Army Out in Force to Preserve Stability During Parliamentary Sessions
The Lebanese army was out in force in and around Beirut on Tuesday ahead of a three-day parliamentary session aimed at discussing the cabinet’s policy statement.
As Safir daily said that the “series of preventive security and military measures” were taken when the Special Tribunal for Lebanon issued the indictment in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s murder case on Thursday.
Some of the measures were intensified on the eve of the sessions that are expected to witness a heated debate between March 8 and March 14 MPs.
The army took the measures mainly in Beirut’s “sensitive areas” over fears that the political dispute would spill over to the streets, As Safir said.
The newspaper quoted a well-informed military source as saying that the army would monitor any move that would hit at stability and civil peace.
While STL is very important, questions should also be raised regarding a timeline for border demarcation with Syria, Palestinian arms, Basij arms, clear measures to insure freedom at all levels, reduce bureaucracy and streamline and automate government processes, and blueprint of policies to implement transparent democracy (end political appointment to run key agencies and buffer economy from political interference). How about a fair deal to reactivate oil pipelines that goes through Syria?