and the cabinet’s commitment to the cooperation protocol with the STL will serve as tests for the Lebanese government.

The STL issued its indictment at the end of July along with arrest warrants against four Hizbullah members suspected of being involved in the 2005 assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri.

Meanwhile, on Monday, a House panel unveiled a bill that would block U.S. aid to Lebanon, Egypt, Pakistan and the Palestinian Authority unless the Obama administration reassures Congress that they are cooperating in “battling terrorism.”

The legislation is a direct challenge to President Barack Obama and his foreign policy authority, and comes as the House is looking at significant cuts in the annual budget for the State Department and foreign assistance.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee will consider the bill authorizing the money on Wednesday. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Republican chairwoman of the panel, released an initial draft on Monday.

While the House is likely to approve the bill, its prospects in the Democratic-controlled Senate are dim. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry, a Democrat, is likely to reject many of the bill's provisions.

But if approved, no U.S. assistance would be made to Miqati’s cabinet given that it includes Hizbullah members. In other words, no foreign military financing or international military education and training (IMET) funding for Lebanon would be permitted if this bill were to become law.

According to the bill, aid to Lebanon would be contingent on the secretary of state certifying to Congress that no member of Hizbullah serves in a policy position in a ministry, agency or entity in the government.(AP-Naharnet)

Comments 8
Default-user-icon Blue (Guest) over 12 years

Shu.... Shu..... how dare you cut aid to our esteemed government? Our government supports the STL in "Principle"; It supports 1701 in "principle"; It supports freedom of press in "Principle"; It will do its best to arrest those wanted by the STL in "Principle"; It represents all the Lebanese people in "principle".... it is a BS government in "Principle".....!

Thumb thepatriot over 12 years

Hahahaha... true Blue!

Thumb bashir over 12 years

bigdig says the government 'can't do anything' this is a lie, this government 'won't do anything', there is a big difference between the two.

A Hezbollah controlled government will not cooperate with STL beyond lipservice and they will have to pay the price for choosing this path.

The tragedy is ALL of us will have to pay the price for their choice.

Thumb shab over 12 years

The 4 CIA agents are hiding in Israel

Thumb shab over 12 years

The 4 CIA agents are hiding in Israel

Default-user-icon Christopher Rushlau (Guest) over 12 years

It is time for Lebanon to declare independence from the US, which bought the title deed to Lebanon from France. Of course, the US often seeks France's advice on how to handle Lebanon--who else could have dreamed up this special tribunal? That's what France brought to Syria/Lebanon in the first place, right? Civilization!

Default-user-icon Christopher Rushlau (Guest) over 12 years

It is time for Lebanon to declare independence from the US, which bought the title deed to Lebanon from France. Of course, the US often seeks France's advice on how to handle Lebanon--who else could have dreamed up this special tribunal? That's what France brought to Syria/Lebanon in the first place, right? Civilization!

Default-user-icon SaturN (Guest) over 12 years

The Lebanese should get independence from their beloved leaders first. They follow their religious and tribal leaders like zombies and in the end get dumped, after being used for the leaders' agenda.