U.S. Congressman Gets Crash Course on Visit to Lebanon

By Marilyn Raschka

Lebanese officials who are unhappy that a precautionary ban on travel to their country has been renewed by the United States were pleased at the decision by Republican Rep. Christopher Cox to visit Beirut with a few friends. Accompanied by three Lebanese-American constituents and two staff members, the Southern California congressman said upon his Feb. 8 arrival that he had come to "listen and learn."

He was assigned the best tutors in town. Among the "faculty" for his two-day crash course were Lebanon's president, prime minister, speaker of Parliament and foreign minister, as well as the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon.

So what did his Lebanese hosts tell him? In summary, they said, "We have a lot of problems in this country, but if we can get the Israelis out and investors in, we'll be on our way."

Problem number one is the implementation of U.N. Resolution 425. The resolution, dating back to March 18, 1978, calls for the unconditional withdrawal of Israeli troops from 440 square miles of Lebanon. This is the centerpiece issue of Lebanon's bilateral peace talks with Israel.

"But what about Hezbollah?" Cox asked.

"We can't ask Hezbollah to leave as long as Israel is there," he was told by his government hosts, who also represent Lebanon's sectarian spectrum. They said that resistance fighters confronting Israel and its client militia represent a legitimate presence.

"Could you disarm Hezbollah if the Israelis leave?" Cox asked. Lebanese President Elias Hrawi fired back the answer. "We've disarmed all the other militias."

Both Hrawi and Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Emile Lahoud told Cox in response to the "Hezbollah question" that, once the Israelis are out, "we guarantee not a bullet will cross the border."

Cox's crash course not only covered new material, but some remedial work as well. His concern over Syria's role in Lebanon brought a former prime minister, Omar Karami, to the defense of Damascus.

"We always hear that Syria is our main problem.'' he said. "In fact it's the easiest. . . We could not ensure security in Lebanon without Syria for the time being." Although Syrian soldiers at checkpoints act as little more than traffic cops, their armed presence—35,000 strong—remains crucial, Karami said.

Cox also heard some numbers from General Lahoud, who plans to boost the present 45,000-man army to 60,000 through national conscription. Cox had heard along the way that there was some objection to such a strong army—"a long, historical fear of a too-influential central power" was how it was expressed. Lahoud smiled when Cox asked about this fear and said, "Most who talked against the army were militia leaders . . . If they're not happy, it's proof that we're doing the right thing.''

To a local press corps delighted with the visit, Cox said after the first round of meetings, ''I've had a short introduction and I've already doubled my information." And that was even before he met Rafik Al-Hariri—Lebanon's billionaire prime minister.

Hariri tutored him in how free enterprise and foreign investment would be the backbone of Lebanon's reconstruction. Hariri spoke of tax incentives designed to attract foreign and expatriate capital, and noted that although Lebanon is a Third World country, it has paid its debts. "We are a country that respects its signature," the 49-year-old prime minister said, making it all sound like an invitation to U.S. and California investors, including Lebanese-American contractors George Hanna and Mounzer Chaarani who, along with retired school superintendent George Dibs, accompanied the congressman.

It was in the company of Hariri, however, that the California visitors also got a first lesson in basic infrastructure failure. As the prime minister was talking reconstruction, his sumptuous residence was plunged into darkness. Even the prime minister suffers electricity cuts. In addition to that eye-opening encounter with power rationing, Cox also experienced Beirut's chaotic traffic, made more so by heavy rains that turned the numerous potholes into polluted pits.

One religious leader offered Cox some sound advice for situations like these. "Remember, the most organized place in the world is a cemetery," said the Lebanese man of God in fatherly tones.

"What can the U.S. do for Lebanon?" Cox asked all of his interlocutors. The answers will keep him busy with homework for some time to come.

"Be an honest broker in the peace process," said Lebanese Foreign Minister Faris Bweiz. Ask the U.S. government to cancel the 1987 ban on travel to Lebanon by U.S. citizens and a 1985 denial of landing rights in the U.S. to Lebanon's national carrier, Middle East Airlines, all urged.

The Cox party itself entered Lebanon on visas issued separately from their passports. This has become standard procedure for Americans in the past few years.

Yet another ban denies Lebanese army officers training in the U.S. "We need it for morale building,'' urged General Lahoud. "It's like your visit."

Before leaving for Jordan Feb. 11, Cox, who visited Israel in December, praised Lebanese leaders he'd met and the energy and determination of their people. He summed up Lebanon's future as "very promising." With comments like those, Rep. Christopher Cox of California moved to the head of his class, and became Lebanon's teacher's pet.