Lebanon on the Edge, Dole Says in Vist to Anaheim

Senate Minority leader Robert Dole on Saturday urged the White House to step up its involvement to halt the “long night of destruction” in Lebanon, and warned that continued Soviet support of Syria could be a stumbling block in improved U.S.-Soviet relations.

Calling Lebanon an issue that Washington “avoids like the plague,” Dole promised that he would press President Bush to appoint “a special American envoy to Lebanon, someone who will devote full time and attention to Lebanon, someone who will make it clear that the United States is serious about Lebanon.”

Dole made his comments in a speech at a dinner sponsored by the American Task Force for Lebanon. About 500 people, including Orange County and international politicians, as well as current and former diplomats, gathered to support Dole.

“Lebanon teeters on a critical edge,” Dole told the audience at the Anaheim Marriott. “Only the most extraordinary efforts can save Lebanon.”

Before the largely Lebanese crowd, Dole called for an end to all foreign intervention in the country, especially by Syria.

“As long as Moscow gives (Syrian President Hafez) Assad the green light for aggression in Lebanon,” Dole said, “the United States will keep out the yellow caution light on the path of U.S.-Soviet relations.

“We can, and should, extract a price for any helping hand that we extend, and a part of that price ought to be more responsible Soviet policies toward Syria,” the Kansas Republican said.

“All foreign forces must leave Lebanon starting right now,” Dole said. The United States “can’t continue to sit this one out.” The former presidential candidate was in the county to receive a distinguished service award from the American Task Force for Lebanon, a national organization based in Washington.

“Everyone in Congress is sympathetic to our ideas, but we are relying on people like Sen. Dole to push them through the Legislature,” said Tanya Rahall, executive director of the task force.

Dole’s audience included former Middle East envoy and ambassador Philip Habib.