LEBANESE ARMY CHIEF PRAISES ARMY’S PERSEVERANCE AGAINST MILITANTS
by Rym Ghazal
The Daily Star website
4 Sep 07
Beirut
"Army Chief Lauds his ‘Brave Men’ for Triumphing Against Terror;
Sulayman Praises Military’s Perseverance Against Fatah al-Islam"
BEIRUT: Lebanese army commander General Michel Suleiman on saluted his
"brave men" Monday after the army declared victory in its three-month
struggle against Fatah al-Islam militants at the Nahr al-Barid
refugee camp.
"In the name of national unity, you overthrew terrorism through your
victory," the general said in an official address to the army.
In what is being hailed as a historic victory for the Lebanese Army
against terrorism, Suleiman praised the army’s relentless perseverance
in the face of the Al-Qaeda-inspired militants, whose leader, Shaker
al-Absi, was confirmed dead Monday after his wife and others identified
his body.
"The whole nation now looks up to you with the great pride and
confidence…
and this victory is a gift to the spirits of the army and resistance
martyrs," said Suleiman.
The Lebanese army said on Monday it lost 163 soldiers in the battle
and between 400 to 500 soldiers were wounded in the fighting, with
many of them permanently disabled.
The victory, he said, is also a gift to troops wounded in action as
well as "to all the Lebanese and Palestinian brethren who rejected
the phenomenon of terrorism and stood by your side throughout the
confrontation."
Suleiman praised the troops for their "extraordinary" performance in
battle, stressing that victory "belongs to the whole Lebanese people."
The army commander also called on his troops to "abide by the national
principles and adhere to discipline."
The commander urged his men to "keep your rifles aimed in the proper
direction at the Israeli enemy and at terror … until it is fully
uprooted."
He said sacrifices made in the confrontation that broke out on May 20
"remain much less than the price that the nation would have paid had
the hand of terror remained loose and continued its meddling."
Praise for the army continued to pour in for the second day since its
victory Sunday, with and officials across the political spectrum and
religious figures phoning and congratulating the head of the army.
Syndicates, professional orders, the Maronite League, the Armenian
Tashnak Party, and the vice president of the Higher Shi’i Council,
Shaykh Abdel-Amir Qabalan, all praised the army and its victory.
Qabalan said the army and the resistance constitute the "formidable
fortress" protecting Lebanon, adding: "The victory proves that our army
is unbeatable and is the shield of this country against all plots."
The Maronite League called the army the backbone of the constitutional
institutions as it is the best representative of the unity needed in
the country.
"Let politicians learn from the army’s unity … and how that unity
serves best in protecting the country," said a statement released by
the League.
In an interview with OTV on Sunday night, MP Michel Aoun also praised
the army and commented on the "great difficulty" it faced due to
years of "neglect."
"It was a costly victory … the army was not being supported enough to
be able to combat terrorism," said Aoun on Sunday night. "We need to
accept the reality the army faces … and the intelligence apparatus
that needs to be updated and supported."
In addition to Lebanese figures, praise for the army flooded in from
Palestinian officials.
The head of the Joint Lebanese Palestinian Committee, Khalil Makkawi,
praised the army’s victory, calling it a victory for "the law,"
and adding that the army proved its ability to protect Lebanon’s
sovereignty.
"Refugee camps will no longer be open to such incidents," Makkawi
added.
"There will be an internal force in coordination with the army."