Exhibit A: Rep. Tom Lantos

“The international community must use all our available means to stiffen Lebanon’s spine and to convince the government of Lebanon to have the new UNIFIL troops on the Syrian border in adequate numbers,” said Tom Lantos, the ranking Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives’ International Relations Committee.

Lantos said he was putting a legislative hold on Bush’s proposal to provide $230 million in aid for Lebanon in the aftermath of the 34-day war between Israel and Lebanese Hizbollah guerrillas.

“My purpose is not to withhold aid from Lebanon, my purpose … is to persuade the government of Lebanon that the closing of the Lebanon-Syria border to arms smuggling from Iran and Syria is in the prime national interest of Lebanon and the Lebanese people.”

Right, because Lebanon didn’t realize that all by themselves. And, by all means, let us add more legitimacy to Hezbollah by allowing them to be the only player in the reconstruction efforts in the south. It isn’t like state capacity is a big deal in that area anyway.

Hat tip Belgravia Dispatch. More from Eugene Gholz.

Filed as: Lebanon