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