To RadioBergen

Dear sir or madam:

My name is Dr Walid Phares. I am a Professor of Middle East and Ethnic and
Religious Studies at Florida Atlantic University. I teach several courses in
Mideast Studies and Terrorism. I have testified to the US Senate and conducted
congressinal briefings on the persecution of minorities in the region. I have
published several books and scholarly articles on Lebanon and the Middle East
as well. My main book is (Lebanese Christian Nationalism, Lynne Rienner,
Colorado 1995).

I find your site most interesting and use its resources in my research.
However it came to my attention that the Lebanese Forces Party is mentioned as
a "terrorist" group in the Middle East and a link is established to Party's
site.

Knowing that I am not a member of the Party, but I have an established
expertise on Lebanon and the Lebanese Forces movement since their inception in
the 1970s, may I share the following:

The Lebanese Forces as a national (mostly-Christian) resistance was born in
1976 from a coalition of several Political Parties who joined their
para-military efforts to confront the military attacks by the (then)terrorist
group, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)against Christian civilian
population. Later on, and as of 1978 the Lebanese Forces, as a resistance
movement, resumed its opposition to the Syrian occupation of Lebanon. Syria,
as we know, is cited by the US State Department as a regime harboring
terrorism. In both cases, the LF was resisting two terrorist entities, the PLO
and the Syrian security forces.

In August 1982, the LF Leader, Bashir Gemayel, was elected by the Lebanese
Parliament as President of the Lebanese Republic. He was recognized by the
international community and the US offered its immediate assistance and
suggested joint plans to confront terrorism.
President Gemayel was assassinated by a terrorist group, the Syrian
Nationalist Party.

Since 1982, the LF maintained its resistance to the Syrian forces and opposed
another terrorist organization, Hizbollah.

In 1991, and in conformity with the National Reconciliation Agreement of Taif
(signed in 1989), the Lebanese Forces disbanded its armed units, surrendered
its weapons and requested an authorization to form a political party by the
same name. The Party was recognized by the Lebanese Government and its leaders
were invited to serve in the Government.

In 1994, the pro-Syrian regime of Lebanon disbanded the Party and jailed its
leader. Many members went into exile.

From the above review of the History of the Lebanese Forces, either as a
national resistance movement (1976-1990), or as a Political Party, (1991-2001)
the label of "terrorist" cannot nor should apply.

The paramilitary activities of the Lebanese Forces prior to 1990 were part of
a national resistance movement against terrorist groups and a military foreign
occupation. As for the Lebanese Forces political Party, before and after it
was disbanded by the pro-Syrian regime, it
has not called for violence, as it is shown by its internet site.

I would recommend therefore to pull the name of the Lebanese Forces as a
"terrorist" group from the section I have mentioned earlier. I would be more
then happy to provide you with additional analysis on this matter or on any
other matter related to my field.

With all respect to your courageous work.

Sincerely

Walid Phares, Ph.D.

Walid Phares, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Middle East Studies
Ethnic and Religious Conflict
Department of Political Science
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida 33132
USA
Phone: (561) 297-3215
Fax:   (561) 297-2997