Friday, August 27, 2010

Kahwaji tackles US-Lebanese military cooperation

NNA - Lebanese Army Commander, General Jean Kahwaji, received on Friday Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern affairs, Jacob Walles, in presence of US embassy's Chargé D'affaires, Thomas Daughton, with talks touching on bilateral cooperation between both countries' armies, as well as on the American military support offered to Lebanon.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Kahwaji meets Lieutenant General Charles G. Cleveland

25/08/10 NNA - Lebanese Army Commander General Jean Kahwaji met on Wednesday at his office in Yarzeh with a delegation of the US Army Special Operations Command headed by Lieutenant General Charles Cleveland.
Talks featured high on the means to reinforce Lebanese army special units.

Friday, August 20, 2010

U.S. Trained Internal Security Forces Officers Graduate

August 20, 2010
The United States Government continues training Internal Security Forces (ISF) personnel as part of an on-going $116 million law enforcement assistance program. Ted Kontek, the Director of the US Embassy’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Programs, congratulated the 19 officer graduates, who completed the 9thth U.S.- Lebanese Supervision and Management Course and among those the 10 who also completed the Instructors Course, at the Internal Security Forces (ISF) Academy in Warwar.

The U.S. and Lebanese instruction team has trained over 4,700 ISF members in basic and advanced police skills and leadership courses since January 2008. The Supervisor and Management Course is an eight-week, state-of-the-art training program, taught by U.S. instructors with the assistance of Lebanese police and legal professionals. Officers learn the latest technical and leadership skills and how to apply these to on-the-job situations.

With these professional courses, the ISF is building its capacity and proficiency. The current $116 million U.S. assistance program to the ISF strengthens the ISF and is part of the overall U.S. security assistance program to Lebanon. The law enforcement assistance program strengthens the ISF ability to enforce the rule of law and protect the Lebanese people. The professional development of the ISF is critical for Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence and security.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

U.S. State Department: U.S. Assistance to Lebanon

Assistant Secretary Crowley (Aug. 11. 2010): "We continue to believe that investing in Lebanon’s Government and investing in Lebanon’s military serves as a stabilizing influence and expands and strengthens Lebanon’s sovereignty."

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Statement by U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michele J. Sison After Her Farewell Call with President Michel Sleiman

August 6, 2010 Today, I had the honor to pay a farewell call on His Excellency President Michel Sleiman. I had the opportunity to express my pride in and gratitude for the cooperation and partnership we have enjoyed with Lebanon and the Lebanese people during my time here as U.S. Ambassador. I conveyed to President Sleiman once again today the United States’ strong support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, security and stability.

During my time in Lebanon, the U.S. government has deepened our partnerships with the Lebanese government to help build the strong state institutions that must act as the guarantor of Lebanon’s future. A strong, sovereign, stable Lebanon at peace with its neighbors is in everyone's interest -- the Lebanese, the region, and the international community.

As we saw earlier this week, regional tensions can threaten Lebanon’s continuing stability. We regret the loss of life on both sides. This terrible and tragic event reminds us once again that we must all work for progress toward the permanent ceasefire that UNSCR 1701 demands. The United States continues to call on all parties to work to diminish these tensions. First and foremost, the United States is committed to achieving a lasting, comprehensive, and sustainable peace in the Middle East. Lebanon’s security and stability cannot be separated from this process.

Our support for Lebanon, through our security and economic development programs, is focused on supporting the Lebanese state to increase its ability to exercise its sovereignty over the entire country. We should not lose sight of the important successes that the United States and Lebanon have achieved together. Our assistance has supported strengthening the police and army, helping build Lebanon’s educational system, providing economic opportunities to Lebanon’s citizens, developing Lebanon’s water resources, and building Lebanon’s judicial training capacities, to name only a few areas of our countries’ successful cooperation. I look forward to following the results of this multifaceted cooperation even after my departure from Lebanon.

As I did when I first arrived in Beirut, I want to reaffirm the United States’ unwavering support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The Tribunal was established by the international community to put an end to the impunity of political assassination in Lebanon and to bring to justice those responsible for committing such heinous crimes aimed at undermining Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty.

While I depart Lebanon soon, the U.S.-Lebanese partnership will endure. I depart Lebanon knowing that the strength, resilience, and ingenuity of the Lebanese people will help guarantee the gains Lebanon has made over the past few years. I depart Lebanon knowing that the United States remains unshaken in its commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty - not just in word, but also in deed. Most of all, I depart Lebanon knowing that partnership between the Lebanese and American peoples grows deeper and stronger each day.

Monday, August 09, 2010

Berman Places Hold on US Military Assistance to Lebanon

Congress of the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Monday, August 09, 2010
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Howard L. Berman, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement regarding the hold he placed on future U.S. military assistance to Lebanon on August 2nd, 2010:
“I have been concerned for sometime about reported Hizballah influence on the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and its implications for our military assistance program for Lebanon. For that reason, on August 2, I placed a hold on a $100 million dollar security assistance package to the LAF. The incident on the Israel-Lebanon border only one day after my hold was placed simply reinforces the critical need for the United States to conduct an in-depth policy review of its relationship with the Lebanese military. I strongly condemn the unprovoked attacked by the Lebanese Army that resulted in the death of an Israeli officer. Until we know more about this incident and the nature of Hizballah influence on the LAF -- and can assure that the LAF is a responsible actor -- I cannot in good conscience allow the United States to continue sending weapons to Lebanon.”

Monday, August 02, 2010

Internal Security Forces Graduate Third Class from Community Policing Training Program

On August 2, 2010, fifty-two Internal Security Forces (ISF) officers graduated from the third Community Policing training class. Thomas F. Daughton, Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon, congratulated the graduates at a ceremony at the Warwar ISF Training Academy.

The Community Policing course is an eight-week, state-of-the-art training program taught by U.S. and Lebanese police instructors with the assistance of legal professionals. ISF officers learn the latest policing, law enforcement and community relations skills -- and how to implement them effectively in on-the-job situations.

The community policing model promotes the development of partnerships between law enforcement agencies and the individuals and organizations they serve, in order to develop solutions to problems and increase trust in the police. Community policing puts emphasis on tackling the underlying causes of crime by addressing problems at the local level. These techniques have successfully reduced crime and increased trust and confidence in the police in numerous communities in the United States and Europe.

Speaking at the graduation, Mr. Daughton reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to helping the Lebanese government strengthen the capabilities of the ISF as a vital institution of the Lebanese state. Addressing the graduates, he said: “As you return to your former units or take up new roles in the Community Policing program, you will become examples of the ISF's commitment to strengthening its role and relationship with communities throughout Lebanon.”

The U.S. Government has been assisting the ISF in its development since 2007 through several programs. This training program is part of the ongoing $116 million commitment to law enforcement assistance programs, which assist the ISF to enforce the rule of law in all of Lebanon and protect the Lebanese people within their sovereign state. The professional development of the ISF is critical for Lebanon’s sovereignty and security.