Daily Star Interview with Army Commander Jean Qahwaji

The Daily Star has released the full text of its interview with Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Jean Qahwaji.  The release came in response to an article published by the newspaper which had apparently led "to some erroneous interpretations".

Earlier today MP Marwan Hamadeh, a stalwart of the pro-sovereignty March 14 movement had this to say regarding the Army Commander:

"The new majority's inability to form a government led it to create the joke of requesting the army commander, who should distance himself from political divisions, to name candidates for ministerial positions in the government."

"We hope that General Jean Qahwaji would not embroil himself in a political maneuver aimed at targeting him and the military institution, which is a source of stability for the country,"

Below is a [slightly] abridged copy of the Daily Star interview:

Q: The formula of the “army, resistance, people” is widespread. What is it based on? To what extent are you convinced by this formula and to what extent do you abide by it?

A: The formula of “the army, the people and the resistance” ... was clearly mentioned in the ministerial statement of the national unity Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Saad Hariri which is still currently a caretaker Cabinet awaiting the formation of the new Cabinet.

This formula is primarily resulting from Lebanon’s high need ... to confront the Israeli enemy, especially since this enemy constitutes a permanent threat against Lebanon ... This fact necessitates the existence of a deterrent force which is able to compensate for the disproportionate balance of military powers.

The Lebanese Army abides by this formula since it is part of the decisions and guidance of the political authority represented by the Cabinet and it is totally convinced by this formula since experience has proved its primary role in liberating the greater part of south Lebanon and western Bekaa from Israeli enemy occupation in addition to its role in defeating this enemy in the war of July 2006...

Q: Many reports mention a pivotal role played by Hezbollah inside the army. What is the validity of these foreign reports? What is the type of coordination between the army and the resistance and what is the extent of this cooperation?

A: These reports are erroneous ... since the Army is a unified national institution based on distancing itself from politics, sectarianism and factional issues and does not allow any side to intervene in its internal affairs. Furthermore, the Military institution immediately takes disciplinary measures when any soldier  ... takes advantage of his post to make political relations with any side.

As for the coordination between the Army and the resistance I can say that it is ongoing and its extent is tied to Israeli enemy threats and military developments on the southern border.

Q: The Army receives aid from many sides and countries, especially from the United States. What if this aid were suspended? Is it linked to conditions? Is it sufficient? What are the equipment and expertise that the Army needs?

A: The Army has ties of military cooperation with many friendly and Arab Armies ... The main fields of cooperation are currently based on training, military logistics and the exchange of expertise in addition to receiving quantities of equipment, weapons, vehicles and spare parts. We have repeatedly emphasized that the Army will not accept any aid in case it is coupled with certain conditions which will likely affect the institution’s performance and national inclusive role.

Concerning the types of equipment and weapons needed ... we can say that the Army is in need of equipment and weapons used to maintain security in addition to effective defensive weapons such as airplanes, helicopters, boats, anti-aircraft missiles, armored vehicles and surface-to-surface missiles as well as heavy-duty vehicles.

Q: Some countries have expressed their immediate desire to arm the military institution but it is evident that the Lebanese Army is hesitant with regard to accepting this aid. What is the reason? Do you think that any side is trying to hamper the objective of turning the Lebanese Army into a military strike force?

A: There are many efforts but most of them require huge funding which is currently unavailable to the Lebanese Army due to the difficult economic situation in the country. As for the offers proposed by a number of countries to effectively equip the Lebanese Army with weapons through donations we can say that until this day these offers have yet to be put into actions ... in this context we find it worthy to mention that the Israeli enemy has repeatedly exerted tremendous efforts so that cutting-edge weapons do not reach the Lebanese Army in order to prevent it from establishing a balance of deterrence.

Q: Who is threatening the Lebanese Army more than the other? Is it Israel or radical movements? What is the Army’s plan to confront these threats?

A: This generalization cannot be applied to radical movements since many of them have legitimate principles and doctrines and they endeavor to achieve their objectives by democratic and peaceful means and do not adopt the culture of violence and terrorism.

The Lebanese Army considers the Israeli enemy and terrorism as equal in terms of the threat that they constitute due to the clear contradiction between their characteristics and the nature and make-up of Lebanese society. ... Israel always had historic designs on our land and is still occupying parts of Lebanese territories in the farms of Shebaa, the hills of Kfar Shouba and Ghajar village and refuses the return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland in addition to the daily breaches and violations of Lebanese sovereignty. The second enemy namely terrorism, has constantly endeavored to deal a blow to Lebanese national unity, coexistence as well as our social, economic and security stability.
...

Q: What are the lessons which General Jean Kahwagi drew from the experiences of former Armed Forces Commanders especially General Emile Lahoud and General Michel Sleiman?

A: Every Armed Forces Commander has his own leadership experiences and expertise which distinguish him from any other Commander, despite the fact that they share many common characteristics.

Leadership is an ongoing performance and each commander relies on the achievements of his predecessor and strives to develop these achievements and make his own new achievements to further promote the military institution. If we compare the current situation of the military institution with its situation in 1990 we can clearly notice that a huge development was achieved on all the levels and this is attributed to the tremendous efforts exerted by His Excellency and the former President of the Republic, General Emile Lahoud, and His Excellency the President of the Lebanese Republic, General Michel Sleiman, who have consolidated the Army’s unity and built it on inclusive national foundations. Furthermore, both Presidents have always strived to equip the army with weapons, increase its personnel and create new regiments, and build additional facilities in addition to stressing professional training on all the levels and for that I am deeply thankful.