Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Adventurer]

Gulf Arab cash to bolster Lebanese army

By Roula Khalaf, Middle East Editor

Published: October 8 2006 22:15 | Last updated: October 8 2006 22:15

With US blessing, Gulf Arab states are promising financial help for Lebanon�s armed forces in the aftermath of the war between Israel and Hizbollah.

Strengthening the 50,000-strong but poorly equipped Lebanese army is crucial to efforts to stabilise the country and eventually convince Hizbollah to disarm.

The Shia group argues its military wing is needed to defend Lebanon in the absence of a strong army and that it would only discuss disarmament as part of a broader defence strategy for the country.

According to Gulf officials, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have promised to finance the army�s needs. Officials in Beirut say the shopping list includes helicopters, tanks and missiles, all designed for defensive purposes.

Lebanon has yet to cost its needs but some politicians say urgent requirements could amount to $800m (�615m, �425m).

As part of the ceasefire agreement that ended the war, the Lebanese army has deployed in southern Lebanon and in border areas, along with UN peacekeepers. But the military reached an understanding with Hizbollah that the group would conceal its weapons in the buffer zone.

No one expects the army to turn against Hizbollah and disarm it by force. Officials say a confrontation could well split the armed forces, composed of Sunni and Shia Muslims and Christians, and provoke a civil war. But strengthening the army�s decades-old equipment would bolster the government�s hand.

Nawaf Obaid, a Saudi security analyst and government adviser, said Saudi Arabia would probably be willing to spend several hundred millions of dollars in military aid to Lebanon, above the $1.7bn it has pledged for reconstruction.

A Gulf official said the UAE was committed to providing equipment but it would either be purchased by Abu Dhabi itself and transferred to Lebanon or the UAE would upgrade existing Lebanese equipment.

The US had until recently discouraged efforts to strengthen the army, which was under the control of Syria. Last year, however, Syrian troops were forced to leave Lebanon after the killing of Rafiq Hariri, the former premier.

�No one would sell us equipment in the past but over the past year there were some discussions with the US and Arab states about funding,� says a Lebanese politician close to the government. �The US wasn�t quite convinced that the army had been freed of Syrian infiltration. But now it seems the US does see the need for the army to be rehabilitated to enforce the UN ceasefire resolution.�

Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, said last week she had discussed with Saudi officials the need to support the �rearming and reform� of Lebanon�s armed forces. The US has earmarked $42m for military assistance, out of a $240m aid package, compared with its usual yearly contributions of $1.9m.

Additional reporting by Ferry Biedermann in Beirut

[Zoobot]

cool, now the US is doing the "make money off both sides of the war" thing they did before they joined the war in WWII. Damn war is good business.

"aid package" basically means "we own your asses."

[Summer Wine]

[Adventurer]

[bucheon bum]

the only thing is shiites dominate the army, so it is sympathetic to hizballah.

[Summer Wine]

[cwemory]

[Adventurer]

[bucheon bum]

a) you're only required to serve 6 months.
b) the shia are 40% of the armed forces. That's a bigger % than what they have in the general population.

wikipedia

Plus:

[Adventurer]

[Junior]

Can't they donate the cash to those poor starving palestinians instead?