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FEDERALhearing transcript
High Impact

Senate Hearing on Protests in Lebanon and Iraq

Original title: LEBANON AND IRAQ PROTESTS: INSIGHTS, IMPLICATIONS, AND OBJECTIVES FOR U.S. POLICY

January 1, 2020

foreign policyLebanonIraqIranprotestsnational security

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing provides insight into U.S. diplomatic and military strategy regarding Lebanon and Iraq, including the status of military aid and the U.S. response to regional economic and political crises.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Lebanese Armed Forces

The organization is the recipient of U.S. military aid, which was subject to a temporary hold.

U.S. Department of State

The agency is responsible for implementing U.S. policy and providing testimony regarding the situation in the region.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2020.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This Senate subcommittee hearing examined the impact of ongoing civil protests in Lebanon and Iraq on U.S. foreign policy. Senators and State Department officials discussed regional security, the influence of Iran, and the economic instability facing both nations.

Key Facts

  • The hearing was held on December 4, 2019, by the Senate Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism.
  • Lebanon is facing a financial crisis with currency reserves expected to be exhausted by February 2020.
  • CEDRE has pledged $11 billion in aid to Lebanon, contingent upon government reforms.
  • U.S. military aid to the Lebanese armed forces, which had been placed on hold, has been released.
  • Protests in Lebanon and Iraq are driven by concerns over corruption, high unemployment, and Iranian influence.
  • Prime Minister Hariri of Lebanon resigned in October 2019.
  • The Prime Minister of Iraq resigned following protests in that country.
  • Hezbollah holds seats in the Lebanese parliament and ministerial positions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why were there protests in Lebanon and Iraq?
Protesters are decrying government corruption, high unemployment, and what they perceive as excessive Iranian intervention in their domestic affairs.
What is the status of U.S. military aid to Lebanon?
The aid was previously placed on hold by the administration but has since been released.
What is the financial situation in Lebanon?
The country is on the brink of financial ruin, with banks limiting withdrawals and currency reserves expected to be exhausted by February 2020.

Why It Matters

The hearing provides insight into U.S. diplomatic and military strategy regarding Lebanon and Iraq, including the status of military aid and the U.S. response to regional economic and political crises.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Release of Military Aid

The hearing confirms that the administration reversed a previous decision to hold military aid to the Lebanese armed forces.

Lebanese Armed Forces

Connected Entities

organizationCEDRE“International group that pledged $11 billion in aid to Lebanon”Map →
personTim Kaine“U.S. Senator from Virginia”Map →
personMitt Romney“Chairman of the Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counter”Map →
personChristopher Murphy“U.S. Senator from Connecticut”Map →
personTed Cruz“U.S. Senator from Texas”Map →
personJoey Hood“Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Depar”Map →
personAmer Fakhoury“Subject of a legal document submitted for the record”Map →
personJeanne Shaheen“U.S. Senator from New Hampshire”Map →
organizationHezbollah“Described as a terrorist organization with political influence in Lebanon”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy60
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment20
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz30
    Current news / social attention level

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