Lebanese Army`s statement to the rescue

The Lebanese Army declared the following statement (not word by word):
- It has been decided to keep Chief Wafik Shoukeir in his position in the airport
- Demanded for all armed forces to be withdrawn from the streets, and to open all the streets

I believe that this statement, is not only the road for things to get better, but it is even better than we have asked for.

With the leadership of the army deciding to keep the Chief Shoukeir in his position in the airport, the first point of Nasrallah's demand is being met, and the first point of the government's demand is also applied.

By this, Hezbollah is bound to accept the 2nd point of the government which is electing General Michel Sleiman as president, as courtesy to his wise decisions in the past few days and especially in the Shoukeir one.

Moreover, this can lead everyone to the dialog again.

Prediction not for the near future, but for the slightly far one, there will be new elections soon.

2008, rough start, 2007 bad year

It isn't completely surprising that another year in Lebanon starts out very defectively. Needless to try to go back in time and state history, it is utterly perplexing to decide whether the civil war days, the syrian presence days or the post-hariri assassination days are the worst.
It's a rough start with 2008 beginning by an explosion (January 15, 2008) mainly targetting a US embassy convoy taking the American Ambassador from the airport to celebrate his last days in Lebanon, which turned out to be a decoy, nonetheless resulting with 4 casualties and more than 20 wounded in Karantina Bridge, near Dora Highway.

What happened in 2007 really that is so different than 2006 and worth mentioning? Let us try to recap!


The year 2007, and most probably predicted by Michel Hayek, our 21st century Nostradamus, started out violently specifically on January 23 when a general strike by the opposition took place, leading to burning tires, conflicts between opposing parties, closing roads, traffic and pollution!

Two days later on January 25, a riot, a result to a clash between students in Arab University (most probably a quarrel concerning who's right and who's wrong for what happened two days before), erupted between residents of the surrounding area to the University in beirut, calling for reinforcements from the Lebanese Army to calm things down and call for a curfew.


In response to all this, many non sectarian, non political, non religious movements appeared, far from any color and only embracing the black, white or grey, to call upon the Lebanese to stop being sheep and followers and start working for the better of this country, they were against the pathetic bipolarism in Lebanon.

To save you the suspense, almost a year later, I can tell you the end of this movie. They did not succeed.

If you think this movie started out strong, wait for the next unfortunate event, which I naively recollected that it happened in 2006, but no, it was on 13 February the explosion and sad death of 3 and a number of casualties in Ain Alak.

The reason behind my weak memory is far from it being weak than for the fact that too much is occuring in this damned country that we think it is taking placing during a long period of time.

14 February, once a Valentine's day a celebration of Love, now...


A short while later, a war of Billboards splashed across the nation with the famous "I Heart Life", then "I heart Life with dignity", etc.. etc.. leading to many shops and companies taking advantage of it for their own good.

Despite it all, Lebanese still have their humour.

Throughout the year we hear politicians and political leaders (most of whom were once warlords) give speeches, in general they are all bad at it except one, whom I don't support or agree with most of the time, however acknowledge his articulate way of giving a speech, Hizbollah general secretary, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah.

Nevertheless, what is beautiful about Lebanon, remains beautiful, and this is why:


Lebanon at one point had two presidents representing it in the Arab Summit.


May 20 to May 27 in 2007 was undoubtedly one of the worst weeks of the year when clashes between the Lebanese Army and Fatah Al Islam started in the Palestinian Nahr el Bared camp in North Lebanon, leading the the infamous war with Fatah Al Islam, resulting with many martyrs and casualties from the Lebanese Army.
Also on Sunday May 20, an explosion killed a woman in Ashrafieh (Beirut).
Monday May 21 recorded an Explosion in Verdun (Beirut).
Wednesday Mar 23, an explosion in Alay (Mount Lebanon).

Meanwhile, Draft resolution 1757 was adopted by the Security Council, declaring a decision in forming an international tribunal under the 7th chapter in order to investigate the assassination of Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.

A while later, and as the Lebanese always cope with the horrible situations that Lebanon goes through with jokes, a long line of jokes started spreading and what better than in a Facebook group.

Another Explosion in Sid El Bouchrieh on June 4 (Eastern Beirut Suburb).
And another in Zouk Mosbeh (Mount Lebanon), three days later.

Due to all the saddening and agonizing events that occured, School year ended early.

The 7th explosion in 2007 took place on June 13 in Al-Manara (Beirut) and this time it was a direct hit and unfortunately a successful attempt of assassination of MP Walid Eido.

As a consequence to the series of unfortunate occurences, festivities in Lebanon were cancelled.

On June 25, UNIFIL troops have taken their share of the explosion where a car bomb killed 6.

As a replacement to the late MP Sheikh Pierre Gemayel, there was elections in Mount Lebanon, where Former President Amine Gemayel ran against Kamil Khoury from the opposition's FPM. The outcome of this elections although at one point both were winners, turned out in favor for Kamil Khoury.


September 2007, started out a bit more positif than the previous months where the Naher AL Bared's war ended, with the Lebanese Army rising victorious.

Yet, it did not continue well when on September 19 a bomb in Horsh Tabet exploded killing MP Antoine Ghanem and 6 other casualties, including the young Charles Chikhani.


As not to leave things metaphorical such as Lebanon being on fire, a fire did happen across most of the forests of mountains in the country.

Jealous for not breaking a record, Lebanon broke its own record, reaching the highest number yet of car accidents. 830 casualties and more than 10000 wounded.

While preparing for the presidential elections, which (to also save you the suspense) have been delayed 12 times by this date, people were not coping so well, delaying big purchases and trying to put some money on the side, especially that everything was getting more expensive.


Emile Lahoud leaves Baabda, becoming a former president, assigning no one behind him, making Lebanon presidentless during the holidays.

At the final days of the year and on the same day Gibran Tueni died 2 years ago, there was an explosion in Baabda (South Metn) on 12/12/2007 killing the Head of Operations in the Lebanese Army Francois AL Hajj with 4 others, making it the 10th explosion this year.

2007
830 car accidents casualties
100+ casualties and injured from explosions
10 Explosions
3 Assassinations
1 Draft Resolution
1 war
0 President

The End.

Blood not gone in vain, welcome back heroes

Yesterday, all along the road from Tripoli to Beirut, Lebanese residents with Lebanese flags went to the streets and waited for the Lebanese army convoys to pass by, welcoming them back from the long 3 months war in Naher el Bared Palestinian camp in North Lebanon opposing and triumphing over the Al-Qaida inspired terrorists Fatah Al Islam. But mostly, it was to thank them and to pay their respect to them and to their late colleagues who have paid their lives in order to protect Lebanon and save it from the black worm.

Once again, thank you for the Lebanese army, and thank you for the martyrs who have lost their lives in this "cold river" war.

The long wait has finished

Lebanon's army crushed the last remnants of a militant group in a ferocious gunbattle Sunday that killed 39 of the fighters, ending a bloody three-month siege at a Palestinian refugee camp that was the country's worst internal violence in years. Nearby villages celebrated with fireworks, drumming and dancing after the government declared victory.

[...]

The army said three soldiers were killed in Sunday's fighting and two on Saturday, raising to 158 the number of troops who have died in the conflict — Lebanon's worst internal fighting since the 1975-90 civil war. More than 20 civilians and more than 60 militants have also been killed.

Reactions:

Prime Minister Fuad Saniora called Sunday's final battle the "greatest national victory for Lebanon over the terrorists in Nahr el-Bared."

President Emile Lahoud said the army "has achieved what superpowers could not in confronting terrorism."

Continue reading here.

It hurts more when it`s someone you know

To be honest, I have offered my condolences to all the army martyrs' families, but this time it's different.
I wanted to post something yesterday, August 1st, as it was the army's anniversary, however I really couldn't say anything, because even though this year, the army has outdone themselves, they are doing great, and we are really proud of them, still they have lost a lot of souls, and a lot of heroes out there are risking their lives to protect us.

Almost a week ago, a very good friend of mine asked me to pray for this young soldier who was injured in Naher Al Bared and has been in a coma, as his situation was very critical. He told me his name, but in Lebanon when you hear the name "Georges", it does not ring a bell, as there are a lot of this name.
Today, another friend, gave me this link and told me that Georges Fahed has died, again the name did not seem familiar.................. until I saw his picture.
Georges is an old friend of mine with whom I have lost touch the past few years, his lastname has escaped my mind. I really liked him, he was such a nice guy, and was not only an acquaintance but more. I cannot express how sad and angered I am. When I saw his picture, I couldn't believe my eyes, my heart is really broken....
I offer my condolences to his parents, I really wish that God will be them in this critical time.

Alla yer7amak ya Georges.

Counter Strike in Nahr Al Bared

The North Lebanon battles in the Nahr Al Bared surroundings between our army and the Islamic Militant of Fatah Al Islam continue. It is really shocking and breath-taking, at least for me, to see our Lebanese army fighting. This is not a sight we are accustomed to. The Lebanese army has been on hold since decades, due to occupations, belief that they are still not strong enough to defend the country, division... When we say the Lebanese army we mean by it Lebanon's army, not political, not biased and not sided to anyone but all Lebanon.
The Lebanese army today are a source of pride and strength for many Lebanese of whom the majority are showing support by several means, on msn, facebook, display pictures, stickers on cars and more.

The Lebanese army have received reinforcements from the US a week ago, and the battles are getting more and more severe. The Islamic militants are not willing to surrender (yet).

What was more weird, is the live coverage of these battles and the description of them. When I am listening on the radio and hearing the reporter describe how the army took over a building and responded with gun-fire to locations from which militants have been shooting, blocking roads and entrances, taking over the train rail, etc... I couldn't help but think it was a game, like Counter Strike if you are familiar with it. Counter strike is a game to be played on the pc, it has two teams, the terrorists and the counter terrorists, and has maps of an italian neighborhood, in a plane, near a deserted research lab, even a map of Beirut. In this game, the terrorists are actually holding hostages, for the counter terrorists to win, they have to either rescue the hostages or kill the terrorists. Sounds too familiar in Nahr Al Bared's situation doesn't it? All of this seems so unreal.

I might sound crazy and too optimistic, however, I need to get this off my chest, I have a good feeling about the situation. Let us wait and see.

News: Clashes between Army and Fath Al-Islam in North

Source: Translated from Tayyar.org

Clashes between the Lebanese Army and members of Fath Al-Islam in north Lebanon, 7 casualties from the army and 4 from the opposition. The clashes started at 3am on Sunday May 20, and was still going till late in the morning. The Lebanese Army has surrounded the camp of Nahr Al Bared, and is shooting at certain points in the camp, after receiving re-inforcements.

Lebanese Army walks

Keep walking! As Jhonnie Walker puts, our Lebanese Army are present. Yes they are, we see every day, in the morning, the afternoon and at night, a group of soldiers walking on both sides of the street with almost 10 meters of difference. Looking at it positively, this action is supposed to provide the citizens with safety and peace of mind, and apparently this is its effect.

Even though, problems are occuring here and there to create a turmoil and chaos among the people, in general and looking at things with not so much of a microscope, some gestures are being made, and perhaps a sign of hope, a warless summer and a hectic touristic season are in store for the Lebanese people.

Hezbollah weapons did not go in vain

A couple of days ago and after the truck that has entered from Syria through the borders into Lebanon, which was not searched obviously, full of weapons, which Hezbollah later on claimed that it belonged to them, the army confiscated those weapons and did not accept to deliver them to the resistence. The point is not this, however it is the fact that the Lebanese army is quite a maximizer, and will not let go of these weapons or just keep them confiscated, but will actually use them themselves in case of any offense with Israel.

"The truck and its content are now with the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon," Murr said in reference to a truck carrying Hezbollah arms -- including Grad rockets -- seized east of Beirut on Thursday.

"If Israel carries out another violation, we will use these weapons to confront it," he told reporters on Friday after a meeting with the commander of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, Major General Claudio Graziano.

Moreover, the role of the Lebanese Army which is deployed in the south, is starting to become inclusive of more responsibilities and expanding.

Murr said he told Graziano that "the Lebanese army deployed in southern Lebanon has orders to confront Israeli forces in case of any new violation" of Lebanese sovereignty.

This is definitely the first time in decades which the Lebanese Army is actually useful and functional as an army and not just security forces.
Click here to read full article. Source: AFP