Qahwaji Rejects Turning Lebanon into Battleground for Syrian Differences
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji snapped back at his critics on Monday and said in his Order of the Day that the military won’t allow turning the nation into a battleground for Syrian differences.
“No matter where the situation in Syria leads to, the army will be in utmost readiness to play its role and assume its national responsibilities in accordance with the decisions of the political authority in limiting the repercussions of these events on Lebanon, protecting the residents of border regions and preventing strife,” Qahwaji said.
The army won’t allow turning the nation into a battlefield for “Syrian differences and regional wills or setting up any buffer zone outside the control of the state,” he stressed.
Qahwaji promised the implementation of a “cohesive” plan that would include a “crucial and effective response.”
On Sunday, the army command issued a stern statement against opposition al-Mustaqbal bloc MP Moeen al-Merehbi who accused the army chief of being a failure and responsible for civil strife in the country.
Merehbi also accused the army of becoming a bystander in the repeated violations of Syrian forces of Lebanon’s border.
The military has done nothing to stop the displacement of Akkar residents who are fleeing their homes over the border clashes and shelling, he said.
But the army snapped back, saying it is a lawmaker’s duty to preserve the army and not abuse his parliamentary immunity by attacking the military and creating a dispute between Akkar and the armed forces.
In a clear reference to the critics of the military institution, Qahwaji said on the occasion of the army’s 67th anniversary: “Mistaken are those who believe that the institution is facing the challenge of preserving its unity under any circumstance.”
The army is more “cohesive” and will confront efforts to sow discord between the military institution and the Lebanese or attempts to hint that it is divided along political lines, Qahwaji said.
“They don’t know that the army is a single entity and all soldiers are loyal only to the nation,” he stressed.
The general also expressed confidence in the military’s ability to guarantee stability and become the guardian of Lebanon’s democratic values and freedoms.
30 July 2012, 12:56
213
nobody is helping the wahabys more than the farsis,these two devils are nurtering each other
30 July 2012, 13:25
223
Slash Mate dont waste your time talking to the likes of Karim thses guys were born to be Irianian lovers and Syrian slaves ,they dont like Saudia Arabia but happy to work there ,they dont like the USA but also happy to drive American made cars.Karim what freedom you are talking about the one Hezb Iran displayed in 2008 attacking other Lebanese people .I have one thing to say to you no to Iran no to Syria ,yes to Lebanon for all Lebanese ...
30 July 2012, 14:08
00
General Qahwaji, why that's a really long job interview for the soon to be open Lebanese president you are putting yourself through, but you are wasting your breath General Aoun has called dibs on the post already.
30 July 2012, 14:17
426
The idiot above is the servant of the syrian and iranian regimes and seems obsessed with the Saudis whom we don't care about and are harmless compared to the persian and their Lebanese militia...
30 July 2012, 14:44
320
Qahwaji: a aounist officer appointed by the syrians. his behavior is expected: pprotect syrian interests.
he talks about the arm's cohesion while he is doing everything to destroy that cohesion and ultimately divide the army through giving orders given t him by the syrian regime.
we have news for these m8 guys: do not push us more otherwise you will push the whole country to civil war.
from the looks of it, it seems this is what you prefer over handing over power to the state. as much as bashar refuses the notion of leaving power, you are much the same.
30 July 2012, 22:28
23
Wow hayda karim 3anjad ghabi 3al ekhir....I think he needs to open his eyes cuz the taitors stitch it shut....lebanese army lol they get orders from bashar
30 July 2012, 14:51
020
Have you seen an officer in the army that does not own a multiple of residences in the most elite neighborhoods in Beirut, drives exclusive cars, kids in best universities, wife (wives) shop(s) at best malls.....!
30 July 2012, 15:09
182
The army is only the muscle of the government. It is not the brain. You cannot blame it for the policies it is asked to implement. If you dont like the policies of the gouvernment, dont insult the army. Work to have MPs that represent your view get in parliament in 2013.
30 July 2012, 15:44
116
When our Army is the only armed entity in Lebanon then I will even love it and respected more...
30 July 2012, 16:30
00
Hello all,
I am a silent listener on your comments for a while now. Well, I am more than glad to see that people in lebanon are trying to express themselves more openly and freely.
THough, I have one question in the light of that. Is it normal to comment on a monday noon? Is this your job?
I apologize if my question seems cynical, but this is not my intention..
Cheers
30 July 2012, 16:31
00
Hello all,
I am a silent listener on your comments for a while now. Well, I am more than glad to see that people in lebanon are trying to express themselves more openly and freely.
THough, I have one question in the light of that. Is it normal to comment on a monday noon? Is this your job?
I apologize if my question seems cynical, but this is not my intention..
Cheers
30 July 2012, 17:05
162
Has anyone here above lived thru the civil war?
Do u really wanna go on cursing each other on and on and on, one slamming the HA, the other the saudis blablabla...
arent u all fed up of this utter SHIT?
it makes me sad and desperate when i read all ur comments.
u so called intellectuals should be an example of coexistence, not amplify the stupidity of the street.
30 July 2012, 19:04
42
Dont sweat it.
A lot of people here have little political acumen. They see only black and white, no shades of grey. and cannot absolutely cannot look from the other's point of view. That is a general lack of maturity.
Couple that with the typical lebanese arrogance, and you get the curses that are bothering you...
30 July 2012, 22:43
01
Yep the thing is yesterday I was trying to calm a guy down telling him that we should be part of the solution not the problem then he kept going off blabbering ab all of us who want lebanon r jews...I didn't even start with politics yet cuz right now its not really ab that and no1 gets it, we r lebanese not puppets and these guys in power r making us do all the dirty work for them
30 July 2012, 19:44
17
We never claimed to be 'intellectuals'. Where did you get that from?
Yes, we're all tired of all this, we just want to leave in PEACE (understand no weapons that can be turned against us as it happened before) I lived the civil war, and it took a lot from me. Syria and Iran's influence aren't the issue here, their weapons are. The East and the West can fight their new cold war, but without arming Lebanese factions.
We're also tired of not getting electricity, and what the minister in charge is doing is trying to ignite a new civil war by no paying the EDL employees. Those people didn't get paid since April 2012.....
31 July 2012, 07:37
12
The dahye thugs have been stealing electricity for decades. They owe the Gov (ya3ne us) billions. Perhaps Ahmadinjad can send cash straight to the Pro Iranian Gov of Lebanon instead of rockets that cannot and should not be fired against Israel.
30 July 2012, 22:40
02
I tried that approach the other day and I was called a jew and the way of freedom is with weapons then allah nassrallah w da7yeh killa so I tried u can't talk to these people cuz they r soo closed minded and wanna control everything...freemind if u can get through to them then u have me by urside with all my support
30 July 2012, 17:35
20
God bless the Lebanese army yes, except when it crosses the red lines the Sayyed of the resistance so repeatedly warned against crossing. And when it cowardly defends itself against terrorist thugs in Mar Mikhayel attempting to disarm it's soldiers. And before 2006 whenever anyone suggested it should be sent to the southern border. Long live freedom, except when it's used to criticize the Sayyed and his Iranian terrorist militia! Long live democracy, except during the elections if the resistance loses! Long live sovereignty, the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the Mediterranean under the Ayatollah! Hooray for Hollywood!
30 July 2012, 17:46
153
thumbs up to the person who thumbed down to my last comment:
BRAVO
i see that u r a bunch of savages, bloodthirsty idiots on these forums.
god give u a brain and a heart.
30 July 2012, 19:10
17
How many times do I need to repeat that the Army (leaders) shouldn't get involved in politics. This isn't its mission. If General Qahwaji has a personal agenda and dreams of becoming our next President, then he should step down and dedicate his time 200% in this.
For the time being, we need an army leader that focuses all his attention and energy on the sovereignty and security of the Republic.
30 July 2012, 20:13
10
The problem with you Lebanese is; you do not read, you do not listen, you do not look or anticipate. Your problem is a Lebanese problem.
Not an Iran, Syria, USA etc. problem.
You vote for this Government and you elected it by that. This is what you wanted and this is what you got.
You are not even in a position to complain that there is no power and water. And following this no income for many workers.
YOU LEBANESE PEOPLE are the cause of all!
30 July 2012, 22:31
13
I don't recall any1 protecting the lebanese people may 7 2008 and in the north they aren't doing anything all I remember during may7 2008 is that the army was getting shot at and didn't fire back at the syrians and hizblklab cuz they were afraid
30 July 2012, 22:33
13
Then again I hope they start acting like the protecters of lebanon and fight back and defend lebanon from the thugs that belong to that terrorist organization....my cousin who is in the army is disgusted of the fact they really don't do anything
30 July 2012, 22:46
02
He needs to go through aoun first sorry to say this bass he's a big chimp and will destroy lebanon more than protect it
31 July 2012, 07:40
02
I guess you're referring to Mr 10 nicknames (and I might be underestimating him). Regardless of the number of nicks he's got, he won't get your slang... Get him a mop, and he'll get it. lol
31 July 2012, 11:14
01
I hope Francois El 7aj is still alive ,he would teach the scum on the streets a lesson like he did in the camp ,god bless him ..
31 July 2012, 13:55
11
Hey flamethrower, of course we love our army more than u do and we shouldn't throw them under the bus. But they don't protect us, ie from powerful militias like Amal and hizbullah so we have every reason to be skeptical. these are our brothers. Plus, we actually pay thier salaries through tax, we have every right to full protection from anyone who wants to harm our lives, cars, streets, and houses regardless of mine or your opinion. This is not a knee jerk reaction, the army leadership has to be fair and stand up to idiots with weapons or burning ties, whoever they are, that includes all parties, and factions, sunnis in saida, Aounies, all of them! they are not doing thier job! that we all are paying for! Army leadership also gets useless perks, this is obvious.
01 August 2012, 12:20
00
the aid is 1.6M$ on 4 years ya FT.
it is huge and it is not "hardly enough to re-equip"
get your facts straight befaore just saying no and arguing. this is soooo typical of aouniye :)
