US: Lebanon military aid conditional
Following US decision to suspend military aid to Lebanon, State Department spokesman says, 'Conditions placed on any military assistance that we give to any country in the world in terms of how the weapons will be used'; adds US hopes to "strengthen relationship' with Lebanon once matter is settled
His remarks came following a US House Foreign Affairs Committee decision Monday to place on hold $100 million in aid to Lebanon's military until the matter is looked into.
The State Department spokesman said the US sets conditions for the transfer of military aid to every country, including Israel and Lebanon.
He said conditions are given to "any country in the world in terms of how the weapons will be used. And we do have regular inspections to make sure that the assistance that we provide to Lebanon or other countries is in concert with our defense agreements."
He added that the US has an interest in continuing to provide Lebanon with military aid, once the questions that have been raised following last week's deadly border skirmish with Israel are answered.
"We think that the nature of our training programs, the nature of the equipment that we do provide, you know, to Lebanon is in our interest, it's in Lebanon's interest. And this is a relationship that we hope to strengthen," he said.
"But we'll continue to answer the questions that have been raised because of this recent incident."
The halt of military aid refers to the $100 million in the 2010 budget, which has already been partially realized, and $100 million, in the 2011 budget.
Meanwhile, Iran has rushed to offer support to the Lebanese army following the US decision.
Iran's ambassador to Lebanon met Lebanese army chief Jean Kahwaji on Monday and said Tehran was ready to "cooperate with the Lebanese army in any area that would help the military in performing its national role in defending Lebanon".
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is also expected to visit Beirut next month.
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