Aoun: Extending Army Chief Term a Political Deal, We'll Boycott Monday Session over Agenda

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Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said Sunday a possible extension of Army chief General Jean Qahwaji's term would be “a political and not a military deal,” noting that Monday's legislative session is legitimate although the Change and Reform bloc will boycott it over its “agenda.”

“Tomorrow's parliamentary session is legitimate,” Aoun said during an interview on al-Jadeed television.

“My political stance is boycotting the session for reasons related to its agenda, such as extending the term of the army commander and other items,” he added.

“Extending the army commander's mandate would be a political and not a military deal, as competence is the most important thing in the army,” Aoun said.

He added that in the wake of the army's sacrifices during the latest deadly battle in Sidon's Abra, the military institution can be “rewarded through being fair in the new wage scale."

"The army can be rewarded through preventing the interference of politicians in it, through putting the right man in the right position and through lifting the immunity of MPs and newspapers which attack it everyday," Aoun added.

“Why can't we elect an army commander out of 1,500 officers?” he wondered.

Aoun asked: “How can we disarm the resistance while the army is not well-equipped?”

Asked if he was rejecting the extension of Qahwaji's term because he wanted his son-in-law to become the new army chief, Aoun said: “Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz has a CV and they would review it should they decide to appoint him as army commander and this has nothing to do with him being my son-in-law.”

“I have not nominated anyone for the post of army commander and the cabinet must convene and names would be raised around the table,” Aoun added.

A three-day parliamentary session set by Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday will likely fail to convene over the boycott of March 14 alliance blocs in addition to an inclination by the Change and Reform bloc not to attend.

An al-Mustaqbal bloc source told An Nahar daily published Sunday that its lawmakers will not participate in the session in compatibility with the rest of the March 14 members.

The Lebanese Forces has considered as unlawful the parliament meetings outside its ordinary sessions. Independent Christian lawmakers led by Batroun MP Butros Harb also rejected the agenda put forward for the session.

The session has several draft-laws on its agenda, including the extension of the term of Qahwaji, who turns 60 this September, by raising the retirement age.

The major argument made by the March 14 alliance along with Premier Najib Miqati against the session is that parliament can’t convene in the presence of a caretaking cabinet although Berri claimed on Saturday that there was ample evidence of the legislature convening in the past under a resigned government.

The latest example is the extension of parliament’s term under the resigned cabinet of Miqati, Berri said.

The 128-member parliament convenes twice a year in two ordinary sessions -- the first starts mid-march until the end of May and the second from the middle of October through the end of December.

Timeline
  • 30 June 2013, 22:34

    Aoun: The interior minister must announce the names of those who were providing cover for al-Asir.

  • 30 June 2013, 22:34

    Aoun: The issue of Nader al-Bayoumi in Sidon was fabricated because no one had time to torture anyone.

  • 30 June 2013, 22:13

    Aoun: I have not nominated anyone for the post of army commander and the cabinet must convene and names would be raised around the table.

  • 30 June 2013, 22:02

    Aoun: Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz has a CV and they would review it should they decide to appoint him as army commander and this has nothing to do with him being my son-in-law.

  • 30 June 2013, 21:56

    Aoun: How can we disarm the resistance while the army is not well-equipped.

  • 30 June 2013, 21:55

    Aoun: Why can't we elect an army commander out of 1,500 officers?

  • 30 June 2013, 21:54

    Aoun: The army can be rewarded through preventing the interference of politicians in it, through putting the right man in the right position and through lifting the immunity of MPs and newspapers which attack it everyday.

  • 30 June 2013, 21:53

    Aoun: The army can be rewarded through being fair in the new wage scale.

  • 30 June 2013, 21:52

    Aoun: Extending the army commander's mandate would be a political and not a military deal, as competence is the most important thing in the army.

  • 30 June 2013, 21:44

    Aoun: My political stance is boycotting the session for reasons related to its agenda, such as extending the term of the army commander and other items.

  • 30 June 2013, 21:43

    Aoun: Tomorrow's parliamentary session is legitimate.

  • 30 June 2013, 21:40

    Aoun: A group of MPs have extended their own mandates. I'm against extension but I will carry on because this is a parliamentary duty.

  • 30 June 2013, 21:34

    FPM leader MP Michel Aoun in an interview on al-Jadeed: I'm criticizing corruption and the manipulation of the constitution as these abnormal things must be tackled.

Comments 34
Thumb Senescence 30 June 2013, 21:41

Well, at least he's adhering stringently and consistently to well-found principles.

Missing rafidahhh11 30 June 2013, 22:31

This shia MOU convert is talking again, met3a much aoun?

Missing rafidahhh11 30 June 2013, 22:32

How can we disarm the shia millita while nasrallahs fatwa gives me more met3a for being their mouthpiece?

Missing rudy 30 June 2013, 22:22

If hizballah is well armed and the army is not, how about hizballah gives up its arms TO THE ARMY.

Wouldn't that solve your conundrum ya general?

Default-user-icon Blastic (Guest) 30 June 2013, 23:02

Omg, that was the most stupid comment!
What made HA win the war against israel was not only the weapons but their strategy and way of using it! Something the lebanese cant do!!! Think before writing!!!!

Missing rudy 30 June 2013, 23:30

Omg!

So Hezbollah is not Lebanese?
Omg think before writing

Thumb Lebanon4life 01 July 2013, 12:03

so what are they ? if they are not lebanese

Thumb christianimmigrant 01 July 2013, 11:15

once we have 1)a trustworthy electoral regime, 2) Hariri, Salafists & co committing to Lebanon NOT to Saudi Arabia, Al-Qaeda and Sunni extremists, 3) allowing moderate Sunnis to survive..Once all the above is achieved HA will start thinking of disarming. I dont blame them for not trusting Hariri & Co to be totally honest

Missing forces 01 July 2013, 14:58

WOW the glass is half full where you come from i bet? Hezb was formed to keep hariri in line was it? what happened to israel? and the golan? and the west bank? and the syrian brothers? and now the holy oil in the sea? etc etc... give me a break.. you hezb apologitics are nothing but sheep. we are placing conditions on lebanese citizens for the dosbanding of a terrorist organisation in our own country. A bit rich sunshine !

Thumb christianimmigrant 01 July 2013, 17:37

call it wahetever you want, but do you blame Hezbollah for not wanting to disarm? i bet you if Hariri and co resolve for a FAIR electoral law, chances are that Hezbollah will probably become less stubborn re disarming. With all fairness, 60% of lebanese people support Hezbollah and Tayyar but because of the unjust electoral laws, Hariri & co make it look like they're the majority. This is part of the frustration why Hezbollah and Christians like myself thought the Orthodoxe law brings fairness for everyone.

Missing Killuminati 01 July 2013, 18:14

I think there is something you fail to understand here, you talk about weapons beyond states control, but what you either intentionally or unintentionally fail to understand, is that HA cannot merge with the state because it is full of traitors who will at a moment's glance betray these weapons to Zionists. We do in our country have politicians will burn Lebanon for money and power, and if HA was to merge with the state and be betrayed, what we will witness in Lebanon is the new Palestine, Israel will come here and do exactly what it's doing in Palestine, don't forget they have tried that in the past. If you go to Na2oora, you can see the patios and seaside terraces that were being built, this is alone is evidence that proves that Israel had the sole intention of OCCUPYING Lebanon, if it weren't for the resistance.

Thumb Senescence 30 June 2013, 22:53

Yes but the way I see, I think Israel would just wipe Lebanon off the map in the next encounter with Hizbullah. It has vowed that it will not repeat the mistakes of the past, so I think the next war will be quick and swift.

Deterrence is a good measure, but I think the best deterrence is a unified, adequate army, not sidelined by any petty politics, with as little (inevitable) corruption as possible.

Default-user-icon Suzanne (Guest) 01 July 2013, 08:01

HAHAHA, You really think Israel can wipe you Lebanese off the map, and it hasn't done it yet. LOL you are cute, how old are you 10yrs. old. I really wish that Israel would wipe out the whole Middle East. I hope it starts with Saudi first!
It seems that Arabs have a lot of issues, like prejudice and hatred for one another,just to name a few. Along with corrupt leaders that I would need about 2 days to go over their issues. Your government is by far the worst(all) cause they claim to be democratic. Also I need to add that the Lebanese people have a bird brain, cause they (all) can't think on their own, you all must wait to see what your leader says for that day and believe him 100% when MOST of the time he is LYING. Over and above that you get on line and start attacking each other(Lebanese citizens) because you truly believe what that Liar says. It's quite comical plz. Keep doing it!

Missing Killuminati 01 July 2013, 18:28

Exactly how would they wipe Lebanon off the map? The only way that is technically possible is if they Nuke Lebanon, if that is the case, well they may as well be destroying themselves, unless they don't mind wearing anti-radiation suits for decades, and having radiation contaminated water supplies, also, they can't ignore the consequences of such an action, and how the world will react to such an action. Second, if what you mean is that they will wipe Lebanon off the map by constant air bombardment, first of all, Israel's air superiority is long gone, and second, you can be sure for every successful airstrike on Lebanon, there will be a counter of surface to surface attacks on Israel. And that is why, rather than face HA directly as they know they would lose, they are trying to create sectarian strife and trying to suffocate the resistance through Syria. Believe me when I tell you this, Israelis only have the power to wipe their assholes after taking a dump.

Thumb benzona 30 June 2013, 23:03

He's a deserter, his in law is a thief and we're yet to find out what the Camel son in law is worth. Probably peanuts.

Thumb general_puppet 30 June 2013, 23:51

I think I see one of his puppet strings in this picture. “Why can't we elect an army commander out of 1,500 officers?” ... there is only one officer that Aoun has in mind for commander.

More whining and blabbering from the demented ex-general.

Thumb jabal10452 01 July 2013, 00:23

" How can we disarm the resistance while the army is not well-equipped".
Gen. Aoun, how dare you even mentioning the concept of eventually disarming HA? Raad All Mighty said just yesterday that disarming HA is non-negotiable! Careful now...

Missing forces 01 July 2013, 15:23

you ask them for their weapons and then turn against them isn;t that your only plan of attack ya general?

Missing greatpierro 01 July 2013, 00:45

what Israeli aggressions? Before the OLP was allowed to set up bases in south lebanon there were no agression from the Israeli. Since Israel withdraw from lebanon it has never started any attack in Lebanon. In 2006 Israel needed to fight in Lebanon as Hizbullah was threatening Israel with its weapons and installation next to the border.

We are fed up with this demagogic discourse that the resistance is here to protect up from Israeli aggression. Why does Israel not agress Jordan, Syria, the West Bank and Egypt? Only when Israel is aggressed does it reply back.

We need no defense strategy. We need only to make sure that we have well drawn borders and protected by the army. Only then we can make sure that no agression is coming out from our country leaving no good reasons neither for Israel nor for Syria to aggress our country.

Default-user-icon Suzanne (Guest) 01 July 2013, 10:05

We have another bright one over here!!!
Lebanon doesn't need a defense strategy ???? Plz inform me of what you are smoking cause I want some!!!!
Isreal doesn't need a reason????
Hello they are desperately in need of water and space. They would Love to export all the Palestinians somewhere, and Lebanon would be the ideal. All the crazies in one place! So lets think of some names for a few new refugee camps. Whom ever you obey in Lebanon forgot to inform you of these plans, they just brainwash you to believe its all about war and arms.

Thumb Senescence 01 July 2013, 02:52

I suppose one can say they need the proper training first.

Thumb Senescence 01 July 2013, 03:06

Proper as in relevant.

Default-user-icon Just-an-outside-observer (Guest) 01 July 2013, 03:12

I appreciate your comment LebPatriot. You are one of the few people here who is looking at the facts on the ground before giving your opinion. How can any rational, patriotic person be so blinded by their internal conflict to the point of ignoring the thousands of violations that Israel has incurred in Lebanon on the past few years? If all sectors unify to the common external enemies, there will not be another 2006.

Missing pyjamaparty 01 July 2013, 03:22

Bell wa Sebastaoun

The following is a work of fiction , any resemblance to political figures or geriatric lunatic generals is strictly coincidental and was not intended to cause additional psychological damage.

Typically in our civilization, humans own dogs and domesticate them as pets. It is always understood that the human has control over his dog and can give him commands.

In rare circumstances , the dog becomes the owner of the human and roles are reversed.

This is the story of one such dog.

Bell is a very secretive dog. He is big, bushy and hairy. He sweats a lot and likes to hide from the world. In fact it is very hard to find bell at all. Nobody sees him in public. He comes out once in while to bark and bark and bark. People love this big hairy dog because he is like the Saint Bernard and he only wants to save his people.

Thumb primesuspect 01 July 2013, 04:07

u wana kill me pyjamaparty? i am already ROTFL!!!!

Thumb primesuspect 01 July 2013, 04:08

make sure you save your work, ur humor is great.

Thumb LebDinosaur 01 July 2013, 06:47

They are all lowering themselves even lower than low.

Thumb sophia_angle 01 July 2013, 08:54

God bless you General !

Default-user-icon Suzanne (Guest) 01 July 2013, 08:59

Peace you sound like everything but peace!
And FYI: It has not been decades sweetheart it has been since 2005 after Hariri death, then after Mr. Saad became prime minister he specifically said HA arms are legit and said their arms are a red line. Please review his speeches. Then after being removed from office while in Washington, he started singing the original song of disarming HA upon fleeing to his country Saudi. So do you all wake up in the morning wait to here what your master's say for that day, in order to know where you stand. I never understood how someone who was against the HA arms, changed his mind and was for HA arms, then changed his mind AGAIN. To top it off ALL his followers obeyed with the same views. So I take it today you are against the HA arms, but there is hope for tomorrow! Lebanese politics is sooo confusing.

Missing forces 01 July 2013, 15:25

not confusing very simple infact.. he was against their weapons, they threaten him to silence him he withdraws his position to keep the peace and his head:) see simple

Missing forces 01 July 2013, 15:10

before you start vomiting out the propaganda and diatribe you have been fed by your masters, name one time israel has attacked lebanon in an act of agression NOT self defense?

Thumb christianimmigrant 01 July 2013, 17:42

oh wow,occupying the southern part of lebanon for 22 years was an act of seld defense right? how about killing 3000 civilians in return to killing/kidnapping three soldiers? so fair. Reading what forces writes on here makes me validate my thinking that lebanon is far from being a real state. Ee are a bunch of animals hating each other and waiting until the opponent (who's in reality/sadly a countrymen)to fall so we devour him. So forunate I left lebanon a long time ago.

Missing forces 01 July 2013, 15:19

@ Suzanne, HAHAHA yes it is a fact israel has the capability to wipe lebanon off the map, and before you start beating that well endowed chest of yours take a look at our WWII relics of a tank brigade and where are our f18's or anything that resembles tecnolgical warfare? Israel will not agress against lebanon same as it hasn't agressed against jordan, egypt, or any other arab nation instead will counter attack agression from the likes of our beloved terror cell hezb who openly attack israel yet amazingly no one seems to notice. so to even speak of hezb as a deterence is ignorance personified. They are the sole reason that lebanon post war is so unstable..

Missing Killuminati 01 July 2013, 18:33

You are truly wise..so what you are saying is (kitten eyes) Israel only does self defense attacks?I am very sure you are an Israeli yourself