Political Quotes

“Madam Chair, in closing, as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee for over 20 years, I have traveled the entire region and met with our leaders, including our leaders in Israel. I met with the Mossad chief. I met with many, and what they have all told me is that a stable Lebanon is important and that a civil war in Lebanon would lead to the chaos that caused Israel to have to invade Lebanon many years ago at a great loss of life. The fact is we have troops in Syria because Syria is effectively in a civil war. We have support for the LAF because the LAF stands as the only force that keeps Hezbollah from taking over that country as a proxy for Iran. I continue to stand with Israel. I continue to stand against Iran. To do so, I continue to stand with support for the LAF and the stability that it brings to Lebanon. Only a few weeks ago, General Aoun, the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, was invited here, where he met with our Secretary of State and our Secretary of Defense and where, in fact, the coordination between our two countries has never been stronger. Madam Chair, for that reason, I must oppose this amendment and hope that it will not be brought again because it is not in the best interests of America or its key ally in the region, Israel. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.”