Speech on the Formation of a New Multinational Force
in Lebanon
(September 20, 1982)
My fellow Americans:
The scenes that the whole world witnessed this past weekend were among
the most heart-rending in the long nightmare of Lebanon's agony. Millions
of us have seen pictures of the Palestinian victims of this tragedy.
There is little that words can add, but there are actions we can and
must take to bring that nightmare to an end.
It's not enough for us to view this as some remote event in which we,
ourselves, are not involved. For our friends in Lebanon and Israel,
for our friends in Europe and elsewhere in the Middle East, and for
us as Americans, this tragedy, horrible as it is, reminds us of the
absolute imperative of bringing peace to that troubled country and region.
By working for peace in the Middle East, we serve the cause of world
peace and the future of mankind.
For the criminals who did this deed, no punishment is enough to remove
the blot of their crime. But for the rest of us, there are things that
we can learn and things that we must do. The people of Lebanon must
have learned that the cycle of massacre upon massacre must end. Children
are not avenged by the murder of other children. Israel must have learned
that there is no way it can impose its own solutions on hatreds as deep
and bitter as those that produced this tragedy. If it seeks to do so,
it will only sink more deeply into the quagmire that looms before it.
Those outsiders who have fed the flames of civil war in Lebanon for
so many years need to learn that the fire will consume them, too, if
it is not put out. And we must all rededicate ourselves to the cause
of peace. I reemphasize my call for early progress to solve the Palestinian
issue and repeat the U.S. proposals which are now even more urgent.
For now is not the time for talk alone; now is a time for action --
to act together to restore peace to Beirut, to help a stable government
emerge that can restore peace and independence to all of Lebanon, and
to bring a just and lasting resolution to the conflict between Israel
and its Arab neighbors, one that satisfies the legitimate rights of
the Palestinians, who are all too often its victims.
Our basic objectives in Lebanon have not changed, for they're the objectives
of the Government and the people of Lebanon themselves. First and foremost,
we seek the restoration of a strong and stable central government in
that country, brought into being by orderly constitutional processes.
Lebanon elected a new President 2 short weeks ago, only to see him murdered
even before he could assume his office. This week a distressed Lebanon
will again be electing a new President. May God grant him safety as
well as the wisdom and courage to lead his country into a new and happier
era.
The international community has an obligation to assist the Government
of Lebanon in reasserting authority over all its territory. Foreign
forces and armed factions have too long obstructed the legitimate role
of the Government of Lebanon's security forces. We must pave the way
for withdrawal of foreign forces.
The place to begin this task is in Beirut. The Lebanese Government
must be permitted to restore internal security in its capital. It cannot
do this if foreign forces remain in or near Beirut. With this goal in
mind, I have consulted with our French and Italian allies. We have agreed
to form a new multinational force, similar to the one which served so
well last month, with the mission of enabling the Lebanese Government
to resume full sovereignty over its capital, the essential precondition
for extending its control over the entire country.
The Lebanese Government, with the support of its people, requested
this help. For this multinational force to succeed, it is essential
that Israel withdraw from Beirut. With the expected cooperation of all
parties, the multinational force will return to Beirut for a limited
period of time. Its purpose is not to act as a police force, but to
make it possible for the lawful authorities of Lebanon to discharge
those duties for themselves.
Secretary Shultz, on my behalf, has also reiterated our views to the
Government of Israel through its Ambassador in Washington. Unless Israel
moves quickly and courageously to withdraw, it will find itself ever
more deeply involved in problems that are not its own and which it cannot
solve.
The participation of American forces in Beirut will again be for a
limited period. But I've concluded there is no alternative to their
returning to Lebanon if that country is to have a chance to stand on
its own feet.
Peace in Beirut is only a first step. Together with the people of Lebanon,
we seek the removal of all foreign military forces from that country.
The departure of all foreign forces at the request of the Lebanese authorities
has been widely endorsed by Arab as well as other states. Israel and
Syria have both indicated that they have no territorial ambitions in
Lebanon and are prepared to withdraw. It is now urgent that specific
arrangements for withdrawal of all foreign forces be agreed upon. This
must happen very soon. The legitimate security concerns of neighboring
states, including, particularly, the safety of Israel's northern population,
must be provided for. But this is not a difficult task, if the political
will is there. The Lebanese people must be allowed to chart their own
future. They must rely solely on Lebanese Armed Forces who are willing
and able to bring security to their country. They must be allowed to
do so, and the sooner the better.
Ambassador Draper, who's been in close consultation with the parties
concerned in Lebanon, will remain in the area to work for the full implementation
of our proposal. Ambassador Habib will join him, will represent me at
the inauguration of the new President of Lebanon, and will consult with
the leaders in the area. He will return promptly to Washington to report
to me.
Early in the summer, our government met its responsibility to help
resolve a severe crisis and to relieve the Lebanese people of a crushing
burden. We succeeded. Recent events have produced new problems, and
we must again assume our responsibility.
I am especially anxious to end the agony of Lebanon because it is both
right and in our national interest. But I am also determined to press
ahead on the broader effort to achieve peace between Israel and its
Arab neighbors. The events in Beirut of last week have served only to
reinforce my conviction that such a peace is desperately needed and
that the initiative we undertook on September 1st is the right way to
proceed. We will not be discouraged or deterred in our efforts to seek
peace in Lebanon and a just and lasting peace throughout the Middle
East.
All of us must learn the appropriate lessons from this tragedy and
assume the responsibilities that it imposes upon us. We owe it to ourselves
and to our children. The whole world will be a safer place when this
region which has known so much trouble can begin to know peace instead.
Both our purpose and our actions are peaceful, and we're taking them
in a spirit of international cooperation.
So, tonight, I ask for your prayers and your support as our country
continues its vital role as a leader for world peace, a role that all
of us as Americans can be proud of.
Thank you, and God bless you.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |