REID TAKES ACTION TO BRING NEVADANS HOME FROM LEBANON, CALLS FOR SPECIAL ENVOY

Washington, DC—Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was pleased to hear that Fatima Badredine, a Las Vegas teen, and her father, Khoder, are finally on their way home from Lebanon, but he says more needs to be done to ensure the safe return of thousands of other Americans who are still stranded.

To speed up the botched evacuation process that left the Badredines stranded, Reid contacted senior officials at the State Department who ensured him that they would do everything possible to get the Badredines home as quickly as possible.

“I am happy to hear that Fatima and Khoder Badredine have finally begun their journey home, but the work doesn’t end here.  There are still thousands of other Americans who wish to be evacuated.” said Reid.  “In addition to working with the State Department to getting the Badredines safely home to Nevada, I have written a letter to the president calling for a special envoy to deal with the rapidly increasing series of events in the Middle East, including the need to protect and respond to the needs of  American citizens in Lebanon.”

The Full text of the letter is below.

Radio actualities are available at http://demradio.senate.gov/actualities/reid/reid060721.mp3

# # #

July 21, 2006

The President

The White House 

Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. President:

We are growing increasingly concerned that you lack a comprehensive diplomatic strategy to deal with the current crisis in the Middle East.  We recognize that your Administration must contend with other challenges across the globe from North Korea to Iran and Iraq.  However, given the high stakes involved, we are surprised to learn that Secretary Rice will stop only briefly in the region next week.  The United States needs someone of stature, who can speak on your behalf, who can begin to put the pieces of a political settlement together – and who can dedicate the time on the ground in the region to achieve results.  We urge you, therefore, to appoint a high-level Special Envoy to the Middle East without further delay. 

Israel has a right to defend itself from unprovoked Hezbollah aggression, and we strongly support Israel’s efforts to eliminate the threat posed by Hezbollah.  Concurrently, the United States needs to step forward and do the hard diplomatic work required to put in place a sustainable settlement and prevent a return to the status quo ante where Hezbollah attacked Israel at will.  Unfortunately, the architecture that you have constructed to deal with the Middle East is not adequate, as it does not allow for the kind of high level and sustained involvement that is required. 

A Special Envoy could work behind the scenes with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and our European allies to enlist their efforts in stabilizing Lebanon and in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1559, which calls for the complete disarming of Hezbollah.  The Envoy could also begin working on a comprehensive political, economic and military package for Lebanon, in order to address immediate humanitarian concerns and longer-term rebuilding.  This should include setting in motion plans for an interim international stabilization force with robust rules of engagement, ideally led and manned by European nations, and training and support for the Lebanese army so that it can soon assume security responsibilities for the entire country.  Finally, the Envoy could ensure that Americans in the region, particularly those who want to be evacuated, receive the full support and assistance of the U.S. government. 

Your Administration was right to work with France and the United Nations Security Council to get Syria out of Lebanon.  But since then, your Administration’s minimalist approach – including a failure to implement provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1559 that called for the disarmament of Hezbollah and the deployment of the Lebanese Army to the border region with Israel -- left a vacuum that was filled by Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran.  In fact, Iran has outspent the United States by as much as 5 to 1, allowing Hezbollah to out-compete the Lebanese government in building social services and military might.  We cannot afford to repeat that mistake.  There is an opportunity for something good to come of this current conflict if your Administration can seize upon the strategic convergence of interests with other nations in the region and Europe who also want to support the Lebanese government, disarm Hezbollah, and contain Iranian power.  But continuing to stay on the sidelines will allow this opportunity to pass, and risk a further destabilization of the region. 

                                                Sincerely,

    Harry Reid                                       Joseph R. Biden, Jr. 

    Democratic Leader                           Ranking Member, Committee on Foreign Relations