Aoun Says Extending Qahwaji's Term 'Not Price for Army Sacrifices': Sidon Clashes Result of Mustaqbal Neglect
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun stressed on Tuesday that extending the term of the Army Commander "must not be the price for the troops' sacrifice" in the clashes of the southern city of Sidon.
"The army's sacrifice must not be a price for extending Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji's term especially that we are against extension in general,” Aoun said after the weekly meeting of the Change and Reform bloc, in response to former premier Saad Hariri's suggestion.
He added: “We do not want to manipulate the military institution's law.”
“Hariri must ease the cabinet's formation first then we will see who will lead the army.”
Aoun continued: “We are the ones who should give our opinion regarding the army's chief as per the appointments' traditions and because we are the representatives of Christians in the cabinet.”
At least 16 soldiers were killed and 50 were wounded in the clashes with the armed supporters of Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir in Sidon in the past two days.
More than 20 of al-Asir's supporters were killed, according to a security official.
Dozens of them were also arrested, but there was no sign of the cleric.
The FPM leader held politicians, al-Mustaqbal Movement and “unqualified members” in the army's intelligence responsible for Sidon's clashes.
“Those afraid of a confrontation to avoid sedition will eventually get into a clash because the power of the attacker will increase.”
“There is an obvious laziness in dealing with the security of the state and if the Asir phenomenon was dealt with earlier, it would have ended peacefully,” Aoun stated, noting that Sidon's incident is linked to other “countries and to locals who financed it.”
“Politicians and al-Mustaqbal Movement's neglect have lead to this situation, just like what happened in (the northern city of) Akkar.”
He called for probing “those responsible for the clashes.”
“We want a high-level judicial investigation with the arrested and the suspects,” he said. “We fully condemn the attackers and they must be tried and jailed according to judicial laws.”
Aoun explained that there was is a “programmed ambush in the Security Zone” in (the Sidon neighborhood of) Abra that is filled with shells and traps.
He stressed: “The killing of army troops was intentional.”
“If I were an investigative judge, I would have summoned the Interior Minister and asked him whose powers are larger than the state's.”
Aoun hailed the army's achievement in Sidon's clashes: “After all what happened, there is a positive thing that came out of the incidence which is the high spirit of the army. The battle was important in the spirit that the army gained.”
“The army's fight will prevent many from dealing with the military institution,” he pointed out.
Aoun pointed out that there are calls for “Sunnis to defect from the army”.
“But we thank the wise men who understood the depth of this case and instead, encouraged the army's stance and defended the military institution.”
The Christian leader denied accusing President Michel Suleiman of being a traitor following his note to the Arab League and the United Nations Security Council on Syria's attacks on Lebanese territories.
“We could say he was mistaken, but not a traitor,” Aoun explained.
-
25 June 2013, 17:24
Aoun: Accusing President Michel Suleiman of being a traitor is not true. We could say he was mistaken but not a traitor.
-
25 June 2013, 17:21
Aoun: If I were an investigative judge, I would have summoned the Interior Minister and asked him whose powers are larger than the state's.
-
25 June 2013, 17:20
Aoun on Asir's potential escape: We will see if there was a settlement.
-
25 June 2013, 17:19
Aoun: Hariri must ease the cabinet's formation first then we will see who will lead the army.
-
25 June 2013, 17:18
Aoun: Those afraid of a confrontation to avoid sedition will eventually get to a clash because the power of the attacker will increase.
-
25 June 2013, 17:17
Aoun: The killing of army troops was intentional and the probe must reveal who is responsible for this.
-
25 June 2013, 17:17
Aoun: We fully condemn the attackers and they must be tried and jailed according to judicial laws.
-
25 June 2013, 17:16
Aoun: There is an obvious laziness in dealing with the security of the state and if the Asir phenomenon was dealt with earlier, it would have ended peacefully. Politicians and al-Mustaqbal Movement's neglect have lead to this situation, just like what happened in Akkar.
-
25 June 2013, 17:15
Aoun: Loyalty to political parties is much more important that national loyalty and we wish there was a respect to the constitution and the laws and not a respect to the leader's choices.
-
25 June 2013, 17:14
Aoun: Sidon's incident is linked to other countries and to locals who financed financed it. Those responsible for it should be probed.
-
25 June 2013, 17:12
Aoun: We want a high-level judicial investigation with the arrested and the suspects.
-
25 June 2013, 17:11
Aoun: After all what happened there is a positive thing that came out of the incidence which is the high spirit of the army. The battle was important in the spirit that the army gained.
-
25 June 2013, 17:10
Aoun: The army's fight will prevent many from dealing with the military institution and we hope the type of the response would change that it would no longer be limited to condemnation.
-
25 June 2013, 17:08
Aoun: We are the ones who should give our opinion regarding the Army Command as per the traditions of appointments and we are the representatives of Christians in the cabinet.
-
25 June 2013, 17:07
Aoun on MP Saad Hariri's call for extending the army chief's term: The army's sacrifice must not be a price for extending Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji's term especially that we are against extension in general and we do not want to manipulate the military institution's law.
-
25 June 2013, 17:06
Aoun: We will not forget this incident that took the lives of 17 army troops.
-
25 June 2013, 17:06
Aoun: The ambush consisted of waiting for the prey and capturing it. It was programmed.
-
25 June 2013, 17:05
Aoun: Responding to al-Asir was a reaction after an assault against the army took place and there is a programmed ambush in the Security Zone in Abra that is filled with shells and traps. The street fight was bitter.
-
25 June 2013, 17:04
Aoun: There are calls for Sunnis to defect from the army but we thank the wise men who understood the depth of this case and instead, encouraged the army's stance and defended the military institution.
-
25 June 2013, 17:04
FPM chief MP Michel Aoun after the Change and Reform bloc's weekly meeting: We are meeting in the wake of the latest events in Sidon during which a lot of blood was shed.
25 June 2013, 17:38
46
Assir should be brought to justice and be given the death penalty for killing our solidiers and nothing less than that... However, for those who are standing by the army, I would like to see the same support for the army, once the army will be chasing Nassrallah out of his cave... Then and only then Lebanon will emerge victorious... Long live our Lebanese army...
25 June 2013, 17:53
55
Flamethrower, I would hope when the time comes and the Lebanese army chases Nassralla out of his hole, you and your senile master will be supporting the army as well... Then and only then I will be proud of your senile pajama boy...
25 June 2013, 17:55
36
aoun is upset of Hariri's call to extent kahwaji's term because he wants his son in law to be appointed at that post :)
25 June 2013, 19:16
24
Geha, you were so right about Hezbollah attacking Assir from 3 different locations. The Shia terrorists used our army for personal gain.
Where did you get your sources, moukhabarat? lol
25 June 2013, 19:37
24
good connections provide instant information.
actually I am an IT person in this business for over 30 years now.
25 June 2013, 17:55
25
Hariri was "ytaktik biAoun" when he suggested renewing for qahwaji. Aoun wants to put the maghaweir commander (who is his other son in law) as army cheif. He got so upset that he mentioned it twice in his speech.
25 June 2013, 17:58
55
Z general is like a BOUMEH....always giving us terrible news...bleak news like his idiotic face...He's a little boy..me me me or no one else...then he goes to crying to mommy Noussralla for some burping...and he has Farsi followers...amazing...
25 June 2013, 17:58
210
"Aoun: We want a high-level judicial investigation with the arrested and the suspects."
We also want a high level judicial investigation with Hezbollah suspects in over tens of blocked assassination cases.
The moment you apply the same level of justive for ALL is the moment you will earn the respect of ALL lebanese
25 June 2013, 18:02
37
"Aoun: There is an obvious laziness in dealing with the security of the state and if the Asir phenomenon was dealt with earlier, it would have ended peacefully. Politicians and al-Mustaqbal Movement's neglect have lead to this situation, just like what happened in Akkar."
Hezbollah weapons have lead to this situation. It is normal that some "parties" will not sit idle without weapons when Hezbollah are armed to the teeth.
These entities came to existence because of the lack of Sunni armed parties. They are filling a void that Mustaqbal does not fill... stop lying ya aoun and jumping to wrongful conclusions
25 June 2013, 18:21
36
FT : Jealousy ??? is this your logic ? Great ... Lebanon is saved !!!
These parties are armed out of fear / security concerns. All their actions (condemnable as they are)
Hezb has shot more bullets and conducted more missions against lebanese and syrians than against Israel so stop using the "israel" fake resistance card ... doesn't work !
Asir's excuse for weapons is SUNNI vs SHIA regional war... Why they attacked the army is beyond any explanation.
He's as despicable as Hezbollah anyway so don't you think one minute that i'm finding excuses for Assir...
I'm just pointing out Aoun's double standard which is unacceptable!
25 June 2013, 18:40
23
I always post and always condemned Assir. You just don't read or ignore.
Stop lying about M14 backers because you do not even understand the words M14...
According to your General, Tayyar is a M14 movement.... does this mean Tayyar is Saudi Backed, Israel Loving, Sunni Canibal, Salafi movement too ??? This is your stupid logic !
25 June 2013, 19:01
24
Assir is most probably the dumbest terrorist alive. At least the Palestinians know better but they are not united like you think they are.
Assir is a tiny spit compared to hundreds of other terrorist sunni organisations operating in Lebanon. Some in palestinian camps, some in tripoli, Al Qaeda, Salafis, Wahabis, whatever ...
They do not all agree and they do not have the same objectives and this is why you will never see a major Sunni armed block against Hezbollah.
You don't have to show me how Hezb is different from Assir ... assir is a tiny cockroach in front of Hezb and this is all the more scary.
Assir you can end but Hezbollah is a terminal cancer for Lebanon that will soon hit you in the face and you won't know what's coming because you are blind as hell !
25 June 2013, 19:22
22
You said it. Aoun gave in to the threat of Hezbollah TERRORISM and decided to side with them rather than face them. He legitimized them and simply "postponed" the problem for someone else to solve in order to try and secure a position for them.
The same cowardly behavior as history has shown Aoun to choose.
We do not need to integrate Hezbollah ... they need to integrate themselves. We do not need to make "concessions" for Hezbollah. They need to make concessions first of which are their weapons.
If a civil war needs to happen to put an end to Hezbollah's weapons, then let it happen now. Better now than later !
26 June 2013, 02:44
11
@the_roar.so they can make the whole page looks anti aoun. thank nawfal daou for that.
25 June 2013, 18:05
37
"Aoun: If I were an investigative judge, I would have summoned the Interior Minister and asked him whose powers are larger than the state's."
Start by summoning your partners Hezbollah and ask them the exact same question. Stop misleading people with you lies. This does not mean the Interior Minister is to be excused.
This means you should not adopt double standard : CARTE BLANCHE for Hezbollah and Attacks on Hariri and all the rest !
25 June 2013, 18:06
37
What is the difference between Asir and Aoun?? Asir wears a black skirt when he runs and leaves his followers behind, where as Aoun wears a colorful pajama when he runs and leaves his followers behind.. Amazing two clowns.. really!!
25 June 2013, 18:11
26
M14 are attacking Aoun because of his DOUBLE STANDARDS.
He applies different logic to Assir and Hezbollah. Hezbollah can be excused for all their actions right ? When did Aoun speak up or condemn any of their actions ?
Yes Assir should be eliminated but Aoun cannot condemn Assir and not condemn Hezbollah at the same time.
And the Army should not wait until it is attacked to react. It's duty is to protect Civilians and it did not lift a finger at the Iran embassy murder. It's unfortunate that soldiers had to die for the army to finally react to terrorists like Assir. Hope they will react the same to Hezbollah terrorists.
25 June 2013, 18:27
36
Roar ... Go back to syria... and stop interfering in Lebanese politics.
You don't know anything about M14 if you believe Assir is part of M14.
Irrespective of Assir, Aoun's only role today is to legitimize Hezbollah. Nothing more ! Unless he's able to condemn Hezbollah openly for similar actions against lebanese civilians, then he will be cursed and attacked and exposed for his lies.
You want to empower the army ? Give it the ability to act the same way against sunni and shiites who carry weapons on the streets, shoot in the air, murder in plain site.
The moment everyone is treated equally by the army is the moment the army is empowered. Aoun's "words" will not empower the army. Only the truth will...
25 June 2013, 18:34
38
FT: Again lies :
- Hezbollah are not backed by 1.5M shiaa. So many shiaa are against Hezbollah but they are being musled or killed. Stop lying !
- More than half the christians is a lie and I have proven this to you previously.
- Most Sunnis opposed to Hariri and Sanioura are the Extremist Sunnis a la Assir ...
- Hezb invited the israeli war to lebanon
- Hezb did not rebuild the homes, they used Iranian funds and Lebanese Governement funds to do so
- Hezb is not equal to Asir of course. They are much much larger than Assir and at least 100x the threat
- M14 does not equate to Nusra / Salafi / Saudi lovers ... only in your head can such a stupid assumption be made.
Again, for your stupid NARROW MINDED BRAIN : being Anti-Aoun / Hezbollah does not equate to being Pro SALAFI / SAUDI whatever you come up with.
Such a stupid fool !
25 June 2013, 18:37
26
Roar : Assir is funded by Qatar for your information.
M14 is not a political party but an alliance of political parties and independent politicians with one single mission : Independence, Sovereignty of Lebanon. Assir does not fit there.
If you believe Hariri or Geagea are backing Assir, then you are completely lost ... this is called defamation and you should be thrown in jail for telling lies.
Can you prove your lies ?
Know your facts before launching such stupid accusation that can only come out of the mouth of blind, illiterate sheep like you ...
25 June 2013, 18:54
34
Roar : you can say Japan for all I care ... that does not make it true.
If it makes you sleep better at night to believe this ... then good for you. Qatar funding is a known and proven fact. In fact, it's GCC funding if you prefer.
I only cry over real men and real martyrs who died for this country like Gebran Tueni, Samir Kassir... Lebanese Army soldiers.
Men of truth unlike your Aoun and their murderer Hassan Nassrallah...
Assir can go to hell along with the dead hezbollah skunks you dare call "Martyrs"...
25 June 2013, 19:12
23
FT : yes ... just like Roar, if your imaginary statistics make you sleep better at night, good for you.
I will not argue with you again over the number of MPs (18 not 28 like you think) and their distribution and their representativeness of Lebanese christians because I proved you wrong once before.
Yes, let the elections speak for themselves as long as they are not conducted by a Hezbollah led government.
Regarding the Lebanese Gov funds, read this : http://www.transparency-lebanon.org/publications/postwaren.pdf
You will find that the Lebanese gov funded reconstruction of the south more than Hezbollah ... but again ... you're free to believe your own lies just to sleep better at night.
25 June 2013, 18:13
35
-ft/roar/karim/bheem- you are but an idiot little thug just like your little masters...you seem to be losing your nerves and becoming being an FPM takfiri...If you don't agree with me you are "salafi etc..and should be eliminated." what a pathetic low life you have became..I feel sorry for you ya FPM TakFiris..
25 June 2013, 18:46
34
Roar : Leave the Excuse making to Aoun.
We do not make excuses because we have nothing to hide.
You however are full of shit. When did M14 EVER support assir ... google me one link showing M14 supporting assir you stupid propagandist parrot
25 June 2013, 18:49
34
Claoun said: Sidon Clashes Result of Mustaqbal Neglect.
He's accusing a political faction, not an armed one (should mustaqbal arm itself like hizballa?) yet, the ministry of interior is in charge of dealing with such issues... an M8 one.
25 June 2013, 19:11
44
Aoun is a full pledge coward and that is the truth and we all know it...
25 June 2013, 19:16
34
the_roar Don't even compare Aoun to Gebran Tueni... Please do not even go there... Who are you fooling here you little fool.
25 June 2013, 19:18
34
I know Gebran Tueni better than you and followed him all my life.
And to correct you, do not equate the General to Gebran.
The General's path was similar to Gebran's at one point but Aoun diverted to another path. It's not the other way around.
Don't forget that the General came back to Lebanon with one mission and shifted directions alltogether.
He went from accusing Bashar of murder to embracing him. The same Bashar who killed Gebran through the hands of Hezbollah. Don't you ever compare Gebran to the filth Aoun.
Gebran was a real patriot who could move crowds of all confessions with the sound of his voice. Gebran was a truth speaker.
Aoun is a lying self-centered ego-centric bastard politician who will only do what's best to boost his personal ego.
25 June 2013, 19:39
22
Roar : calling yourself "the_roar" makes your account anymore real ?
Learn to argue instead of launching irrelevant statements and false accusations
25 June 2013, 19:26
43
What do these people have in common?
Assir, Aoun, Arafat, Bin Laden
They fled to foreign countries to save their own skins whilst leaving their men behind (and dead).
Des lâches. Et ce troufion sans grade se permet de donner jugements, leçons et conseils.... Pfiou, quel tapé!
25 June 2013, 19:41
32
No no no, he doesn't have armed men engaged in combat. Your friends blew up his father and friends, he's a politician, not a man of the field.
26 June 2013, 11:05
00
come on mate. walaw ya roar bada min yeshra7a. hariri got himself a one way ticket courtesy of 3ammo el general.
25 June 2013, 20:29
03
Zadiq, very nice what I read... I wish the majority of our people think like that...
25 June 2013, 20:30
23
As for you lebpatriot, I could never disagree with you darling.. I just don't have the heart for that.... I ate it...
25 June 2013, 20:49
53
You may not like the General all of the time, but he'll have my support most of the time.
25 June 2013, 21:39
32
yesterday, the reason for the clashes was the syrian refugees, today we have this reason and tomorrow who knows....
26 June 2013, 02:52
11
actioman. you do appear every now and then. i remember you and Qaher al majouss from 8 years ago here on this site. i have a suggestion to all of you idiots, let evryone post under his real name.otherwise sipp it you and your hasaballah orchestra.
i am THOMAS.
26 June 2013, 03:14
11
FADSON or BANIKHAROOF.grow some brains dude,and take some anger managment classes.hate won,t get you anywhere but trouble.
26 June 2013, 04:00
10
How sad, really, that you keep bickering and throwing insults at each other when your country is falling apart. And why is that? la2anno el lebnene bass befakkir be min ma3o 7a2 w jawebo deyman eno houwe ma3o 7a2.
Ya haram how everyone is blind and how everyone flushed this country down the toilet and for what? for your power hungry warlords who are robbing you blind while pointing fingers.
There are no heroes in war, just kings and pawns. I'm sure all of you here know your place in this equation.
