Akouri Applauds Issa, Boustany on Co-sponsoring House Resolution in Support of Lebanon

(Pictured l-r): Akouri, Ackerman, Boustany

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Fmr. Capitol Hill Senior Advisor John Akouri applauds the continued support of Lebanese American Congressmen Darrel Issa (R-CA) & Dr. Charles Boustany (R-LA) towards Lebanon. Introduced by US Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY) the bipartisan House Resolution 548 expresses the support of the United States House of Representatives for Lebanon's government, and affirms continued U.S. readiness to provide material and economic assistance in order to help protect Lebanese sovereignty and independence. Condemning Syria and Iran for their ongoing roles in providing arms to Lebanese militias, particularly Hezbollah, and Palestinian factions, the resolution calls for "prompt action" by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon established by the UN Security Council.

"What's been happening in Lebanon is aggression in the classic sense of the word" Ackerman said. "What we have been seeing is not an ordinary political stand-off, but rather a concerted effort by Syria, Iran and their Lebanese proxies to prevent the creation of a genuinely sovereign, democratically governed and non-confrontational Lebanon. The current Lebanese government is both legitimate and representative of the majority of Lebanese. The attempts to undermine it through a campaign of assassinations, rioting and demonstrations, bombings in public places, threats to establish an alternative extra-constitutiona l government, and the instigation of a jihadi insurgency are not responses to anything the Lebanese government has done" Ackerman insisted.

“The people of Lebanon deserve the support of the United States,” said Boustany . “Often times the democratically-elected government of Lebanon is overlooked by our country, as we continue to support other regional allies. U.S. foreign policy needs to be more balanced throughout this region, and Lebanon is a key ally in this pursuit. Be assured, I will continue to educate my colleagues on the importance of Lebanon to U.S. interests.”

In addition to Issa and Boustany, the resolution is also co-sponsored by Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), the ranking Republican on the Middle East panel and Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Noting the growing prospects for a political crisis, or even the return of civil war, Ackerman, the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, has scheduled a hearing in two weeks to bring more attention to events in Lebanon.