Cabinet Approves Plan Worth $1.6 Billion to Properly Equip Army

Fix the electricity with that money, the $1.6 billion will be lost in 1 day against any foreign army

Its thanks to Chief of staff Jean Qahwaji the army is getting proper equipments after his visit to London and tbe U.S ofcourse with the blessing of the White House. The near is end for anyone who harmed suspected of harming or attempted to harm our beloved Lebanon,what goes around comes around Mr Assad,mullahs of iran and clerics of saudi arabia.

Its thanks to Chief of staff Jean Qahwaji the army is getting proper equipments after his visit to London and tbe U.S ofcourse with the blessing of the White House. The near is end for anyone who harmed suspected of harming or attempted to harm our beloved Lebanon,what goes around comes around Mr Assad,mullahs of iran and clerics of saudi arabia.

Its thanks to Chief of staff Jean Qahwaji the army is getting proper equipments after his visit to London and tbe U.S ofcourse with the blessing of the White House. The near is end for anyone who harmed suspected of harming or attempted to harm our beloved Lebanon,what goes around comes around Mr Assad,mullahs of iran and clerics of saudi arabia.

Its thanks to Chief of staff Jean Qahwaji the army is getting proper equipments after his visit to London and tbe U.S ofcourse with the blessing of the White House. The near is end for anyone who harmed suspected of harming or attempted to harm our beloved Lebanon,what goes around comes around Mr Assad,mullahs of iran and clerics of saudi arabia.

For what?
These 1.6 billions would end up lining the pockets of many while the army, even with better arms, would remain ineffective under the current parallysis in the government.
I rather have electricity.

Cabinet Approves Plan Worth $1.6 Billion to Properly Equip Army

1600000000 divided by 5 is about 266 million a year. That will buy the army some shoes and guns, and if they are lucky mabye a few night vision goggles. Nothing to be excited about

We need a proper air force and anti-aircraft missiles, mostly! Hope they'll be getting that and not something else. 1.6 billion is not too much for air equipment, but might be enough.

FT- good idea the cannabis thing... let us legalize its agriculture and criminalize its use... This way we become an exporter :-)

For the army, if it well spent on equipment, it is worth it. I am against increasing public spending, especially for country clubs of officers and maids for wives. But i have a feeling we are on a good thing here.

Wait a minute Cedar / Flame Thrower
If i understood the proposal correctly, those $1.6 are on top of the yearly allocated budget for the Army.
Feeding, handgun & practice ammo are already provided by the yearly allocated budget, so i would assume those $1.6 billion extra budgeted plan would go to buy some additional equipments to the Army.

By the way...what was Amal & Hizbullah ministers' objection on the Defense agreement between Lebanon and France??? The article doesn't say the reasons behind that ojection.

If anyone cares, this is the first time that Lebanon will be buying weapons since 1983. Yes, for the first time in 29 years.
But I guess people are more interested in in pointless comments in here, not to forget the boring March 8 vs March 14 BS.

Let's give some support to the army. Our border with Syria will be very volatile for many years to come and we need some decent arms to protect our land and citizens.

Flame Thrower / Lebanon First
I agree $1.6 Bio is not enough. A better way to get more, while not burdening the people would be to lower the interest paid to service Lebanon's $50 bio internal debt, If treasury lowers that debt servicing rate by just 1%, that will save $500 mio annually which can be used to equip the army.
Another innovative way to get fund the army is to create a Property Tax. A small 1/1000 yearly tax on the value of big real estate like large-expansive mansions/villas/apartments or Large Non-Agricultural lands,or other properties like Boats, private Jets, would definitely bring the necessary funds to equip the army.
But i don't expect Lebanese Political Class are patriotic enough to tax themselves - they prefer shifting the burdon of taxes on the poor, by raising the taxes on gas and other commodities either directly or through VAT.

$1.6 Billion is better than nothing. This also sets a great precedent, that if the money is spent well and there are results from this injection of cash, more will follow. Good to see the ministers approving something that benefits all Lebanese for a change.

Government should ask for donation of arms for the army, not wast money they could use to feed the poor in Lebanon and build up proper power supplies for the Lebanese. If France etc. are serious by arming the Lebanese army, why then not donate deterring missile systems that would keep the zionists and Syrian war planes out of Lebanon? As fellow commentators said, it will only increase the Taboule and Hommus plate size for the soldiers and buy new apartments, watches and cars for the high ranks.

Sure the army needs the money... but first, give us electricity, water, decent roads, a sewer system...
There is no global vision...

To lebanon_first
Property Tax is already high??? There is no Property Tax in Lebanon. Do you mean Registration fees? That's just a one-time thing. It is completely different than yearly property tax.

Property tax is the best. It will eliminate the gluttony of empty apartments sitting idle for years because builders hold on to them waiting for prices to climb. Having to pay tax on them, will prompt them to either sell them or rent them. Too many apartments coming to market will drive prices down. Furthermore, it will discourage rich Gulf sheikhs from purchasing Lebanese property wholesale for investment purposes, driving property prices in Lebanon sky high, making them less affordable for Lebanese youth to buy.
Land owners too, would be encouraged to put their land into good use to pay for the tax, either by turning them into parking lots in the city, farming them, or turning them into natural reserve (Natural Reserves would not be Taxable).
There are a lot more benefits to introducing a small Property tax.

To abb (Guest) & thepatriot
I sure understand that Lebanon needs electricity & water...beleive it or not, it all depend on having a strong army.
Why don't you have electricity => Because Electric Co is bankrupt.
Why Electric Co bankrupt => Because 30% of consumers dues are not collected.
Why 30% of dues are not collected => Because Collectors can't collect from certain areas, or certain group of people.
Why can't they collect from certain areas or certain group of people => because in those areas the state cannot protect the collectors from the armed people there.
Why can't the state protect the collectors against those armed people => because the army is not strong enough to stand up to all those armed people.
See how it all goes down to having a strong army.

To abb (Guest) & thepatriot
I sure understand that Lebanon needs electricity & water...beleive it or not, it all depend on having a strong army.
Why don't you have electricity => Because Electric Co is bankrupt.
Why Electric Co bankrupt => Because 30% of consumers dues are not collected.
Why 30% of dues are not collected => Because Collectors can't collect from certain areas, or certain group of people.
Why can't they collect from certain areas or certain group of people => because in those areas the state cannot protect the collectors from the armed people there.
Why can't the state protect the collectors against those armed people => because the army is not strong enough to stand up to all those armed people.
See how it all boils down down to having a strong army.