Suleiman Says Only State, Army Should Decide on Defending the Nation

by Naharnet Newsdesk 01 August 2013, 08:33

President Michel Suleiman criticized Hizbullah without naming it on Thursday, saying it was time for the Lebanese state and the army to be the sole decision-makers on the use of the nation's capabilities.

“It has become urgent to approve a defense strategy after the resistance's arms went beyond Lebanon's borders,” Suleiman said during a ceremony marking the 68th anniversary of the Lebanese army’s founding.

“Out of our differentiation between the resistance and terrorism, it is time for the state and the army to be the sole decision-makers on the use of force,” said Suleiman at the Shukri Ghanem barracks in Fayyadiyeh, a suburb of Beirut.

“The army's role would be difficult if a party or more get involved in conflicts outside Lebanon,” he said.

Syrian government troops are backed by Hizbullah members in their fight against rebels seeking to topple President Bashar Assad.

Hizbullah has played a major role in a battle last month in the town of al-Qusayr, which is near Lebanon's northeastern border, and lost scores of men there.

But Suleiman said that “true martyrdom is only in the defense of the nation … The Lebanese people want sacrifices for Lebanon.”

“We don't want the blood of our sons to be shed outside the nation,” he said.

“The time when the army was forbidden to defend Lebanon has gone,” he said. “It won't be a disengagement force (in the fighting) between Lebanese armies and militias.”

Suleiman stressed the army would be the sole defender of Lebanon and the country's borders if its capabilities were improved.

“There is no security and dignity without the army,” he said, adding it needs an embracing environment because it “doesn't act independently from the state.”

He appealed for political support to the army, saying “there should be a campaign in support of the military and not against it at this delicate stage.”

The institution has lately come under criticism and was accused of targeting the Sunni sect after a battle between soldiers and supporters of Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir in the southern city of Sidon.

It has also been criticized for allegedly allowing Hizbullah gunmen to fight alongside soldiers in the Sidon battle. Several soldiers are under investigation for abusing supporters of al-Asir arrested during the gunbattles.

But Suleiman defended the army against its critics, saying it “can't be held accountable for major mistakes committed by others and being scrutinized for its small mistakes.”

The army can't be taken from its position of defense of the Lebanese to defend itself, he said.

“The army is the defense line of the state and civil peace but it can't fill the political vacuum,” he said.

His speech came a day after a decision was issued by Caretaker Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn to extend the term of Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji for two years after parliament failed to meet to make the extension.

“We sought to keep the army leadership in accordance of the defense law pending the role that the parliament and the cabinet would play,” said Suleiman.

Thursday's ceremony was attended by Speaker Nabih Berri, Premier-designate Tammam Salam, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati, ministers, lawmakers, diplomats, senior military officials and other dignitaries.

It included a military parade and a graduation of a new batch of officer cadets.

Suleiman called for the quick formation of a government of national interest that enjoys the confidence of the people and the parliament, and that is capable of confronting the soaring number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

Timeline

01 August 2013, 10:42
Suleiman: Martyrdom is only in the defense of the nation. The Lebanese people want sacrifices for Lebanon.
01 August 2013, 10:41
Suleiman saluted the soldiers and the martyrs who have confronted extremism and terrorism.
01 August 2013, 10:40
Suleiman: Lebanon is keen on UNIFIL and its mission.
01 August 2013, 10:38
Suleiman said the army would be the sole defender of Lebanon and the country's borders if its capabilities were improved.
01 August 2013, 10:38
Suleiman: Out of our differentiation between the resistance and terrorism it is time for the state and the army to be the sole decision-maker on the use of the state's capabilities.
01 August 2013, 10:37
Suleiman: It has become urgent to approve a defense strategy. The resistance's arms have gone beyond Lebanon's borders.
01 August 2013, 10:36
Suleiman: I will seek to consolidate the commitments that I have made.
01 August 2013, 10:36
Suleiman: Until the presidential elections are held I will keep my oath to preserve Lebanon.
01 August 2013, 10:34
Suleiman: We won't wait forever to form a national interest government that receives the confidence of the parliament.
01 August 2013, 10:34
The boycott and paralysis of state institutions are rejected, said Suleiman.
01 August 2013, 10:33
Suleiman: Democracy is the acknowledgment of the right of others.
01 August 2013, 10:33
Suleiman: It is no longer acceptable for anyone to control the decision of the people. Democracy is the way towards developments.
01 August 2013, 10:32
Suleiman: The rotation of powers is only done through elections.
01 August 2013, 10:32
Suleiman: We sought to keep the army leadership in accordance of the defense law pending the role that the parliament and the cabinet would play.
01 August 2013, 10:31
The military's role would be impossible if both legitimate and illegitimate arms remain, Suleiman said.
01 August 2013, 10:31
Suleiman: The army's role would be difficult if a party or more get involved in wars outside Lebanon.
01 August 2013, 10:30
Suleiman: There should be a campaign in support of the army and not against it at this delicate stage.
01 August 2013, 10:30
Suleiman: The army can't be taken from its position of defense of the Lebanese to defend itself.
01 August 2013, 10:29
Suleiman: The army can't be held accountable for its limited mistakes.
01 August 2013, 10:29
Suleiman: Some Lebanese have been involved in wars outside Lebanon despite the Baabda Declaration.
01 August 2013, 10:28
Suleiman: The army is the defense line of the state and civil peace but it can't fill the political vacuum.
01 August 2013, 10:28
Suleiman: The army's role would be difficult if left alone without political support.
01 August 2013, 10:27
Suleiman: The army needs a good protecting environment. It doesn’t act independently from the state.
01 August 2013, 10:27
Suleiman: There is no security and dignity without the army.
01 August 2013, 10:27
Suleiman: The latest developments won't stop history and the will of the Lebanese towards the establishment of a better future that rejects the problems of the past.
01 August 2013, 10:26
Suleiman: There is consensus on the border of the nation and all the frameworks set by the Taef accord.
01 August 2013, 10:25
Suleiman: The state is the only entity that preserves plurality.
01 August 2013, 10:25
Suleiman: There has been wars and coups in the Arab world while our democratic system has resisted. It has been protected by the army.
01 August 2013, 10:23
President Michel Suleiman began addressing the graduating cadets.
01 August 2013, 09:40
Suleiman handed swords to the graduating cadets.
01 August 2013, 09:14
Helicopters hovered overhead as the Army Day ceremony went underway in Fayyadiyeh.
01 August 2013, 09:07
Suleiman laid a wreath at the memorial of army martyrs.
01 August 2013, 09:05
President Michel Suleiman arrived at the Shukri Ghanem barracks to take part in the Army Day ceremony.
01 August 2013, 09:01
The caretaker defense minister, the PM-designate, the caretaker premier and the speaker arrived at the Shukri Ghanem barracks.
01 August 2013, 08:41
Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji arrived at the Shukri Ghanem barracks.
01 August 2013, 08:37
Army chief of staff Lieutenant General Walid Salman arrived at the Shukri Ghanem barracks.
01 August 2013, 08:33
Army Day ceremony kicked off at the Shukri Ghanem barracks in Fayyadiyeh.

Comments 20

Lebanon4life 01 August 2013, 11:48

we need a 150.000 men strong army acting independently from politics which is capable of controlling and defending the whole Lebanon. No militas no resistence only one army !!

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phillipo 01 August 2013, 12:34

The Prime Minister saying the exact opposite of his Foreign /minister. Interesting times ahead for Lebanon.

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lebanon_first 01 August 2013, 15:55

Philippo's cover was blown when he did some comments at 5 AM GMT, but yet he claims he lives in the UK.

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phillipo 01 August 2013, 19:47

Just for your information, in case you don't know 5.00am GMT is 6.00am BST. As I have to leave the house at 7.00am I am always on my feet reading the computer whilst having my morning cup of tea.
Sorry about the Mistake calling your President the Prime Minister.

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Senescence 01 August 2013, 21:11

I don't really think he's trying to have a cover really. He's very obviously an Israeli sympathizer (which is neither good nor bad really). Point is, I doubt he has the need to pose as anything really as his intentions are quite clear already.

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cedre 01 August 2013, 12:38

Talk is cheap...

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eli-g 01 August 2013, 14:49

@al-r you are childish. you post this ugly, provocative, statement out of fear nothing else. Stop posting it.

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lebanon_first 01 August 2013, 15:56

that is a pretty unpatriotic thing to say roar. You dont really like Lebanon to be strong and independant, do you?

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samiam 01 August 2013, 17:28

1 country, 1 army--enough said

The so called resistance only exists to please the mullahs of iran, and is in no way in the best interests of this country short and long term.

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lebanon_first 01 August 2013, 18:29

so you suggest he should say the truth to HA, and get us in a civil war?

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shab 01 August 2013, 19:20

Fkhamto just wiped the floor with the filthy militia. Way to go.

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beiruti 01 August 2013, 20:14

The President has spoken well, whether he can make it happen or not, doesn't matter at this point. He is the first President during the Hezbollah era to state that Hezbollah's arms need to come under the control of the state. It's a major step

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helicopter 01 August 2013, 22:37

it was time for the Lebanese state and the army to be the sole decision-makers on the use of the nation's capabilities.................
Now HA will be all out to make sure he fails in that mission. I wish he went on quietly strengthening the army before he encounters the wrath of HA.
He was savvy enough to wait until Qhwaji's term was extended before he made such remarks.

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helicopter 01 August 2013, 22:41

I wish you would wear the chadoor to match your posts.

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helicopter 01 August 2013, 22:43

It is funny the_roar, you called him spineless the moment he took a stand against HA and its weapons. You are HA first, Australian second and Lebanese last.

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helicopter 01 August 2013, 22:49

Not a single M8 poster saying long live the President, long live the LAF, long live Lebanon ? Common guys.

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samiam 01 August 2013, 23:56

they only believe in the trinity of hizb iran, syria, and of course, iran.

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youngheart 01 August 2013, 23:17

Tex
Of course I agree with & for the LAF to be the Only legitimate defender of our Holy Cedar Land !
Signed Wolf

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Geo (Guest) 02 August 2013, 01:50

If Lebanese go to fight in Syria they should not be allowed back.

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Goldie Locks (Guest) 02 August 2013, 16:51

please re-think.
French army 122328 men and women for 550000 sq/kilometers
Britsh army 129450 men and women for 243000 sq/kilometers
Spanish army 75000 men and women for 506000 sq/kilometers
German army 62000 men and women for 357000 sq/kilometers
Turkish army 77000 men and woman for 783000 sq/kilometers

LEBANESE ARMY 72000 FOR 10452 sq/kilometers ? and 131000 active personnel ?
WHEN WILL THE SILENT MAJORITY WAKE UP, WHEN ?

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