| AMERICAN LEBANESE COORDINATION COUNCIL |
 |
| American Lebanese Coalition 4900 Leesburg Pike, Suite 203 Alexandria, VA 22302 |
Member Organizations
American Lebanese Alliance
President: Tony Bou Samra
8025 Bonhomme Ave Suite 1403
Clayton, MO 63105
Phone: 314-727-7494
Fax: 314-721-8588
bousamra@mindspring.com
American Lebanese Coordination
Council
President: Joseph Hage
9901 NW 80th Ave # 3D
Hialeah Gardens, FL 33016
Phone: 305-542-6322
Fax: 305-249-9446
E-mail: josephhage@aol.com
www.alcc-research.com
American Maronite Union
President: Tom Harb
3700 34th St
Orlando, FL 32805
Phone : 407-383-9600
Fax: 407-909-0203
AMU@maroniteunion.org
www.maroniteunion.org
Assembly for Lebanon
President: Mel Zohrob
24037 Acacia
Redford, MI 48239
Phone: 313-535-5252
Fax: 313-535-4411
mz@instrumentsales1.com
www.Assembly-for-lebanon.org
Lebanese Information Center
President: Joseph Gebeily
4900 Leesburg Pike
Suite 203
Alexandria, VA 22302
Phone: 703-578-4214
Fax: 703-578-4615
lic@licus.org
www.licus.org
World Lebanese Cultural
Union-USA/Canada
President: John Hajjar
134 East Howard Street
Quincy, MA 02169
Phone: 617-770-0500 X501
Fax: 617-770-9823
WLCU_US_Canada@aol.com
www.WLCU.com
American Lebanese Alliance
President: Tony Bou Samra
8025 Bonhomme Ave Suite 1403
Clayton, MO 63105
Phone: 314-727-7494
Fax: 314-721-8588
bousamra@mindspring.com
American Lebanese Coordination
Council
President: Joseph Hage
9901 NW 80th Ave # 3D
Hialeah Gardens, FL 33016
Phone: 305-542-6322
Fax: 305-249-9446
E-mail: josephhage@aol.com
www.alcc-research.com
American Maronite Union
President: Tom Harb
3700 34th St
Orlando, FL 32805
Phone : 407-383-9600
Fax: 407-909-0203
AMU@maroniteunion.org
www.maroniteunion.org
Assembly for Lebanon
President: Mel Zohrob
24037 Acacia
Redford, MI 48239
Phone: 313-535-5252
Fax: 313-535-4411
mz@instrumentsales1.com
www.Assembly-for-lebanon.org
Lebanese Information Center
President: Joseph Gebeily
4900 Leesburg Pike
Suite 203
Alexandria, VA 22302
Phone: 703-578-4214
Fax: 703-578-4615
lic@licus.org
www.licus.org
World Lebanese Cultural
Union-USA/Canada
President: John Hajjar
134 East Howard Street
Quincy, MA 02169
Phone: 617-770-0500 X501
Fax: 617-770-9823
WLCU_US_Canada@aol.com
www.WLCU.com
Media & Public Relations Office
Press Release
Washington, DC February 1, 2005
On January 30, 2005, our great nation made history again, by helping the Iraqi people to gain freedom and
democracy after enduring decades of oppression under the Ba’athists.. After elections took place in
Afghanistan and the Palestinian territory, Iraq has emerged as a new free and democratic nation in a
region longing for liberty. It is without a doubt that the recent parliamentary elections in Iraq are a great
success for President Bush’s Administration. However, this is only one in a chain of events that must occur
before freedom loving people can claim victory. Unfortunately, the spread of fanaticism and the exporting
of terrorists from neighboring countries run at a much faster pace than the proliferation of freedom and
democracy. Therefore, the problem must be addressed in its entirety.
It has been established that Syria has caused the derailment of peace and stability in the Middle East.
Therefore, the successes of the Iraqi election can be easily thwarted by the Syrian Ba’ath regime, which
has continually intervened in Iraq’s affairs by providing a safe haven to Saddam’s henchmen and others. In
turn, these Ba’athists are financing, directing, and supporting the insurgency in Iraq. Furthermore, Syria
has been allowing the flow of foreign terrorists into Iraq through its borders, including radical groups from
Lebanon.
In addition to its attempt to destabilize Iraq, the Ba’ath regime has been meddling in the Israeli/Palestinian
affairs through its support of Palestinian extremists such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and has imposed a
state of instability on Lebanon’s borders with Israel by backing Hezbollah. Essentially, the Syrian Ba’ath
regime has turned Lebanon into a terrorist haven and a fertile ground for breeding suicide bombers used
to hinder the US efforts to democratize the region and to derail the Arab/Israeli peace process. Under Syria’
s direction and protection, Hezbollah has been planting and trafficking in opium, counterfeiting foreign
currency, smuggling diamonds and stolen goods and pirating telecommunications, through a network of
illegal operations reaching beyond the Middle East, into Africa, South East Asia, South America, Europe,
US and Canada.
Furthermore, the domination of Syria over Lebanon has transformed this once free, democratic, and
sovereign state into a dictatorship similar to that of the Syrian Ba’ath regime. This Soviet-like police state
has created an atmosphere of political subjugation, human rights abuses and economic decay, leading to
the destruction of the democratic process in a country that is a founding member of the United Nations. If
the current situation continues unchecked, it will eventually cause the annihilation of Lebanon’s moderate
and tolerant communitieswhich will be replaced by anti-democratic extremists. Such conditions will further
complicate the situation in the region, and hinder the Bush Administration’s plan for the Broader Middle
East.
Consequently, the ALC cautions the international community in general and the Bush Administration in
particular regarding the volatile situation currently imposed on Lebanon by the Syrian Ba’ath regime.
Allowing the status quo to remain will bring severe and harmful consequences to Lebanon and to the entire
region. Therefore, the ALC reaffirms its support of the Bush Administration’s plan for the Broader Middle
East. We also reaffirm our support for the immediate implementation of the UNSCR 1559, aimed at
Lebanon’s long awaited liberation. The ALC urges the US to continue advocating for free and fair
parliamentary elections in Lebanon, due in May 2005. The success of said elections is crucial to the Bush
plan for the Broader Middle East. and is fundamental to peace and stability in Lebanon and in the whole
region.
----------------------------------------------------------------End-------------------------------------------------------------------
Press Release
Washington, DC February 1, 2005
On January 30, 2005, our great nation made history again, by helping the Iraqi people to gain freedom and
democracy after enduring decades of oppression under the Ba’athists.. After elections took place in
Afghanistan and the Palestinian territory, Iraq has emerged as a new free and democratic nation in a
region longing for liberty. It is without a doubt that the recent parliamentary elections in Iraq are a great
success for President Bush’s Administration. However, this is only one in a chain of events that must occur
before freedom loving people can claim victory. Unfortunately, the spread of fanaticism and the exporting
of terrorists from neighboring countries run at a much faster pace than the proliferation of freedom and
democracy. Therefore, the problem must be addressed in its entirety.
It has been established that Syria has caused the derailment of peace and stability in the Middle East.
Therefore, the successes of the Iraqi election can be easily thwarted by the Syrian Ba’ath regime, which
has continually intervened in Iraq’s affairs by providing a safe haven to Saddam’s henchmen and others. In
turn, these Ba’athists are financing, directing, and supporting the insurgency in Iraq. Furthermore, Syria
has been allowing the flow of foreign terrorists into Iraq through its borders, including radical groups from
Lebanon.
In addition to its attempt to destabilize Iraq, the Ba’ath regime has been meddling in the Israeli/Palestinian
affairs through its support of Palestinian extremists such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and has imposed a
state of instability on Lebanon’s borders with Israel by backing Hezbollah. Essentially, the Syrian Ba’ath
regime has turned Lebanon into a terrorist haven and a fertile ground for breeding suicide bombers used
to hinder the US efforts to democratize the region and to derail the Arab/Israeli peace process. Under Syria’
s direction and protection, Hezbollah has been planting and trafficking in opium, counterfeiting foreign
currency, smuggling diamonds and stolen goods and pirating telecommunications, through a network of
illegal operations reaching beyond the Middle East, into Africa, South East Asia, South America, Europe,
US and Canada.
Furthermore, the domination of Syria over Lebanon has transformed this once free, democratic, and
sovereign state into a dictatorship similar to that of the Syrian Ba’ath regime. This Soviet-like police state
has created an atmosphere of political subjugation, human rights abuses and economic decay, leading to
the destruction of the democratic process in a country that is a founding member of the United Nations. If
the current situation continues unchecked, it will eventually cause the annihilation of Lebanon’s moderate
and tolerant communitieswhich will be replaced by anti-democratic extremists. Such conditions will further
complicate the situation in the region, and hinder the Bush Administration’s plan for the Broader Middle
East.
Consequently, the ALC cautions the international community in general and the Bush Administration in
particular regarding the volatile situation currently imposed on Lebanon by the Syrian Ba’ath regime.
Allowing the status quo to remain will bring severe and harmful consequences to Lebanon and to the entire
region. Therefore, the ALC reaffirms its support of the Bush Administration’s plan for the Broader Middle
East. We also reaffirm our support for the immediate implementation of the UNSCR 1559, aimed at
Lebanon’s long awaited liberation. The ALC urges the US to continue advocating for free and fair
parliamentary elections in Lebanon, due in May 2005. The success of said elections is crucial to the Bush
plan for the Broader Middle East. and is fundamental to peace and stability in Lebanon and in the whole
region.
----------------------------------------------------------------End-------------------------------------------------------------------