 Well, please sit down and I know one of the trials and tribulations of this job is that I come in here and I know there are long time friends and I get to say hello to some of you but then you watch I'll have to go out that door and I won't really get to stay and visit but I'm happy to welcome you all here today. I want to say how important your work is to the difficult task of rebuilding war-torn Lebanon and as the people of Lebanon begin to rebuild their nation the United States stands behind their efforts. Moreover we're committed to helping restore the government sovereignty throughout all of Lebanon. You here today represent organizations that are based on selfless American tradition of helping our friends in time of need and you also demonstrate your confidence in the resiliency of the Lebanese private sector and disability to restore a strong Lebanon economically and I agree that that's a great source of progress and hope. I'm pleased that we could bring you all here today before I go let me say the spirit of volunteerism that your organizations reflect is remarkable tribute to the altruism that is found here in this land of ours and I wish you every success in what you're what you're doing and God bless you and thank you for Mr. President, Mr. Secretary, distinguished friends of Lebanon. It is for me a privilege and a great honor to convey to you the following message of President Amin Jemail. Mr. President, distinguished guests, I wish first to thank President Reagan for his commitment to save Lebanon from the dangers that face it and to help it in the reconstruction effort that lies ahead. The convening in the White House of representatives of private voluntary organization and of distinguished American citizens for the purpose of deliberating on Lebanon is an expression of concern on your part which we greatly appreciate. The Lebanese people who have suffered unparalleled losses in life and in property now look with hope to a brilliant future. This hope hangs almost exclusively on the commitment of President Reagan to save the valiant Lebanese democracy from the external dangers that face it. This is a great challenge but greater still is the reward. The historical friendship between the American and the Lebanese peoples is now stronger than ever. This is so because as free and democratic peoples, our destiny is won. We share with you the values of family ties, of religious orientation, of democratic institutions, of a free and dignified personal existence, of tolerance, of private enterprise, and of genuine and lasting universal peace. As we look for the future, we must start from the existing facts. Our country is occupied. We need your help to liberate it. Discussions on withdrawal of foreign forces are proceeding slowly. We need your help in accelerating them. Our cities and villages are devastated. We need your expertise and planning for the reconstruction and to rebuild them. May I again express, Mr. President, the gratitude of the Lebanese people for your personal concern for their destiny. And may I thank all of you gathered here in this room to help my country in alleviating its sufferings, in building its economy, and in finding its rightful place in the pantheon of nations. Thank you. I can't help but mention something of which I was very proud when our Marines went into the multinational force and I think it's symbolic of what we're seeing right here. And that is our Marines landed and then raised aloft on the flagpole, the flag of Lebanon. And that is their concern. Now they tell me I have to go, but I shall turn you over to Peter McPherson, the director of AID. Danny? Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. President. Yes, sir. Mr. President. Yes. I haven't touched you since you've been president. I have said of Danny Thomas, he is one of the great statesmen in the show business world. Mr. Secretary. You can turn down the lights now. We come to the anti-climax. When President Jermile was here, it seems like an eternity ago, so much has happened, but it wasn't that long ago. He spoke with tremendous confidence of the capacity of the people of Lebanon to take hold and to develop themselves.