Posted on 07/22/2006 2:26:48 AM PDT by familyop
LEBANON'S army is ready to defend the country against any land invasion by Israel, Lebanon's defence minister told Al Arabiya television yesterday. Asked if the army would fight alongside Hezbollah against any land incursion by Israel, Defence Minister Elias al-Murr said: "Our constitutional duty is to defend Lebanon as a Lebanese army. This is our role.
"Any Lebanese citizens, Christians or Muslims, who want to defend their land are welcomed . . .
"Defending one's land can be done in several ways, either helping the army with food or water, giving psychological or political support. Because this is a war opened on all fronts.
"But for the resistance (Hezbollah) to enter the army and fight alongside the army, this is not an option, because the army can't fight like the resistance, nor can the resistance fight like the army."
The Defence Minister's remarks came as the Israeli army announced it has called up more reserve troops to augment its current forces in northern Israel, widening speculation that a major ground offensive against Lebanon has moved beyond the planning stage.
The army said the call-up was issued yesterday and several hundreds, if not thousands, of soldiers were being told top gather at specific meeting points for deployment.
Meanwhile, a UN observation post just inside Lebanon was hit during fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants yesterday.
The Israeli army blamed Hezbollah rockets, but a UN officer said it an artillery shell fired by the Israeli Defence Force caused the damage.
A UN officer said an artillery shell fired by the IDF "impacted a direct hit on the UN position overlooking Zarit".
The post is part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
The UN official said the facility was severely damaged but none of the Ghanaian troops inside the bomb shelters was injured.
Israeli warplanes and artillery pounded Lebanon for the 10th consecutive day yesterday after warning it could launch a full-scale ground invasion and ordered residents of the bomb-hit south to flee.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah issued a defiant new message that Israel's firepower was failing to dent his fundamentalist Shi'ite movement, and vowed he would release two captive Israeli soldiers only in a prisoner swap.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has demanded an immediate ceasefire, highlighting the human suffering.
"Both the deliberate targeting by Hezbollah of Israeli population centres with hundreds of indiscriminate weapons, and Israel's disproportionate use of force and collective punishment of the Lebanese people, must stop," Mr Annan said.
He proposed a blueprint calling for the deployment of a stabilisation force and for Hezbollah to release two Israeli soldiers whose capture 10 days ago unleashed the Israeli onslaught on its northern neighbour.
But Nasrallah warned: "Even the whole universe would not be able to secure the release of the two Israeli soldiers unless there are indirect negotiations and an exchange of prisoners."
Lebanon Turns to the Vatican to Halt Israeli Offensive
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1668754/posts
Vatican Condemns Israel for Attacks on Lebanon
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1665678/posts
Why didn't they defend it from the terrorist mutts?
I'm so glad the Lebanese Defense Minister was able to clarify the situation so well. /sarc
Does Ghana even HAVE troops? And if so, can they really afford to send ANY of them to a foreign country to "observe?"
Or is this just another one of Kofi's and the UN's scams to validate their existence?
I have a feeling that the Israeli's could roll right over the Lebanese army. There will be more of a challenge with Hezbollah.
You are correct. If the Lebanese army had an ounce of muscle it would not have tolerated the existence of the Hizzies on their land (assuming that they are not sympathetic to the Hizzies).
Well where the hell were you guys when some outsiders were taking over and running your country and your citizens??!!
That is what I was reading into the article. Calling them the "resistance" seemed to indicate a manner of respect. Perhaps I read something into it thats not there.
[...can they really afford to send ANY of them to a foreign country to "observe?"]
I guess arts and crafts like basket weaving pays pretty good.
"If the Lebanese army had an ounce of muscle it would not have tolerated the existence of the Hizzies"
The truth is that the Lebaneze army supports the Hezzies. They will never remove the Hezzies.
Because they're like minded?
Here's a little secret. The UN/US pays third world governments like Ghana quite handsomely for their soldiers service. I'm told that these third world governments actually make a nice profit from this.
Kofi Annan is from Ghana. I believe his family profits nicely from training and supplying the UN with Ghanian (sp) soldiers.
" And if so, can they really afford to send ANY of them to a foreign country to "observe?" "
Paid by UN budget.
"...giving psychological or political support..."
This means the Lebanonese will say anything about Israeli "war crimes" knowing that any claim will be eagerly lapped up by the Leftist MSM. Even on Free Republic, some are posting enemy propaganda from sources such as NPR. I will be skeptical of anything coming out of Lebanon. Win the war and then sort out whether victory could have been won in a nicer way.
Aw yes, how fortuitous. Credit to W C Fields
The only thing I see them able to defend is a summer cold and that's a big IF. Amen.
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