Tuesday, August 01, 2006

A forgotten anniversary

Today, Lebanon was supposed to celebrate Army Day - the anniversary of the establishment of the Lebanese Armed Forces.

The Army's main battle tanks are M 48 Pattons and Russian T-54/55s. These antiques date back to the 1950s. The M113 armored personnel carrier is by far the Army's most visible vehicle. Most of these machines belong to the first generation of M113s: some are even said to have been used during the Vietnam War.

As for air "power," well, you tell me exactly what twenty something UH-1 Hueys constitute, and I'll make sure to post that on this entry. I must say though, listening to those relics fly overhead is quite an ordeal. The Hueys' main base of operations is the Beirut International Airport; therefore, whenever the guys decided they had enough fuel to fly some sorties, all of Beirut was sure to know.

Today's Lebanese Army is very much a product of the Syrian occupation, which only came to an end less than two years ago. The Syrians basically built an army that could be characterized as a police force on steroids. All it did, and could do, was maintain internal stability.

Whenever political tensions were high, or if there was, for some reason, a spike in criminal activity, the Army would flex its muscles by increasing patrols, deploying some of its hardware so that they were visible to the public, and add one more hurdle to the myriad of hurdles drivers faced on Lebanon's roads and highways: checkpoints.

As for protecting Lebanon's sovereignty, whoever heard of such a notion? Since Hizballah monopolized the front with Israel, and it was "simply impossible" for any threats to emerge from Syria, the Lebanese Armed Forces' otherwise natural role of protecting Lebanon from outside threats was simply usurped. If the American Army was never in the business of "nation building," the Lebanese Army was never in the business of defending Lebanon.

I hope that in the new Lebanon that eventually emerges this reality changes. The Bush administration just promised $10 million to help the army deploy to the South after a cessation of hostilities. That money would definitely help, however the issue at hand surpasses merely deploying forces in the South – it is one of capability. Will the Lebanese Army be able to fulfill its role of protecting the Lebanese state from all threats to its sovereignty? I doubt it; and $10 million does not even come close to changing that reality.

34 comments:

Unknown said...

please post:
America Should Stop the Bloodshed
WHAT: Silent candlelight vigil
WHEN: Thursday, August 3rd, 7:30pm
WHERE: South side of Union Square Park, New York City

Ecumene said...


The Last Activities
LAF arrested between July 4th 2006 and July 11th 2006 at 7 pm 454 individuals for committing the following infractions: driving cars with no identity papers, smuggling fuel oil, hitting each other, infraction to residence regulations, shooting fire

CMAR II said...

Raja,

I agree. The problem is that Hizballah has grown like 75kg benign tumor in the body of Lebanon, causing it to waste away as the tumor grows larger and larger. The Lebanese army will not grow stronger until Hizballah is eradicated.

JoseyWales said...

Maybe we can declare this day another fucking stupid useless ubuesque national frigging day off holiday to add to the 176 days off we take for various reasons in an economy that barely works in normal times.

What's khara traitor in chief Lahouss doing today??

The Middle East News Addict said...

To Raja

You claim that the Lebanese army was wekened by the Syrian to the capacity of simply maintaining internal stability rather than protect Lebanon. Yet as Hezbollah demonstrates, the Lebanese army was weakened far beyond that capacity. Hezbollah's reckless decisions prove that the Lebanese army is not capable of even maintaining internal stability. In addition, in order for the Lebanese army to protect Lebanon's sovereignty, there must first be asovereignty to protect. As Hezbollah proves again, the Lebanese government is not the sovereign of Lebanon. A sovereign has a monopoly on power and is the only one to decide on the country's declarations of war. Sovereignty starts from within. That is what the Israelis did and still do when they outlawed terrorist groups like Kahana Khai from their midst.

Lirun said...

i need to flag the significance of your post..

raja.. your wishes are exactly what our side of the border wants.. we want you to have full control.. this is one message that israeli peace lovers.. war mongers.. sceptics and all other segments have all been consistently posting..

wishing peace for our region with my entire heart

lirun
tel-aviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
its not far off

Lirun said...

besides itll hardly be fortgotten with thousands of people visiting this blog everyday..

you underestimate your audience

:)

Amon Ra said...

Sweetwalter;

Obviously you are keeping under your pillow Henry Kissinger's autobiography and considering Nagasaki and Hiroshima the most glorious moments of US history

You are a democratic role model for all of us...

Well done mate and thank you for showing us the right path. It was so difficult to work it out without your substantial contribution

Bernard (ben) Tremblay said...

There are many good reasons for pride and realistic self-esteem. Having the biggest stick in the neighborhood? Surplus to requirement.

Let Lebanon know that the eyes of the world are on it ... and not all those eyes are dry.

To do well with what we have, is more than that expected of us? No.

From here in Northern Alberta, Canada, I cannot look to any place in Europe with expectations of nobility or virtue or principle or valour. Lebanon? What better place and what finer people to break the cycle of injustice?!

Each of us are challenged to take hold of whatever part of the chain is near us, and to do our piece of the work.

stay well

The Middle East News Addict said...

To Lebanese Liona

I usually try not to be cynical; but your remark on victory compells me to. Can the Israelis say "Black Hawk Down"? Yes. Can Lebanese say "rubble"? I don't know. But if they don't take control of their country from Hezbollah soon; they will learn to.

Going back to the movie "Black Hawk Down", I seem to remember the end quite differently from you. If I recall the US army ignored the UN, went to save their guy (and did) and found out that the Hezbollah equivilant of the story was lying (surprise). You said you live in the US; then it should not be trouble for you to go and rent the movie to recall of the ending.

Finally remember: it is easy to fight for principles from the comfort of suburbia when someone else pays the price; but when you are on the ground, pragmatism seems to be more crucial.

Lirun said...

are you all crazy?!?!

what is this verbal point scoring on thebackof soliders risking their lives.. civillians losing theirs.. our cities and towns living in a psycho existence of alerts and shellings..

what are you talking about! what excrement is coming out of your minds.. sounds like some suped up version of lord of the flies.. we can try to project the source of all evil wherever we like.. but at the end of the day its within us.. it's not some demonic supernatural creature.. its in human minds and hearts.. we need to quell it not to fan its fires..

i vote for the return of thoughtful dialog - whether or not it includes unpopular views - and an end to school yard crap.. this blog has more to give us and the world than just a place to download frustrations..

Baroon said...

Itia

thoese Hundredes are picutered and documantized by Red cross.
they goes to hospitals take picture and certify the cause of dead

dont worry they are really lieing with worms under ground

Lirun said...

lebnese liona - i think you need to read more media hat expresses other persepctives..

i make an effort to skim papers from 3 continents at least - to get a persepctive on whats omitted from each..

i think you would be surprised to learn that israel is actually in favour of a robust lebanese army.. one that can decisively take unconditional responsibility for the security of its side of our border..

personally - i dont have any objections to that - however i would love for our soldiers (yours and ours) to be forever bored to tears.. helping perhaps occasionally with the logistics of rescues from natural disasters or other non confrontational missions..

wishing peace to us all

lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
lets bring "it"

Baroon said...

ITAI

i would say, media failur. sometimes a missing person bring all the media and whole nation`s attention, some other time dead of 150 pepole in a plane crash is 1 H news and finish.

Baroon said...

ITAI

wait couple of month and all the picuters and documents will out . the mass graves in each area that they put 30 cofen inside it . after PEACE u can come and visit these graves in southern lebanon .
or may be they should make them as a touristic sopts to be visited by who like . u know ? like the jews memorial places.
hmmm..not a bad idea.. I guess later on.. i will pass this idea to Lebanon " tourist and culature ministry"

ofcours i must thank u ITIA to brought that subject, u r right Lebanies MUST show proof of the masacre of thier civilians

Dry Gin Martini said...

It is our moral duty as Lebanese to suck up our pride after all this is over, solve our Hizballah problem, and sign a peace treaty with Israel. The days of solving everything by "resisting" are over, these are different days. Unlike our parents' generation, we have a Lebanon, with defined borders, that we were born into, and we regard it as country, and we regard those living within it as Lebanese. Any person who calls for resistance against Israel, or for revenge and retribution, has no regards for his fellow man. If you are stupid enough to let your pride stand in the way of your survival, you shouldn't be selfish enough to let your pride stand in the way of the survival or your compatriates. What Lebanese needs is actual peace. Time to rebuild, educate the people, acquire a semi economy, and some validity in the face of the other nations. You may think you don't need all these things, but in the face of the world you do, and until you gain that validity, you're in no shape to make demands. Unfortunately, the world doesn't operate according to what's right or wrong, so grow up and deal with it. Why don't Palestinians have a voice? because they haven't established their validity. The more you call for revenge and retribution, the more you set your country back to the stone ages, and the more you hurt the chances for a free, democratic Lebanon to ever take shape. So grow up, bend down, take it up the ass from Israel, suck up your pride, and think of the collective good. You will never defeat Israel, you will never even rival it, and the more you "resist" it, the stronger it grows. Lebanon and Israel are the only two nations on the Eastern coast of the mediterranean (disregarding Intakia), and Israel wants nothing more than you being unstable so that they can be the monopoly on economic dealings. Your moral duty is to your fellow man, and if you fail them because of your "pride", then you should reconsider your moral ground.

Lirun said...

yesterday i read the peace agreement between israel and jordan.. so simple and so straightforward

it basically says:

(a) we want to live in secure peace with eachother, respecting international law
(b) we are not giving up any rights in the process
(c) lets work together to make our countries benefit from being neighbours
(d) if we piss eachother off.. lets talk about it
(e) the disputes that bothered us in the past.. lets get our A into G and nut them out over the next little while..

with love.. Jordan and Israel

i reckon it could easily be redrafted to apply to lebanon and israel

praying it happen soon..

lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
we've spent enough blood

Lirun said...

moral ground..

thats a very mixed message.. not sure if your enlightened or a bit dim..

you call for peace but seem to view peace as humiliation..

i recommend you review the water deal that was included in the jordanian deal.. israel owes jordan water even if there is none..

we will go very far for a genuine partner..

Dry Gin Martini said...

Lirun, I don't view peace as humiliation, I view peace as the ultimate goal, as human life is most important. But pride is a bitch, and having to have peace with a country that constantly bullies you, rapes you, and gets away with it, is not easy to stomach for most. Which is my point. Those who feel that way, need to suck it up and grow up, and think of the collective good.

Lirun said...

i admire your goal.. and while i do not necessary agree with your description of the state of affairs - i understand the challenge that you pose..

in any event.. while i am not a fan of sanctifying the method for the goal - i do believe that a temporary feeling of degradation is a minor price to pay in the scheme of things..

in any event i also think that your comment applies perfectly well for israel from an israeli perspective..particularly the last sentence..

too bad you and i arent our respective countries prime ministers right now ;)

lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
the solution is not that complicated..

The Middle East News Addict said...

Lebanese Liona

You seem to have not understod Ofer's comment on arming the Lebanese army. The IDF might actually welcome such a move. Arming the Lebanese army would allow it to maybe try and control Hezbollah. But even if they don't try to do tht and attack Israel, it would be easier for Israel than fighting a Guerilla warfare. IThink about it: arming and training the Lebanese to fight the 4th strongest army in the world takes time. When that starts, Lebanon's underdog media advantage is gone while the IDF suddenly has larger and easier targets. The Lebanese army will be destroyed before they even learn how to flip the "on/off" switch on their new tanks!

Hezbollah's little victories are meaningless and can only be achieved by Guerilla for short period.

Back to your victory notion, the Israeli central bank anounced today that the war will not even breach Israel's 2006 budget due to tax reserves including compansation for Israel's citizens. The GDP would be hurt by less than 1% and the Israeli shekel still remains strong. Could the "victorious" Lebanese say the same when the dust settles on this conflict? Ask Lebanon's infrastructure minister who estimated the damage to infrastructure only at 2 billion $US. If that is winning, I rather be on the losing side.

Now I know what you might be thinking: Israel will pay the damages (even though rebuilding takes time and lives cannot be replaced) but then again, when was the last time you saw a person who practiced self-defense paying the family of the attacker?

p.s.
Did you watch "Black Hawk Down" ending again?

Lirun said...

Dani

a couple of things.

(a) hat off to you as a forward thinker..

(b) you proposal seems excellent except a couple of reservations:

(i) i think israelis mayhave a hard time letting loose the prisoner that murdered the citizens in the town up north given the heinous criminal nature of that persons acts. however, if that person was to be tried in lebanon for the act on some extra territorial basis that was permitted under a lebanese act or perhaps under an extradition law then i think that would be acceptable.

(ii) in the middle east 12 months is a very short period - because we ME'ers are stubborn and patient.. i think the force should be subjected to a plan whereby after 12 months they are reduced consistently over 4 years in the course of a "knowledge transfer" program whereby the lebanese army is simultaneously trained and developed..

(iii) the last point is that israelis are really looking for a permanent solution.. so i think at least the commencement of peace deal negotiations should be included.. (not sure if it is customary to announce or if it is better kept cache)

in any event.. if you and i agree i propose to copy our posts and email them to the currently serving prime minister (he's keeping my seat warm) and see if he responds..

what's your feedback?

wishing this really happening..

lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
if we can they can..

The Middle East News Addict said...

To Dany

I understand what you are saying about Hezbollah agreeing to a ceasefire due to its need for support. However I do not think it is the case here. I do not want to reiterate all the details as they appear on my recent blog post. Safice it to say that for Hezbollah a ceasefire is not an option for it will cost it everything, not just its support. I would be interested in your opinion of the analysis. Perhaps there is something I have missed?

Lirun said...

Chas

in my blogapacity as PM i would respond with the following two points (politicians always seem to think in point form):

(a) i think Dani's proposal is in the context of achieving a ceasefire based on an interim agreement.. i would support this deal provided the reality checked in against the propositions.. dont forget israel is in fact a democracy and there are many voices to balance..

(b) the international area - as you point out is very ambiguous.. over the past few weeks political commentators have been afluster interpreting the arab world's silence this way and that.. europe's inability to issue a clear statement.. the US's call for ceasefire but always "tomorrow"..
there are so many agendas behind this indecisiveness.. i think its time these countries put their money where their mouths are.. if they are genuine about their statements - they should be either called to fund the implementation of such or otherwise confess to their true preferences so we can understand where the consensus really sits..

i am very sad that the people of lebanon and israel are paying the price in the meantime for what is effectively a clash of agendas and international political PR..

i support my countries endeavours to protect me and my compatriots - but i also urge my government to act more with brutal diplomatic force in the international relations arena to advance a solution more expediently..

i think the current violence is an inappropriate form of competition in the 21st century and its time we aligned with the civilisation.. we've all suffered enough..

unfortunately i dont know what to think exactly about the military operations.. the misinformation is rife.. i suppose the PM knows a bit more than i do as to what is and what isnt the reality.. these things are often judged more accurately in retrospect.. the world tends to forgive tragedies if ultimately the common levels of utility increase.. (very economic relationalist - i know - but its the best i can do..)

and as a private citizen - i confirm yet again - that all i wish for is peace with my neighbours..

lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
if we can they can

Lirun said...

dani mate

you know whats funny..

your thinking style and eloquence reminds me of my dad - his name is also danny and i thought you were him when i first read your comment with the proposal..

i have been urging him lately to read my blog and i wrote about the jordan treaty yesterday - so i kind of considered that maybe he was playing off that..

i have always had lebanese friends and syrian friends and egyptian friends and you name it.. i grew up in quite a few countries and always landed into multicultural pockets..

but now more than ever - in this blog - arguing with very passionate people i realise how similar we are.. we even bickerthe same way and argue in the same fashion..

i wish we could have had this brainstorm over a coffee in a cafe and not through a mediated channel..

but i genuinely believe in the very front of my mind that our nations are destined to a long lasting and vibrant peaceful relationship..

i can accept that lebanon might find th ethought distasteful while bursing enourmous and very open wounds but i hope they heal soon and i hope i am not underestimating the strength of my compatriots and their ability to forego their trauma and victim complexe "privileges" because i am tired of waiting..

i want peace now

lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
really badly

Lirun said...

*nursing

Lirun said...

i just sent our thread to the israeli channel 10 news room - lets see what they do with it

Lirun said...

you're right there is a chance the school year in israel will be impacted in the "fire zones".. there are probably various other ramifications that will slap us hard across the face if the situation isnt resolved soon..

Lirun said...

one more thing.. i think Australia needs to attend our peace conference.. australia has significant jewish and lebanese communities that generally live in amicable coexistence. both communities have been vocal about the middeast politics and both have served as positive catalysts for good things to their brothers overseas.. they have moderate and progressive community leaders and appear to have expressed an interest in sending troops.. john howard - while viewed by many as bush's labrador - has been active about addressing the safety of his nationals and the lebanese fledgling democracy in lebanon as well as empathising with israel's security issues..

Lirun said...

fair dinkum

Lirun said...

prisoner swap deals are more a respect thing than anything.. its expected that under the national's law they will receive better treatment.. be heard by a more favourable judge and have greater prospects of a pardon.. however.. the idea (if you ask me) is to acknowledge some common morality.. it's almost like a handshake between two countries

anyway.. i will now send ehud olmart a copy of this thread.. you never know what could happen..

The Middle East News Addict said...

To ShittyZions

What resistance are you talking about? The resistance to the reconstruction enjoyed by Lebanon prior to Hezbollah's decision to put an end to it?

Perhaps the resistance to normal life as experienced by both sides prior to the attack?

Yours is a twisted nationalism. One that does not put Lebanon at the top of its interests, but rather Hezbollah and by extension Syria and Iran. Have you ever thought why it is that Syria says that Sheba farms is Lebanese but is not willing to sign it over to Lebanon? It is because they want to make sure that if Hezbollah will get it after sacrificing so many Lebanese lives; the Lebanese government would not claim the Sheba farms as its own. That is why I am yelling from the top of my throat to every Lebanese who is willing to hear: "For god's sake, sacrifice Hezbollah for Lebanon; don't sacrifice Lebanon for Hezbollah!"

The Middle East News Addict said...

To ShittyZions

Let us review your claim on Israel's plan to invade Lebanon and compare it with reality.

1) Israelis want to be in Lebanon as much as the US wants to be back in Vietnam... and that's not very much.

2) Hassan Nasrallah made the same claim you made but only in the second week of fighting. The reason was simple: things did not go as planed (i.e. Israel capitulating to his new demands like last time) and he needed an excuse to justify this act of stupidity to the Lebanese people who started asking important questions about the necessity of this stupid stunt. Notice that he did not make this claim before the attack on July 12 or immediately after. Only after things did not go as planned.

3) Say you are right (and he is) and that Israel planned this (as proposterous as it my sound); then stratigically one must wait for the attack so that Nasrallah can do what he wants to Israel and get intl. support! Now unfortunately while the world condemns Israel for its response, they still see it as response and Hezbollah as the initiator. Now Mr. Nasrallah knows world politics then how could he miscalculate so much? Could it be that it is because there was no Israeli attack on the horizon and he blew it? Why didn't he wait for the attack? Even America and the UK could not have defended Israel in this case....

4) I am glad that you are not blind as to whose killing children. Luckily so is Sheikh Nasrallah who called the two Muslim Arab Israeli children he killed in Israel Shahids (but not to the Druze 15 year old girl he killed in the village of Mrar. By the way what does Shiekh Nasrallah have against Arabs in Israel? half the civilians he killed are Arab Israelis including those in Haifa who have a family in Lebanon...

5) Finally I am happy for you that you love Lebanon to death. If Sheikh Nasrallah keeps running the show you might have to...

Really looking forward to your response

The Middle East News Addict said...

Oh btw

What do you mean Sheikh Nasrallah is humiliating Israel and the USA? Lebanon is in ruins while Israel has barely touched its 2006 budget (as their central bank indicated)!!! If this is humiliation then I want to be on the humiliated side...