Washington Pledges to Provide Lebanon with its Security Needs
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Hale on Tuesday pledged to provide Lebanon with its "security needs to enable it to protect its lands and people."
Hale, in a television interview, said the United States also is committed to backing the Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces, and "this commitment persists."
He reiterated that the United States has "no new policy on Lebanon. We still support Lebanon”s independence, sovereignty and freedom."
The Middle East, according to Hale, is going through a "difficult test" to choose between the forces of moderation and extremism.
In answering a question about the forthcoming parliamentary elections, he said this is an issue for the Lebanese people to decide upon and "the international community supports elections."
In apparent reference to the deployment of Syrian troops off Lebanon”s borders, Hale said: "Each state should concentrate on confronting extremism on its territories and we support the Lebanese Government”s efforts to develop the north."