Tomorrow is Army Day in Lebanon. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) will parade, and the Lebanese people reflect on the role the military have played in maintaining stability over the past year, and the sacrifices they have made. I’ll join other Ambassadors in admiring the march past as Lebanese political leaders salute the LAF colours, while hoping that the August temperatures don’t take their toll on participants or spectators. As ever, we’ll be curious as to whether the special forces perform a favourite routine of biting the heads off snakes …
Amid anxiety about Lebanon’s capacity to weather the regional storm, I take great encouragement from the reports I see of the performance of Lebanese officers who train in the UK. They consistently outscore those from other countries – for example, one Lebanese naval officer is the only foreigner to have come top of the year at the Royal Naval College. These are exceptionally talented individuals, committed to safeguarding their country’s security, and we’re proud to help them gain the skills they need to do so.
People often speak of the LAF as the first line of defence for Lebanon. At times, with politics paralysed, they are in fact the only line of defence. As other parts of the state struggle, the army continues to command justifiably high level of Lebanese public confidence. I have often said that the international community must do more to give them the support to match their courage. Those nations contributing to UNIFIL certainly do so, as do those providing training and equipment.
Over the last two years, practical UK support to Lebanese stability has increased tenfold. We have recently announced an additional 15m USD for the LAF, agreed at a National Security Council meeting chaired in May by PM David Cameron. We will provide kit and training that the LAF have specifically requested to help stabilise the border with Syria – observation towers, Land Rovers, body armour, communications, improved infrastructure. It will make a difference.
When I talk on Twitter or in the media about support for the Lebanese Army, the response is overwhelmingly positive. But the main criticisms I get back, from different directions, are:
- ‘aren’t you prioritising stability over reform?’ This is always a tricky balance. Reform won’t happen without stability. Long term stability is impossible without reform. We work to support both.
- ‘does the West only give the LAF enough equipment to put out fires, but never enough to truly defend Lebanon from its difficult neighbours?’ A fair question. Our aspiration is that the LAF is built up to the point that it can properly defend Lebanon from any external and internal threats. But let’s be realistic – this won’t happen overnight.
- ‘what if the army colludes with Lebanese political groups, including Hizballah?’. We regularly receive (as I did again this week) reassurances from the LAF that they will act in an even handed way against threats to Lebanese stability, from wherever they come. We also recognise the extremely delicate political environment in which the LAF operate. The army draws membership and support from all Lebanese communities – that’s its core strength.
- ‘aren’t the biggest threats to the army coming from those the West are supporting?’ This is offensive nonsense, peddled by some Assad regime apologists. Of course the UK is not supporting, let alone arming, the groups undermining Lebanese stability. There are extremists among the Syrian opposition, just as there are among the Syrian regime – they don’t get UK support.
- ‘how can you support the LAF, and accept SCAF action in Egypt, while criticising the Syrian Army?’. This was a big theme in Twitter exchanges after the recent Saida operation. Yet for us, Abra demonstrated the gulf in the way that the LAF and Syrian Army operate, with a huge LAF effort to avoid civilian casualties, even at great cost to themselves. The contrast with Syria could not be greater.
- ‘why not more criticism of increased Israeli overflights’. I have often highlighted breaches of UNSCR 1701. Records show that overflights have indeed increased. We consistently lodge our criticisms with the UNSC.
Those answers won’t satisfy all the critics, I know. But we, the LAF and Lebanon don’t have the luxury of aiming for perfection. It is in Lebanon’s interests, and ours, that the LAF win the battle to keep Lebanon out of the war in Syria, and defend Lebanon’s sovereignty, freedoms and prosperity. We are proud to be backing them to do so.