Lebanese army fights for equipment

來源：Al Jazeera English，半島電視台英文版

標題：Prominent Iraqis criticise oil law

日期：Wednesday, August 15, 2007

原文網址：

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/AD19F8CA-E314-4901-8DDE-450A31ED2255.htm

翻譯與評論：Rembrandtfu

Lebanese army fights for equipment

By Zeina Khodr

Lebanon's army has used artillery, bombs and ground troops in an attempt to overcome fighters from Fatah al-Islam, who are lodged inside a Palestinian refugee camp at Nahr al-Bared.

黎巴嫩的軍隊已經投入了大砲、炸彈以及地面部隊，試圖戰勝法塔赫(Fatah al-Islam)的戰士，這些法塔赫成員盤據在Nahr al-Bared的巴勒斯坦難民營中。

Helicopters have launched bombs to destroy Fatah al-Islam's underground bunkers and Lebanese army soldiers have advanced into the camp to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the opposition fighters.

黎巴嫩已經使用直升機投射炸彈去摧毀法塔赫的數個地下碉堡，而黎巴嫩士兵也進軍到難民營中與敵方短兵相接。

But as the conflict enters its fourth month, the army has still not been able to wipe out the group.

但隨著戰事進入第四了月，黎巴嫩軍隊還是不能夠徹底地掃蕩對手。

Some experts say the army troops are inexperienced and have never fought this type of urban guerrilla warfare before.

某些專家指出，黎巴嫩的軍隊缺乏經驗並且不曾從事過這樣的城市游擊戰。

Fatah al-Islam's fighters are well-prepared. They are ready to die rather than surrender.

法塔嚇的戰士則準備充分。他們準備好從容赴死而非繳械投降。

The army estimates that around 70 fighters remain inside the camp in northern Lebanon.

黎巴嫩軍方估計大約還有七十名戰士殘存在這黎巴嫩北方的難民營中。

Army under-resourced

The lack of sophisticated weaponry is a major reason for the army's failure to take the camp, General Michel Suleiman, commander of the Lebanese army, has said.

黎巴嫩軍隊的指揮官Michel Suleiman將軍表示，缺乏精密的武裝是遲遲無法攻佔該難民營的主要原因。

Some former generals agree with Suleiman.

許多過去的將軍也都贊同Suleiman的看法。

"The army doesn't have an air force ... and even its helicopters are not armed," Nizar Abdel Qadder, a retired general, told Al Jazeera.

一名退役的將軍Nizar Abdel Qadder向半島電視台表示，「黎巴嫩的軍隊沒有空軍……而且直升機也沒有火力配備」

"What the army has to do is fit bombs on the ageing transport helicopters, which are not fit to be equipped with weapons in the first place."

「軍隊要做的事就是安裝炸彈到這些不斷老化的運輸直升機上，而它們打從一開始就不適合裝備武器。」

"We need weapons, conventional and advanced ammunition,'' he said in reference to Washington's package of military aid.

在談及華盛頓方面的軍事支援時，他說：「我們需要武器還有傳統的與先進的彈藥。」

When the battles broke out, the US sent helmets, body armour, night-vision goggles and ammunition for weapons the army already possessed.

戰事爆發時，美軍送來頭盔、防彈衣、夜視鏡以及黎巴嫩軍方手中武器所需的彈藥。

Suleiman thanked the US for its assistance but he hoped the support package would have included modern weapons and advanced ammunition.

Suleiman感謝美軍的協助，但他也希望支援的包裹中可以有現代化的武器與先進的彈藥。

Sale conditions

Shamel Mouzaya, a member of Lebanon's parliamentary defence committee, told Al Jazeera "superpowers have placed conditions [on us in order] to sell and provide sophisticated and heavy weapons, like ending the state of war with Israel".

一名議會的國防委員會成員Shamel Mouzaya告訴半島電視台：「強權國家有條件地出售與提供我們精密且有力的武裝，就像是結束以色列戰爭狀態那時一般。」

Analysts say the US is concerned that its advanced weaponry could end up in the hands of non-state groups opposed to Israel.

分析人員指出，美軍關切的是他們提供的先進軍備可能最終會落入反以色列的無國家組織手中。

The US has responded to Suleiman's statements by saying they are meeting all the demands of the Lebanese army.

美軍同時也對Suleiman的發言做出回應，表示他們正在滿足黎巴嫩軍隊的所有要求。

The Lebanese government, which is backed by the US administration in its power struggle with the Hezbollah-led opposition, agrees with Washington's line.

黎巴嫩政府贊同華盛頓當局的立場，黎巴嫩政府在與Hezbollah這個反對勢力抗衡的過程中受到美方的支持。

"The US provided money and equipment ... maybe the army wants more but whatever they requested, they got," Ahmed Fatfat, minister of youth and sports, told Al Jazeera.

青年與運動部部長Ahmed Fatfat向半島電視台表示：「美軍提供前與設備……或許黎巴嫩軍隊想要更多，但無論他們要求什麼，他們都得到了，」

"And I don't think sophisticated weaponry will be of use in such a battle which really involves street fighting."

「而我不認為精密武器能在這樣的巷戰中起得了作用。」

Suleiman's comments have been criticised by some as a political statement, especially since he is now considered a presidential candidate if no agreement is reached on a successor to Emile Lahoud, Lebanon's outgoing president.

Suleiman的評論被部分人士批評為出於政治理由，特別是他目前公認有可能成為一名總統候選人，如果即將離職的總統Emile Lahoud後繼無人的話。

Political issues

"Politicians shouldn't talk about military matters and military men shouldn't talk about political issues," Fatfat said.

Fatfat表示：「政治人物不應該對軍事發表意見而軍人也不應該涉足政治議題。」

The fighting at Nahr al-Bared has made the military the symbol of Lebanese unity, and its commander has been praised for keeping the army out of the political wrangling between the government and the opposition.

在Nahr al-Bared的戰鬥使得軍方成為黎巴嫩團結的象徵，而指揮官也應讓軍隊遠離政府與反對勢力的政治紛擾而受到稱讚。

Yet there remains concern that the army could be dragged into the crisis.

然而軍隊還是有被拖入政治糾紛的危機。

The real test is whether the military will be able to stay united and neutral - unlike the days of the 1975-1990 civil war when it split along sectarian lines.

真正的考驗是軍方是否能保持團結與中立，而不像1975至1990年間的內戰時，因為派系而分裂。

Source: Al Jazeera