Lebanon's Battle for Independence

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Monday, April 24, 2006

Lebanon's new prime minister, Fouad Siniora, visited President Bush last week as Lebanon struggles to emerge as a free and democratic country. Although Syria has withdrawn its troops from Lebanon, it has not given up the battle to influence the country through the intelligence agents it left behind. Last week Newsweek-Washington Post's Lally Weymouth talked with Siniora in New York. Excerpts:

Q: The pro-Syria, anti-freedom forces are much stronger now than they were last spring before the election. Why?

A: They are reorganizing their groups to attack the government and to stop the majority from achieving the change that is required.

What did you ask President Bush for during your talks?

I came to ask President Bush three specific things. [First] to help Lebanon achieve the full integrity of all its territories and the withdrawal of Israel from the remaining part of Lebanon which is still occupied by Israel, the Sheba Farms.

According to the U.N. secretary general, Israel fully withdrew from Lebanon and Sheba Farms was left as Israeli-occupied Syrian land.

Sheba Farms is Lebanese.

What's number two?

Number two is to empower the Lebanese government in terms of enhancing the capabilities of Lebanese internal security forces and army by providing equipment and training.

And the president said?

Yes. We will be sending some ministers to the U.S. to discuss this.