Miqati Vows Adoption of $1.6 Billion Plan to Equip Lebanese Army
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Prime Minister Najib Miqati promised on Wednesday his government’s approval of a $1.6 billion four-year plan to improve the capabilities of the Lebanese army.
“The cabinet, which is working on meeting the needs of the military, is on the verge of approving a $1.6 billion plan divided to four years to improve its capabilities,” Miqati said in a statement he issued on the occasion of Army Day.
The government will execute this plan by sending a draft-law to parliament for approval and by holding an international conference to provide the necessary equipment to the military in accordance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, he said.
The delicate situation that Lebanon went through in the past years has increased the responsibilities of the army from the protection of the southern border with Israel to preserving security in the country, Miqati said.
The army’s “impartiality” and “neutrality” in this role prompted the government to send troops to the northern and eastern borders with Syria to preserve security and prevent the residents of border regions from falling victims to security incidents, he added.
Military reinforcements were sent last month to the areas bordering Syria after several people were killed and injured in Syrian cross-border shelling during clashes between government troops and rebels seeking to topple the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Miqati lauded the army in “consolidating its own unity” and “dousing the fire of strife.”
“It is the symbol of dignity and national sovereignty that no Lebanese accepts to be violated no matter what,” he said.
01 August 2012, 12:46
04
I hope these monies get spend on actual equipment for the army. Not on country clubs and maids for the officers.
01 August 2012, 13:31
12
I hope they spend the money to buy good equipment that works and advanced,buy you never know they might buy new cars for the officers more maids for their wives ..
01 August 2012, 13:38
11
The money appropriated for the Army could buy few dozen descent tanks /APC'S,Artilleries and few attack hellicopters.It is hardly enough to make a slight improvment to replace the old hardware the army is keeping running on the road. The amount should be doubled.Plus our senior officials should make sincere efforts to seek donnations from freindly Gulf Nations, Europeans, Russia and the United States.
By the way what happened to the Promised, approved Arms donations from Russia, USA, France, Belgium,Germany and others..Any follow ups. Results.??
Parlimentaries: The Army deserve more quality equipments to carry out its various and expanded missions, and not Promisess...
Spend the money on the right hardwares. The army are Boots on the ground not Servants at Homes.
01 August 2012, 15:08
00
Lebanon is sliding slowly but surely into the path of Syria and Iran's Tyrants. A path of economic destruction and political oppression lost between a police state, Basij and Salafis. Lebanon was on the path of freedom, democracy, independence and prosperity after the Cedar Revolution and could have provided the moral and intellectual guidance to the Arab Spring. Instead, we became a Basij arsenal at the service of Iran's extremists. The source of the problems is Hizbollah and its allies; but also the incompetence of M14 who hijacked the Cedar Revolution for personal aims. Lebanon will only survive when people abandon M8 and M14 and start supporting individual who believe in the principles of the Cedar Revolution.
01 August 2012, 17:55
00
This is a very wise step regarding the developments in neighboring Syria. As the FSA strengthens its positions in Syria, the Syrian regular forces will keep on loosing more ground and our long border with Syria may become very unstable in the following years. We need a better equipped army to face the challenges so the move by PM Miqati is out of dire need and I think the US, France, Italy, Russia and others will be willing to sell some basic hardware.
01 August 2012, 18:19
00
Its time: Iran had offered a year ago... why the delay? now the Army and Hezballah will share experience and together will halt all terrorist acts by any side.
01 August 2012, 18:48
00
my problem with the army is stated in the above comment:
the army was sent t the north to help the syrian regime and not to protect the residents of the north.
personally I consider the rle of an army is to preserve the territorial integrity of the country and defend its borders.
01 August 2012, 19:00
00
as uncovered today, the role of our security forces is not to support the syrian regime rather to protect us and human rights.
today the authorities delivered 2 syrian dissidents to the syrian regime, which is against human rights, and against morility.
if this is the rle of our security forces then no to these forces.
01 August 2012, 21:53
10
With the collapse of the regime of the Tyrant of Damascus, there won't be a need to protect our borders with expensive high tech. and if HA behaves, there is no need to spend billions of L.L. on weapons that can be destroyed in seconds by Israel. \\
Invest this money in education, energy, and the lebanese economy instead.
01 August 2012, 23:33
00
they are going to get us lousy weapons for 1.6 Billion? we need more M113 and M16
