U.S. General Meets Lebanese Leaders, Voices Support for Strengthening Lebanese Army
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
U.S. Central Command Commander General James Mattis renewed on Friday his country’s commitment to a stable, sovereign and independent Lebanon.
He underscored the United States’ “support in strengthening the capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces, recognizing its importance in serving as Lebanon’s sole legitimate defense force to secure Lebanon’s borders and defend the sovereignty and independence of the state.”
Mattis made his statements during his trip to Lebanon where he met with President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Najib Miqati, Speaker Nabih Berri, Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn, and Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji.
In his meetings, Mattis discussed the political and security situation in Lebanon and other regional issues, said the U.S. Embassy in a statement.
He further emphasized the strong and sustained military cooperation between the two countries as well as Lebanon’s initiatives to implement its obligations under United Nations Security Council resolution 1701.
13 January 2012, 19:10
01
If the Americans indeed want to help Lebanon, why don't they help arm properly the army so it can defend the country against thugs like those of Nahr el Bared, or those dogs PSNS and Co. that Hezbollah allowed to be unleashed in 2008?
The typical argument in the US is that america is afraid that weapons will turn against darling Israel. But lebanese army hasn't fought israel since decades. We do have contention issues with israel, maritime borders, palestinian refugees etc... But our real war and conflict of interest is not against Israel. (even though we all hate their arrogant imperialistic attitudes.) Our real war is against all those groups of thugs that pop up every so often somewhere in the country bombing liquor stores, kidnaping people, stealing cars, undermining the authority of the state, creating instability.
14 January 2012, 14:10
00
@slash.
How would the hezb take the weapons from the army? steal them? have them given as gifts? And what if the hezb takes them. so what? they have a lot of weapons already. We are going to keep lebanon weak to prevent the hezb from MAYBE aquiring a few extra weapons?
Besides the Hezb learned its lesson, and will not attack Israel anymore. (like israel learned its lesson)- 2006 was a loose-loose war. Each time some palestinian thug uses our land to launch an attack on israel, hezbollah rushes to deny its implication. The hezb is wisening up, adventures were fun when they were the underdog. today, they have the responsibility of running the country. they cannot mess up anymore. they want to prove to their follow citizens that they are able to manage the country correctly.
