maineman » 06 Sep 2024, 7:38 pm » wrote: ↑
the US did not initiate terrorism and the US was undeniably the target of terrorism, not the Lebanese.
US attempts to influence the election included approving the sending of $12.7 million in military or financial aid and sending operatives from the
Central Intelligence Agency (including
David Atlee Phillips,
Miles Copeland Jr. and
Wilbur Eveland) to the region, who provided "campaign contributions" towards pro-West politicians.
[14] In late May 1957 pro-Chamoun troops killed seven and wounded seventy-three protesters in Beirut and the following month opposition leaders argued that Chamoun "had bought so many votes and gerrymandered so many districts that the balloting would be meaningless." The election was an American success, as fifty-three out of sixty-six parliamentarians supported Chamoun. The US continued to provide aid to Chamoun, fearing Soviet and UAR influence in the region. Chamun's opponents maintained that the election was invalid and needed to be re-held.
[15]On 8 May 1958 a Lebanese journalist,
Nasib Al Matni, was assassinated in his office in Beirut.
[16] He was a pro-Nasserist and anti-Chamoun Maronite.
[16] Following this incident intensive protests occurred in Beirut and
Tripoli.