Posted on 08/14/2006 9:35:37 AM PDT by epluribus_2
IT was supposed to be the day the maligned Lebanese army took control of the country's borders and policed the UN ceasefire. Instead, the military commanders were left humiliated and troops stranded as Hezbollah told them not to disarm its fighters.
The first infantry units were preparing to head south when Hezbollah showed who controls the area by announcing it would not surrender its weapons.
General Michel Sleiman, commander-in-chief of the Lebanese army, and his lieutenants had been invited to join cabinet meetings to finalise plans to deploy the 15,000-strong force south of the Litani River.
But they were lectured by Hezbollah's two ministers in the coalition Government on what the army could and could not do.
In Beirut, Western diplomats said the standoff raised concerns about the army's ability to deal with Hezbollah. The Lebanese Government is left struggling to maintain a united front after unanimously backing the UN resolution on Saturday.
"The Government can't force Hezbollah to abide by the ceasefire," Economics Minister Sami Haddad said.
"It's unnatural to have an armed political party in cabinet that does not abide by what the Government of Lebanon wants."
Nabih Berri, the Speaker of the Lebanese parliament and the Shia politician best placed to negotiate with Hezbollah, asked for 48 hours to broker a deal.
The standoff came after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said his fighters would respect the ceasefire, describing the deployment of Lebanese and foreign troops to the south as "an honourable move".
But without Lebanese troops or the planned international force in the intended demilitarised zone, there is little prospect of the ceasefire holding.
There were optimistic murmurs about trying to integrate Hezbollah fighters into the army. But Hezbollah seems to have decided that the demand for its fighters to disarm and leave the 20km arms-free zone would show it as losers in the conflict.
The army has lost 20 men in the Israeli assault, despite not firing a shot. Two more soldiers were wounded on Sunday near the Syrian border when an Israeli airstrike hit their vehicle.
Defence Minister Elias Murr said in the early days of the war: "We will defend our land until the last soldier, and we will pay any price for our land."
But troops retreated to their barracks or lounged on armoured vehicles in a token effort to police checkpoints around the capital or protect key buildings.
Elias Hanna, a retired Lebanese general, said: "Sending 15,000 troops south is a political solution, not a military one. It's more a PR stunt. The army needs the international force to help it.
"The key objective is to keep the army united and not have it split on factional lines, as it did in the civil war."
The army's equipment is poor, and no match for the Israelis. Lebanon has no air force or navy.
One soldier said Hezbollah was better armed and organised, and that he was reluctant to confront "the resistance fighters".
Another soldier said his brother and a cousin were fighting for Hezbollah. "I can't turn a gun on the resistance, because they are family," he said.
Bingo! - condition of US agreement, IMHO.
He has plainly indicated his allegiance.
The Hezzies are not honoring the agreement?!?
Well knock me over with a feather!
This is a farse.
So, when does the Lebanese army roll in, in its cardboard tanks armed with exploding tennis balls? Man, they're a tough bunch!
This is what happens when Israel's just requirements for a ceasefire are negotiated with Hizbullah's unjust requirements that will allow them to continue to make war.
The Hezzies are crowing about how they defeated the IDF. The Israels pols need to turn loose the IDF to prevent this fight from being their Vietnam.
"Hezbollah showed who controls the area by announcing it would not surrender its weapons."
I'll say it: Israel, then, has the right to disarm Hezbollah by force. Your turn, IDF!
I heard Tammy Bruce(she is subbing for Laura Ingraham)perfectly characterize this as"A Cease Fire In Our Time"(obvious allusion to Mr.Chamberlain)!!!!!!!
which is far worse than a farce...
If the Lebanese were smart and really wanted a terror free country they would unite with israel and drive this cancer from their country. Then Israel would return to pre-war lines and the Lebanese could get on with their lives. Lebanon isnt smart. If Syria didnt like it, They could be handled too.
I can't believe the Israeli cabinet went for this cease fire deal. It mitigates or erases much of the progress the IDF has made in the past month.
I wonder how long before it(the case fire) blows up?
Got me.
case fire s/b cease fire.
"Defence Minister Elias Murr said in the early days of the war: "We will defend our land until the last soldier, and we will pay any price for our land."
But troops retreated to their barracks or lounged on armoured vehicles in a token effort to police checkpoints around the capital or protect key buildings.
Elias Hanna, a retired Lebanese general, said: "Sending 15,000 troops south is a political solution, not a military one. It's more a PR stunt. The army needs the international force to help it.
"The key objective is to keep the army united and not have it split on factional lines, as it did in the civil war."
The army's equipment is poor, and no match for the Israelis. Lebanon has no air force or navy.
One soldier said Hezbollah was better armed and organised, and that he was reluctant to confront "the resistance fighters"
This cease-fire isn't 24 hours old and we're already seeing what an absolute joke it was from the gitgo. Israel had to realize this. I'm guessing Olmert will be replaced in the not too distant future with someone who will show a little more resolve during the next round.
I think Bush/Condi were expecting just this situation....they have effectively focused the spotlight on the problem. Everyone is for supporting the ceasefire conditions except for the ones crying the loudest for it.
There can be little doubt that Israel's concerns are justified and that they can be given a free hand to do what needs to be done to extinguish this threat to their citizens.
He has plainly indicated his allegiance.
That's the global Muslim attitude.
Moderate Muslims are those that haven't yet set off explosives.
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