On August 1, 1945, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) were placed under full authority of the Lebanese Government (https://tinyurl.com/bdeftb4t). Each year, this day is commemorated as the “Lebanese Army Day“.
Since Lebanon’s financial crash of August 17, 2019, the LAF’s soldiers have not been able to eat meat, as per an older post shown further below. Furthermore, to survive, LAF relies on financial as well as armoured vehicles donations from different countries, including France (https://t.ly/64NCb), the United States of America (https://tinyurl.com/5y2843ns), and most recently Qatar (https://tinyurl.com/42ctd3ty). For instance, in July 2024, the latter donated US$20 million to the army who distributed “equally” to its soldiers (https://tinyurl.com/42ctd3ty).
Most importantly, instead of being allowed to be deployed along the borders to protect them, like in respectable sovereign countries, it is the Hezbollah who has remained in charge of the Southern border with Israel without any respect for the UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (https://t.ly/_lRI2). How is this fair for Lebanon?
On this August 1, 2024, may God know how to protect the Lebanese Republic (or what is left of it). Instead of danger, may peace prevail not just in this tiny country, but also in the entire region including all its neighbouring and non- neighbouring countries. Yes, ALL the children and innocent civilians deserve to live in safety and peace wherever their geographical distance from any border to any side of any country in the world.
Indeed, no one deserves to live in fear, be killed, injured, stuck under the rubble, “live” in the coma until death, be kidnapped, raped, and/or to be abused in any way. Enough of suffering, wars, and vicious cycles of revenge mindsets. Time for reason, diplomacy, healing, tolerance, and why not love in this bloody Middle East?
This being said, to conclude this post, Bambi sends her best wishes to each Lebanese soldier, hoping for safer and brighter days for his or her country, even if the imminent future is worrisome.
—
