U.S. Wants to Build Military Bases in Lebanon

THE Lebanese newspaper Al Safir has revealed the U.S. wants to expand its ties to the Lebanese military by building a string of military bases inside Lebanon. According to the report the U.S. wants to build three military bases, use two Lebanese naval bases near Tripoli and build three new radar stations. A senior Pentagon official admitted last week the U.S. wants to develop what he called a strategic partnership with the Lebanese army. Vice President Dick Cheney addressed the situation in Lebanon on Sunday.

He said "Through bribery and intimidation, Syria and its agents are attempting to prevent the democratic majority in Lebanon from electing a truly independent president. Lebanon has the right to conduct the upcoming elections free of any foreign interference. The United States will work, with free Lebanon's other friends and allies to preserve Lebanon's hard won independence, and to defeat the forces of extremism and terror, that threaten not only that region, but U.S. countries across the wider region."

Hezbollah's deputy leader Sheik Naim Kassem warned the U.S. on Sunday against setting up a military base in Lebanon, saying the guerrilla group would consider such a move ``a hostile act.''

Sheik Kassem's warning came days after a senior Pentagon official said the U.S. military would like to see a ``strategic partnership'' with Lebanon's army to strengthen the country's forces so that Hezbollah would have no excuse to bear arms.

Eric Edelman, undersecretary of defense for policy, spoke on Lebanese television Thursday after holding talks on military cooperation with Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. He did not say the U.S. government wants to build a military base in Lebanon.

But Hezbollah and Lebanon's opposition seized on Edelman's comments as subtle confirmation of a pro-opposition newspaper's claim that Washington was offering a treaty that provides for bases and training in the country.

``We consider any American military base in Lebanon a hostile act,'' Kassem told a group of supporters.

Since last year's war between Hezbollah and Israel, the U.S. has increased its military assistance to Lebanon to $270 million - more than five times the amount provided a year ago - in a show of support to Saniora's Western-backed government.

Hezbollah has argued that Washington's attempts to boost military ties with Lebanon are a ploy for domination and could turn the country into another Iraq.