BEIRUT: Lebanon’s defense minister brushed off criticism over his decision to extend the term of a military officer, saying the move was legal and in the interest of the military.
“I am a defense minister, and I work and decide in the limits of the defense law and the prerogatives that it provides me,” Samir Moqbel said in an interview published in local daily An-Nahar Saturday.
He explained that the decision to delay the retirement of Maj. Gen. Mohammad Khair, the secretary-general of the Higher Defense Council, was legitimate and did not violate any laws.
Moqbel stressed that his decision was made in the interest of the military.
Free Patriotic Movement chief and MP Michel Aoun had attacked Moqbel Tuesday over the extension.
Aoun argued that Moqbel’s decision violated his prerogatives, and described the extension as “heresy.”
The defense minister said he accepts the criticism from Aoun, but stressed that the FPM chief’s comments were “inaccurate.”
He rejected the charge that his move was the first of a series of extension decrees that he would issue in the future for other security and military officials.
Moqbel had also recently submitted to the Cabinet a draft law that would raise the retirement age of senior Army and police officers.
Under the proposed draft law, the retirement age of the Army commander would be raised from 60 to 63, a major general from 59 to 62, a brigadier from 58 to 61, and a colonel from 56 to 59.
Among senior military and security officers who are Army Intelligence chief Brig. Gen. Edmond Fadel on March 20, gendarmerie chief Brig. Elias Saade on May 22, ISF chief Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous on June 5, and Army Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Walid Salman on Aug. 7.
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