259 ISF Cadets Graduate from Warwar Academy

June 30, 2010 U.S. Ambassador Michele Sison congratulated a group of 259 Internal Security Forces (ISF) police cadets and officers who graduated from the 16th and 17th U.S.-funded Basic Course Police Training program. The cadets were presented with their completion of training certificates and encouraged to use their newly acquired knowledge in service to public.

The graduating cadets were trained in a ten-week, state-of-the-art program, taught by U.S. and ISF instructors and curriculum developers with the assistance of Lebanese police and legal professionals. The training focused on the latest policing and law enforcement skills and the application of these skills to specific situations. The curriculum includes modern police practices, understanding democratic policing and human rights, criminal investigation procedures and other essential law enforcement skills.

Thanking the ISF, Ambassador Sison commended the Director of the ISF Academy, Brigadier General Abdelbadih Al Soussi, the ISF instructors, the U.S. trainers and the new graduates.

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 and protect the Lebanese people within their sovereign state. The professional development of the ISF is critical for Lebanon’s sovereignty and security. The U.S. Government is committed to supporting Lebanon, the ISF and the Lebanese people.

Army Commander Kahwaji's held talks with a visiting delegation from the US Central Command

16/06/10 NNA - Lebanese Army Commander, General Jean Kahwaji, held talks with a visiting delegation from the US Central Command, headed by General Philip Maxwell, in presence of the US Ambassador to Lebanon, Michelle Sison, and representatives from the US Defense Bureau at the US Embassy-Lebanon. Talks basically focused on the US aid project to the Lebanese Army.

Maura Connelly, Ambassador to the Republic of Lebanon, Department of State.

THE WHITE HOUSE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Office of the Press Secretary, June 3, 2010.
WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate:
Maura Connelly, Ambassador to the Republic of Lebanon, Department of State.
Maura Connelly is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. She is currently a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. Prior to that she was the Charge d’ Affaires for the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, Syria. Ms. Connelly previously served as the Political Minister-Counselor for the U.S. Embassy in London, U.K. and was the Deputy Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem. She was also the Deputy Counselor for Political Affairs for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York. Other overseas posts include Jordan, Algeria and South Africa. Connelly received a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Masters in National Security Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

U.S. Delivers Equipment to the Lebanese Law Enforcement Agencies

On June 3, 2010, at the Internal Security Forces (ISF) Mobile Forces headquarters in Dbayeh, U.S. Chargé d’affaires, a.i. Thomas F. Daughton presented $427, 410 worth of equipment to the Lebanese law enforcement agencies with funding made available through the Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) program, part of over $1 million in equipment to be delivered to Lebanon this year through the ATA. The equipment delivered included M-4 carbines, 9mm pistols, body armor, bomb technician equipment and post-blast investigation equipment.

Speaking at the handover, Mr. Daughton expressed the United States’ continuing commitment to helping the ISF and other Lebanese law enforcement agencies improve their capabilities for the sake of protecting the Lebanese people: “The development of law-enforcement agencies as vital organs of the Lebanese state is essential to ensure Lebanon’s sovereignty, security, independence and prosperity. The U.S. Government is pleased with the continued cooperation of the Lebanese government as we are all working together to assist the Internal Security Forces and other law-enforcement agencies to fulfill their important mission in Lebanon and to protect the Lebanese citizens they serve. We are committed to helping the Lebanon’s law-enforcement officers, as we are committed to helping all of Lebanon enjoy sovereignty, stability, and prosperity, guaranteed through strong, effective state institutions.”

The Department of State’s ATA program trains Lebanese government security and law enforcement personnel in police procedures that deal with terrorism. Since its inception in 1983, ATA has trained and assisted over 48,000 foreign security and law enforcement officials from 141 countries. These foreign security and law enforcement personnel have primary responsibility in their nations to take the offensive against international terrorist cells and networks, in addition to responding to and mitigating the impact of terrorist attacks. Since 2006, the total support for Lebanon in training and equipment through ATA totals $8.7 million, with 479 law enforcement officers trained in 22 different courses.