The Lebanese-American Council for Democracy Applauds the Stance of President Bush Regarding Complete Syrian Withdrawal

WASHINGTON, D.C. (PRWEB) March 10, 2005

Today the Lebanese-American Council for Democracy issued the following statement:

“Yesterday, with thousands of protestors demanding Syrian withdrawal still swarming the streets of Beirut, Bashar al-Assad delivered a speech containing the same old tired claims that Syria will ‘redeploy’ its troops to different positions in Lebanon, and that complete withdrawal will come when it is requested by the so-called Lebanese government,” said Tony Haddad, President of the Lebanese-American Council for Democracy. “Everybody in Lebanon has known for years that this means Syria will do nothing with its troops, and that no withdrawal request will come from the Lebanese government because it is a puppet of Syria. But now, everyone outside of Lebanon knows that too.”

“Assad also re-hashed the same old Syrian claim that withdrawal will lead to chaos unrest in Lebanon,” Haddad said. “But it is and has always been the Syrian regime which is actually the cause of unrest in Lebanon. For example, only last night, Syrian intelligence operatives went to the demonstration holding up large pictures of Assad and shooting automatic weapons into the air in an attempt to intimidate the people into silence. But times have changed. Assad will be held responsible for these sorts of tactics.”

“We applaud President Bush for seeing Assad’s speech for what it is—a repetition of decades-old double talk. Sixteen years ago, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese filled the streets demanding sovereignty and Syrian withdrawal, but at that time, there was no international support for the concept,” Haddad said. “Now, in 2005, thanks to President Bush, we have complete international support. Best of all, the world knows that the President says what he means, and means what he says.”

“It is the actions and the integrity of President Bush—and particularly his belief in the power of democracy—which has earned him the trust of the Lebanese people,” Haddad said. “We urge the President to keep up the pressure on Syria until his dream—and our dream—of an independent, sovereign and democratic Lebanon is realized.”

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