BEIRUT In an expected escalation, American Rep.
Greg Steube (R-FL) has reintroduced the Preventing Armed Groups from Engaging in Radicalism, aka the PAGER Act, which would forbid aid to the Lebanese Armed Forces until the Lebanese federal government withdraws its recognition of the Shiite duo.The anti-Hezbollah costs was first introduced last September, after the terrorist Pager Massacre; it systematically targets Hezbollah, the Amal Movement, and their allies in Lebanon.The bill states that the Lebanese government must stop recognizing the Shiite duo and any political faction that supports the resistance.
It likewise demands avoiding affiliated people from holding any senior official positions.The intriguing act likewise demands that Lebanon not allow Iranian impact within its main institutions.In addition, it requires that all charges against Americans (originally Lebanese) who appeared on Israeli news media outlets or invited Israeli visitors to their media programs be dropped (considering that this is a criminal offense under Lebanese law).
The US law proposes to note the head of the military intelligence in southern Lebanon, Brigadier General Suhail Bahij Harb, as a global terrorist, noting that he is a Shiite.The Times accused Brigadier General Harb of dripping details to Hezbollah.
In parallel, mainstream media from the West and Persian Gulf Arab specifies carried out organized propaganda lies versus him, though the Lebanese army denied these accusations, stating: The army command categorically rejects these allegations, especially considering that they come at an important stage when the army is carrying out enormous tasks.The draft law further sets a strict due date for the Lebanese federal government, not going beyond 60 days from the date of its approval, to execute a series of strict conditions, otherwise American military aid to the Lebanese army will be stopped.Meanwhile, the government has actually not coordinated with Hezbollah and the Amal Movement regarding selecting Shiites to positions, which results in an intent to omit them in compliance with American orders.On Thursday, the Lebanese Council of Ministers settled on the need to accelerate the arrangement on the system for administrative consultations and the development of regulative bodies.It is notable that the ministerial statement claimed that the government is keen on requirements of merit, skills and equality in between Christians and Muslims without assigning any job to any sect.Any relocation aside from this is a clear constitutional violation of the laws in force.For his part, President Aoun had pledged throughout his inauguration speech that he will protect rotating superior jobs, knowing that this needs modifying the laws in force through the parliament based upon the constitutional principle that the people are the source of authority.The PAGER Act needs the Lebanese state to adhere to the UN Security Council resolution 1559 that requires disarming Hezbollah.It also calls for imposing sanctions on political figures who provided political cover for Hezbollah within the state.This anti-Hezbollah bill represents a significant political problem for the Lebanese federal government, as it requires the federal government to pick between continuing United States military support or dealing with an internal surge, specifically as the Shiite duo makes up a prominent political and popular force.Hence, among the possible effects of this aggressive program is to spark an internal political crisis that may lead to security stress.
Will the government submit to Americas embarrassing determines or push the country to the edge of a void?!