Ghosn Says Army 'Red Line,' Rejects Questioning Military Institution Endeavors
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Caretaker Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn stressed on Friday that he rejects any attempts to question the Lebanese army's actions, pointing out that the military institution is a “red line.”
“Ghosn will not allow anyone to undermine the authority of the army,” sources close to the caretaker minister said in comments published in al-Joumhouria newspaper.
Thursday 's parliamentary defense committee meeting was postponed after Ghosn failed to attend the session set to discuss Hizbullah's involvement in last month's deadly clashes in the southern town of Abra, near the city of Sidon.
Sources snubbed al-Mustaqbal MP Samir al-Jisr's threats to debrief the caretaker minister, saying: “the lawmaker has no right to question the minister and take a unilateral decision.”
Al-Jisr, who is head of the parliamentary defense committee, stressed that he will contact Ghosn to ask about his failure to attend the meeting.
“If he just intended to boycott the meeting then I will resort to the parliament's rules of procedure and call on the minister to attend,” al-Jisr said.
The fighting near Sidon was sparked late last month when Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir's supporters opened fire on an army checkpoint, leaving around 18 soldiers and more than 20 gunmen dead.
The gunbattles concentrated in the area of Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque and nearby buildings in Abra.
Asir, a 45-year-old cleric who supports the overwhelmingly Sunni rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, is no where to be found along with Fadel Shaker.
Asir teamed up with Shaker, a onetime prominent singer, when around two years ago he began agitating for Hizbullah to disarm.
19 July 2013, 08:18
17
God Bless you Minister Ghosn for not allowing these MPs of the "voices of the dark" to question you. In a truly democratic system, every minister is accountable in front of Parliament, except the Minister of Defense. You truly set an example to others when it comes to democratic behavior. Our army should never be questioned, or asked to provide any explanations to its actions. After all, they are protecting us in these difficult times, and this democracy fad should be shelved for now. Democracy is not an absolute, rather it has limits when it infringes on national security.
19 July 2013, 11:36
07
Can someone please tell me what the qualifications of this guy are, except that he is a Franjieh appointee? Only yesterday Franjieh said :مشدداً على أن "العلاقة مقطوعة مع رئيس الجمهورية الذي تآمر على المقاومة في بعض المرات،. This was mentioned in todays newspapers! He is accusing the President of being a conspirator against the resistance. Now, should I see calls asking to lift his immunity and condemn him?
19 July 2013, 08:24
18
Ghosn will not allow anyone to undermine the authority of the army............
Questioning alleged abuses is not undermining
Questioning if HA was involved in the fight is not undermining
To take the position of a Parliamentary committee not be able to question the above is ok in dictatorships, but this is a Republic of Lebanon (not the Islamic State of Iran...... at least not yet).
19 July 2013, 08:26
27
Apparently you have something to hide Mr. Ghosn. So instead of facing the music, you choose to be a no show. You mmust be getting some good advice from HA who never turn in their suspects.
19 July 2013, 11:28
26
no sir: you will go, if not in your own, then we will kick you out, you Iranian agent.
19 July 2013, 11:28
18
MPs have every right to question the army's behavior as well as hizbushaitan involvement in the fighting.
19 July 2013, 13:45
23
"No one is allowed to question the LAF"? I beg to differ. In a democracy, ANYONE has the RIGHT and the DUTY to question ANY authority, whether judiciary, executive, or legislative. I am not taking any sides in this post. I am mostly concerned with the gradual erosion of what little democracy and freedom of expression we still have. Focus on that, my friends. THIS is what's at stake!
19 July 2013, 20:12
01
This guy is pathetic, when a defense minister starts drawing red lines and boycotting meetings it is time to remove him from his post. Only in dictatorships is the military not answerable to the people.
19 July 2013, 23:42
00
God deal with Hassan, our wise fox Nabih Berri, our brave bear Aoun, and our Lion M. Raad. Your leadership and integrity will keep Lebanon in the mudd. Israel will respect Lebanon and come to terms for a real peace without these schemes that are failing. Our Sunni brothers will join us once they see the light also. God bless our nation Lebanon and our Phoenician ancestors
