Military Commander: Aoun's Presidential Battle Not with Me
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Military Commander General Jean Qahwaji criticized on Thursday Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, stressing that any possible extension for his term is “legitimate and legal according to article 55 of the law defense.”
“Some have a problem with others but are addressing me. They chose the wrong address for their battle,” Qahwaji's visitors quoted him as saying in comments published in As Safir newspaper.
The Army commander addressed Aoun saying: “I am not obstructing your path to reach the presidency.”
“Some Lebanese sides don't support him... It's not my responsibility.”
He pointed out that the military chief becomes “automatically a presidential candidate despite his opinion... but I am not seeking to increase my shares and I avoid discussing the matter when I meet with diplomatic and political figures.”
“I challenge anyone to say otherwise,” Qahwaji remarked.
Lebanon has been without a president since the end of President Michel Suleiman's tenure in May over a sharp debate between the March 14 and 8 coalitions on his successor.
On Tuesday, Defense Minister Samir Moqbel was at loggerheads with the FPM after Aoun decided to withdraw confidence from him over the extension of the term of the head of the Higher Defense Council, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Khair.
The tenure of Khair expires on February 22.
The military positions in Lebanon are suffering as the result of the months-long presidential vacuum in light of the parliament's failure to elect a successor for Suleiman. The vacuum also threatens the position of Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous who is set to retire in June.
The tenure of Qahwaji is also set to end in September. His term was extended for two years in September 2013.
Sources close to the FPM told al-Akhbar newspaper that Moqbel intends to extend the term of more than 20 officers in different posts, however, the term of Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz, who is Aoun's son-in-law, is not included.
Roukoz's tenure ends in October 2015.
The FPM describes Moqbel's extension decision as “illegal,” arguing that the defense minister's jurisdiction state that he can extend the terms under the authority of a president.
The newspaper said that efforts exerted to gather Qahwaji and Aoun on dinner at Roukoz's residence during the past two weeks failed.
Sources told al-Akhbar that Aoun aims at pushing Roukoz to head the army if he failed to reach the Baabda Palace.
H.K.
G.K.
19 February 2015, 08:29
157
Oh no... Qahwaji is now an M14-Israeli-American-takfiri agent...
19 February 2015, 14:03
105
it looks like mowaten read your comments 12 consecutive times;)
19 February 2015, 08:29
159
aoun is hysteric about becoming a president, and he will never be.
19 February 2015, 10:50
117
Look at the photo of a man filled with hatred. His followers have the same hatred.
19 February 2015, 10:52
118
His followers are responsible - as much as he is - of the destruction of the Christians
19 February 2015, 11:03
812
When you look at his photo what you see is not his hatred, but the hatred that you are filled with and that shows in every single comment you post.
19 February 2015, 11:06
117
@mowaten
Ok I am hypocrit (I could be better tomorrow), but you are brainwashed, mononeurone and traitor ...and you won't be better tomorrow....
19 February 2015, 11:18
912
And certainly your opinion of me has nothing to do with your admitted hypocrisy :)
19 February 2015, 11:40
129
I read all 3 of your posts so far, mowaten. You express no opinion but always attack others and you think you are funny.
19 February 2015, 14:57
68
rami abu nasr (Guest) > and where can i read your comments? what's your real screen name?
humble: that's your perverted opinion, not a fact.
19 February 2015, 16:49
00
mowatin, why is it when you appear the down votes pour down like rain?
19 February 2015, 08:45
156
Sources told al-Akhbar that Aoun aims at pushing Roukoz to head the army if he failed to reach the Baabda Palace.
- Basically what Aoun means: "if I'm not president, then my son-in-law is gonna be commander of the LAF. But if I am president, then my son-in-law will still become commander, because I'll be president and can make anyone my commander..."
How can anyone support such a deranged lunatic and a traitor to all those who supported him? At one point he was so popular, thousands of people formed a human shield around Baabda Palace and Aoun said "I am ready to die on the battlefield of honour rather than surrender. Be sure that I shall die fighting", before abandoning his post, leaving his family to get raped and his loyal soldiers to be executed by the Syrian Army...
19 February 2015, 09:45
126
Aoun's presidential battle is with everybody including his "self".
19 February 2015, 09:48
137
when will this idiot deserter and traitor general relies that he can never be a president.
19 February 2015, 10:20
117
My foot...at most a caporal ...his behaviour during the war proved he was a coward.
19 February 2015, 10:30
116
Yesterday the Caporal was kissing the hand of Hariri. Followers, shut your mouth and follow.
19 February 2015, 10:41
1211
Hello: My name is Flamethrower and I post here on naharnet every day every hour every second. I am a very complicated person driven by hatred and intolerance. I blindly support michel aoun, iran, syria, and hizbollah. I come from a sectarian family and grew up hating others. When posters expose my lies, inconsistencies, and double standards I make up fake accounts and start insulting posters because I cannot win a civil debate. I consulted many doctors and I was told there is no cure for my illness. I ask you to help me overcome my problem by not replying to my abusive posts.
19 February 2015, 11:17
115
Qahwaji has always been the decided upon compromise centrist candidate as was Army Commander to be president Sleiman. It's the new trend. March 8 are playing it out as long as they can to their advantage as their way has been 20 years under the syrian way of doing thing
19 February 2015, 15:59
44
Shame, my post got deleted and why? because I exposed the old man again, because I am never kind with him? This time the old man is pecking at our beloved general Kahwaji, yep, a real general and not a fake one like Aoun. Aoun believes that everyone is occupying the post that belongs to him, the presidency, the army command chief, FM, you name it, grumpy old Aoun feels it's his. The country today is at a delicate stage, where only the army is keeping it from sinking forever, yet comes this old megalomaniac Aoun to sow discord again. Do we need a new president, hell yes, yesterday before today. Do we need to cause more ripples in the country? hell no. I've said it before and I'll repeat it today, this sick old man has been over pumped by Hezbollah, to the point Aoun believes he is everything to Lebanon. His room in Deyr El Salib is now literally begging him to come and stay there for good. It's the only place best meant for him, not anywhere else.
19 February 2015, 16:24
44
Bro, the_flamethrower and the_roarless always report you bro. They also report me and delete my comments bro because I defend you bro. But you always taught us bro to speak our minds bro and not be afraid. I vote you up bro
Cheers
19 February 2015, 16:43
54
you must have posted something too decent that made the trolls look bad
19 February 2015, 17:14
00
oh @_mowaten_ you scare me sometimes!!!! I was thinking the same thing, exactly the same thing. We are so so similar it is not even funny anymore. We are both Shia and extremists; We both pretend to be secular and non-prejudicial; We both are malignant narcissists; We both lie and distort and last but not least; We both are paid to post.
@_mowaten, do you think people might think we are the same poster? I hope not
19 February 2015, 17:23
33
it is a big mistake to not extend roukoz. He is one of the few strong purely lebanese men.
