Saturday 13 March 2010

'Secret' Security Accord between US, Lebanon Raises Concerns



Al-Manar
Hussein Assi

12/03/2010 Once again, the name of Fouad Saniora imposes itself in Lebanon…

This time, the story is not related to Saniora's refusal of including the word 'resistance' in any official statement…

It's also not related to the former PM's "passion" to reject "national unity" and impose instead "national disagreement"…

In fact, the new story is an "old" one, but, surprisingly, was "hidden" for many years…

It's a security agreement not like others that was signed during the unconstitutional government of Fouad Saniora of 2006, the government in which a major group of Lebanese was not represented…

This unconstitutional government actually signed a "secret" security agreement with the US embassy in Lebanon, giving it absolute rights to "classify" Lebanese and to "spy" on Lebanese…

Thus, once again, the Lebanese disagreed on concepts of "sovereignty, freedom and independence" from the "gate" of the "security agreement" that was signed during the "national disagreement" cabinet of Fouad Saniora…

And because the story comes from the days of the "division," politicians returned to their old "positions". The "opposition" bloc was charged with assailing the agreement while the old "loyalty" was charged with the "defense"…

According to the first group, the agreement constitutes a "flagrant violation" to the national sovereignty, and therefore, is not acceptable. Furthermore, it's very dangerous according to Speaker Nabih Berri who told Al-Manar that the issue could lead to serious repercussions.

Yet, and according to Internal Security Forces Director General Major General Achraf Rifi, the whole issue is nothing but a void political campaign. Rifi told pan-Arab daily As-Sarq Al-Awsat that the agreement is related to a training topic, not more. He noted that all clauses mentioned in the agreement were present in all agreements signed by Americans everywhere.


River to Sea
 Uprooted Palestinian

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