The mockery of democracy, facetiously dubbed as "Parliamentary Elections", which took place in Lebanon is a blatant affront to the International Community, specifically the United States, and an insult to all believers in freedom and democracy. Moreover, it represents a direct assault on Western interests in the Middle East.
If internationally recognized as legitimate, these mock elections will catapult the Anti-Western forces in the Middle East to a new strata. The Syrian-Iranian sponsored terrorists and drug traffickers would become statesmen with the capacity to inflict much more damage to our interests everywhere under the cloak of legitimacy and diplomatic immunity.
With control over Lebanese ports and airports they will have the full capacity to strike at Israel and menace the Eastern Mediterranean with impunity, thus, jeopardizing the fragile peace process. Also, along with Fundamentalist Sudan, the installation of fundamentalists in Lebanon will encircle the oil rich Arabian peninsula and cause us to come dangerously close to losing access to the much needed oil.
Ironically this comes as a direct result of the U.S. supported Taif accord which naively assumed that a brutal totalitarian regime like Syria's, with a devout hatred of all things Western, would actually allow any democratic practices to survive in Lebanon. The Syrian total disregard for the International Community and the brutal suppression of the Lebanese democratic forces are living proof of the fallacy of Taif.
The whole International Community, including the majority of Lebanese were opposed to elections under Syrian occupation. Both houses of Congress (S. Con. Res. 129), as well as the Administration, have explicitly stated their opposition to such a development and demanded that Syria withdraw its troops from Beirut by September 1992, prior to any elections and as a prelude to total withdrawal.
However, in spite of the overwhelming opposition the Syrians thumbed their nose at the world and held mock elections as a cover for their appointment of hostage takers, terrorist bombers and drug dealers to the "Parliament". This process was coupled with abductions, torture and murder of hundreds of Lebanese, who dared speak out.
The best the U.S. Administration could do was to acquiesce and express disappointment.
If the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait warranted the deployment of more than half a million troops to reverse it, what of the Syrian invasion of Lebanon.
If the Serbian opposition to Bosnian independence calls for international condemnation and U.N. intervention, what of Syria's elimination of Lebanon's independence.
If Israel is forced to withdraw from the occupied territories and grant the Palestinians their full right of statehood, what of Lebanese territory and statehood.
Acquiescence to the obliteration of democracy and the establishment of Syrian-Iranian style government in Lebanon, is in fact a betrayal of both American values and interests.
It is time for the Administration to cease its failed appeasement policy and adopt a stand which is true to the American interests and values. If history taught us anything it taught us that appeasement comes with an exorbitant price.
In the name of all those who believe in freedom and the western way of life and all those who would suffer the consequences of increased terrorism and drug abuse we call on President Bush to take an unequivocal stand in defense of our interests and our futures.
We call on the U.S. Government to withhold recognition of the "Elected Parliament" and demand the immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon. Also, the U.S. must assist in the formation of a transitional Government, outside the control of the occupying forces, which will oversee the withdrawal process and subsequently hold free elections under the U.N. supervision to safe guard against foreign interference and guarantee freedom and democracy.