Washington Report, March 5, 1984, Page 6

Facts For Your Files: A Chronology of U.S.-Middle East Relations

February 17:

In what amounted to a backing off from earlier statements on the importance of Lebanon to the U.S., President Reagan said: "Lebanon's troubles are just part of the overall problem in the Middle East, and her internal strife has only made it worse." Mr. Reagan has in the past said that Lebanon is a "vital interest" of the U.S. and that it was "key to the region's stability."

February 21:

The first group of a total of 1,200 U.S. combat marines belonging to the 22nd Marine Amphibious Unit began their "redeployment" from the Beirut airport compound to U.S. ships offshore—a move announced by President Reagan on February 7. Several hundred other American "support" personnel had already been evacuated, along with heavy equipment and supplies.

February 22:

In explaining the withdrawal of U.S. marines in Lebanon to ships offshore, President Reagan said: "We are redeploying because once the terrorist attacks started, there was no way that we could really contribute to the original mission ... But as long as there's a chance for a peaceful solution, we're going to try and see if there's any contribution we can make to achieve that. And as long as that chance exists," the President continued, "I'm not going to give up and say, 'Well, it's all over.' And we're not bugging out, we're just going to a little more defensible position."

February 23:

At a Senate hearing on proposed legislation to move the U.S. embassy and ambassador's residence from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Undersecretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger said: "A change in the U.S. position on the status of Jerusalem would seriously undermine our ability to play an effective role in the Middle East peace process. Indeed, moving our embassy to Jerusalem would widely be perceived as an effort by the U.S. to preempt negotiations altogether by prejudging a crucial issue."

February 26:

The last of the U.S. marines stationed at the Beirut airport as part of a multinational peacekeeping force were "redeployed" to American ships. Their positions on the perimeter of the airport were immediately taken up by Shiite Amal militiamen, while the marines' headquarters complex and the airport proper were quickly taken over by several largely Shiite brigades of the Lebanese army. The marine contingent—which had grown at times to about 2,000 men—was first sent to Lebanon in August of 1982 to oversee the safe evacuation of PLO forces from Beirut, and then returned in September after the massacre of hundreds of Palestinians at two refugee camps. About 100 U.S. marines remain in Lebanon guarding American diplomats, while 80 U.S. army troops are providing training to the Lebanese army. France is the only member of the multinational force whose troops are still in Lebanon.

February 26:

Less than an hour after the last U.S. marines were withdrawn from Lebanon, the U.S. battleship New Jersey fired a barrage of 16 one-ton shells at Syrian antiaircraft batteries located in the mountains east of Beirut. The U.S. destroyer Caron fired some 50 five-inch shells at the same targets.

Rockets from the Syrian batteries had earlier been fired at a U.S. reconnaissance plane but it had not been hit.

February 27:

At a mark-up session of the FY 1985 foreign aid bill, the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East approved the Administration's request of $1.4 billion in grant military aid to Israel, as well as $1.1 billion in grant economic assistance—which was $250 million more than the $850 million the Administration had sought. The subcommittee also authorized grants to Egypt of $1.8 billion in military aid and $750 million in economic assistance, the same levels which had been requested by the President.

February 27:

The House subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East approved by a 7-2 margin an amendment to the FY 1985 foreign aid bill which would bar the sale of U.S. advanced aircraft and air defense systems to Jordan "unless the President has certified to the Congress that Jordan is publicly committed to recognition of Israel and to prompt entry into direct peace negotiations with Israel." The panel unanimously approved another amendment stating that "no officer or employee of the United States government and no agent or other individual acting on behalf of the United States government shall negotiate with the PLO or any representative thereof" until the PLO recognizes Israel's right to exist.

February 28:

King Fahd of Saudi Arabia urged President Reagan in a letter not to halt U.S. diplomatic efforts to achieve peace in Lebanon. The King's message came one day after Administration officials said that the U.S. was no longer active in trying to come up with a formula for a Lebanese settlement.

February 28:

Pentagon officials said that on February 26 the USS Lawrence, a destroyer on patrol in the eastern end of the Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz, fired warning shots at an unidentified ship that had approached to within one mile of the American ship. The officials confirmed that earlier that same day the Lawrence fired warning shots in front of an Iranian plane, and had broadcast a warning to an Iranian frigate, both of which had approached to within two and one-half miles of the Lawrence.

February 29:

The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved amendments—which had been attached to the FY 1985 foreign aid bill by the Subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East on February 27—barring the sale of advanced U.S. weaponry to Jordan until it is "publicly committed" to peace negotiations with Israel, and reaffirming U.S. policy not to "negotiate" with the PLO until it recognizes Israel's right to exist.

February 28:

When asked to describe the role that Laurence H. Silberman was now playing, since being brought into the Administration in mid-February as one of its Middle East negotiators, State Department spokesman Alan Romberg said: "Ambassador Silberman is an unpaid consultant, but nonetheless he indeed is a key part of Ambassador Rumsfeld's team." Mr. Rumsfeld, who was appointed last November 3, is President Reagan's special representative to the Middle East.