Press Releases 2008

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires a. i. Michele J. Sison Presents New Vehicles to the ISF

June 5, 2008

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires a. i. Michele J. Sison presented 188 Dodge Charger police vehicles to the Internal Security Forces (ISF) Director General Achraf Rifi.  Attending the ceremony were members of the ISF Command Staff and the Mobile Forces Commander, Robert Jabbour.  The new vehicles complement the fifteen Dodge Chargers which arrived in April and the sixty Ford Explorers presented earlier to the ISF.  Ninety-seven other Dodge Chargers will arrive in July.  These police vehicles will assist the ISF in fulfilling its professional responsibilities of protecting Lebanese citizens and residents, and will be deployed throughout Lebanon.

The vehicles are state-of-the-art police cars and will enable the ISF to perform its functions in safety.  They are outfitted with specialized police equipment including enhanced steering and braking capabilities, and lights and sirens with mounted microphones and speakers.  Each is identified with the ISF logo and emergency telephone number.  Each vehicle has a one-year warranty provided by Chrysler.  Assistance in preparing the cars in Lebanon was provided by T. Gargour & Fils, Chrysler’s exclusive distributor in Lebanon.

The U.S. Government has been assisting the ISF in its development since October 2006.  The Chargé commented that “the cars are exactly like those used by police forces in the United States.   I am pleased we have been able to assist the ISF with these vehicles.  The professional development of the ISF is critical for Lebanon’s sovereignty and security.”