Al-Rahi Meets Suleiman, Qahwaji, Urges Lebanese to Support Army
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi voiced on Tuesday his “complete support” to the army in its efforts to preserve Lebanon's unity and peace.
He called on the Lebanese people “regardless of their political or sectarian affiliations to support this national institution.”
“The army helps unite the people and acts as a guarantor of peace for the nation,” he remarked after holding talks with Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji.
“The army acts as the country's salvation against the repercussions of the regional crises and internal developments,” stressed al-Rahi.
His visit to Qahwaji came amid a growing dispute among political powers over extending his tenure and in light of the recent clashes in the southern city of Sidon.
Earlier on Tuesday, al-Rahi had held talks on the latest developments with President Michel Suleiman at the Baabda Palace.
Eighteen soldiers were killed and 50 were wounded in clashes in Sidon between the army and armed supporters of Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir on June 22 and 23.
02 July 2013, 16:54
11
Goodness gracious, it's supposed to be the army supporting the people.
Their respect, they have TO EARN IT!
They have to demonstrate sign of bravery.... Put an end to rocket smugglings and so on. Until then, they'll get the minimal respect, still it'll be respect.
02 July 2013, 17:38
11
Prime suspect... Have the lebanese army not earned it? When 18 soldiers are killed by assir, is that not earning it enough? When in 2006 summer Israeli war, 160 soldiers killed didn't earn it? When june el sham Jilled over 150 soldiers did they not earn it? When the fsa killed Lebanese soldiers in asal, when 12 soldiers were slaughtered in their sleep in akkar, did they not earn it? When over 45 soldiers have been killed in bab el tabbaneh in tripoli over the past 2 years... Did they not earn the trust of Lebanese public? The LAF is the most patient and forgiving army in the world! Any other would have responded by now with complete invasion and destruction of terrorist infested areas like they did in Nahr el bared!
02 July 2013, 17:41
11
When I see the army ding its job, i.e. protecting Lebanese, then it will have my respect:
- defend us against hizbushaitan ( may 7)
- aLMn in front of the Iranian embassy
- daily Syrian aggressions
- free movement for hizbushaitan elements
- free flow of weapons for hizbushaitan
-....
when our army will start to act as our army, then I will respect it. until then it is acting as a cover up for hizbushaitan to say the least.
as such they deserve no respect.
02 July 2013, 18:22
12
So Geha... Can you please be clear? You do not respect the Lebanese armed forces? You believe they are disrespectful, and bias and are legitimate targets for attacks by the salafist?
Please confirm.
02 July 2013, 19:17
21
no this is not what I said.
yes I do not trust this army to be doing its job of protecting Lebanese, and no I do not accept killing army elements.
cleaning the army from rogue elements is a must.
