LebaneseForces.com: Fighting for Freedom

Authentic MA-1 Flight Jacket

I was just browsing Amazon.com when I noticed they have started carrying Alpha Industries apparel. Alpha Industries is the premier supplier of jackets for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army, and Marine Corps. The jacket which is pictured on the left is the MA-1 Flight Jacket in the Sage color and is one of the most popular jackets they sell. There are many copies of this jacket but only Alpha Industries make the authentic one. It costs $79.99 on Amazon which is the cheapest price I could find anywhere.

The Alpha MA-1, which is sold to the commercial market (the one on Amazon for example), has several deviations from the government specifications. These changes have no effect on the appearance, and make the jackets more useful for consumers on an everyday basis. The deviations include:

Water repellent treated fabric - this makes the garment more resistant to water and wind

Knit collar, cuffs and waist band are an acrylic blend rather than 100% wool. It has been found that wool does not wear as well as acrylic and is subject to insect damage.

The interlining is cut staple, non-quilted polyester batting rather than a quilted, continuous staple polyester batting; and has no performance impact on the finished garment.

Basically this is the same jacket as the military one except for the minor differences. If you are interested in getting this jacket, in Lebanon Kamikaze is the authorized dealer. The shop is located in Centre Autostrade Dora. For those of you living outside Lebanon you can order one directly from Amazon.com by clicking here.

Posted by 40-Tactical on Tuesday, September 30, 2003 | Permalink

Audio Archive Back

The Audio Archive is back online now. Some of the links might be broken for example the speeches and the anthems but 99% of the songs are working. Will have everything working by the end of the day.

Posted by 40-Tactical on Monday, September 29, 2003 | Permalink

MSN 6.0 Display Pictures

A new page has been created under the LF Media section called MSN 6.0 Pictures and features LF related MSN display pictures. Your MSN display picture is a picture that represents you. When you're sending messages to a friend, your display picture appears in the conversation window on your friend's computer. Now you can replace the default display pictures with Lebanese Forces related ones.
click here to see the MSN Display Pictures

Posted by 40-Tactical on Saturday, September 27, 2003 | Permalink

Sfeir Wants Syrian Withdrawal Timetable, Amnesty for Geagea

Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir has demanded that a timetable be set for Syria's military withdrawal from Lebanon, charging that Syrian army meddling in Lebanese domestic affairs was contributing to the country's political and economic woes. The Maronite cardinal spoke in Paris after a meeting with French President Jacques Chirac at the Elysee, where he was afforded a red-carpet welcome. The patriarch and Chirac met for 45 minutes in private, then had an hour-long lunch at the Elysee.

Asked if he had discussed with the French president the Syrian military presence in Lebanon, he said they addressed all issues that concerned Lebanon, and was reassured by Chirac's unwavering support.

He said a "timetable" for a Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon was needed, but added: "This would have to be set in Beirut, not here." Sfeir said the Syrian military presence in itself "is not the problem. The real problem is the Syrian army meddling in internal affairs." He cited the American military bases in Germany as one example of a foreign military presence that remains out of local politics.

As for Lebanese Forces commander Samir Geagea, Sfeir said this issue was another thorn in the side of national reconciliation in Lebanon. "Reconciliation has to involve everyone… It is not acceptable that someone is thrown in jail, when others occupy senior posts in the government," he said. Sfeir refused to disclose his views on the upcoming presidential elections, saying it was "premature" to discuss the issue.

Posted by 40-Tactical on Saturday, September 27, 2003 | Permalink

Les FL France : réception du Patriarche Sfeir

Les Forces Libanaises-France participeront à la Messe qui sera célébrée par le Patriarche Sfeir à Ste Thérèse de Lisieux le Dimanche 28 septembre 2003 à 10h30.

Dans le but de bien accueillir le Patriarche, les FL vous invitent à rejoindre sa délégation, sur place, à 10h00.

Ainsi nous vous invitons à diffuser ce message auprès de votre entourrage et de tous nos compagnons, et en retour, nous faire part du nombre des participants, le plus tôt possible par email à institut.du.liban@online.fr

Posted by Zahi on Thursday, September 25, 2003 | Permalink

4 more SLA men return with families

Four former Israeli-allied militiamen and their families returned to Lebanon Wednesday, more than three years after fleeing to Israel following the Jewish state’s withdrawal from Southern Lebanon, security officials said. Relatives greeted the 12 returnees after they alighted from a United Nations bus that brought them across the border to the coastal town of Naqoura. Lebanese military officials detained the four former South Lebanon Army members for interrogation on charges of collaboration with Israel, the officials said on condition of anonymity. Their relatives were allowed to return to their home villages in south Lebanon. Of the estimated 7,000 Lebanese who fled to Israel after the withdrawal, more than 4,000 have returned to Lebanon. Some 2,500 Lebanese remain in Israel, while about 500 left for European and African countries.

Taken from the DailyStar

Posted by 40-Tactical on Thursday, September 25, 2003 | Permalink

I am back

I just got back home from my 10 day vacation so expect to see more daily site updates and new additions. Things will be back to normal now.

Posted by 40-Tactical on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 | Permalink

St. Ilige LF Martyrs Mass, September 21, 2003

It was an enormous event, the guys were up all night organizing, cleaning and preparing the place for this great mass. Hundreds of buses from all regions of Lebanon went early in the morning to Mayfouk. Army check points stopped every bus and tore all the pictures of Bashir and Hakim and then took away LF flags. Still, most of the people managed to get there on time.

The Place was crowded, the mass started at 11am then the priest gave a speech reminding us that our cause is not attached to individuals, that we must not use our Martyrs for political purposes, and that we should pray everyday for our martyrs and not once a year. After the speech our comrad in the Lebanese Forces, Simon Msallim, (min el Jabal) gave a speech in the name of the LF and was heavily applauded by the thousands of individuals present up there.

This mass was the last mass in the trinity of masses that happened in Lebanon this month. It was a great ending to a very busy month filled with LF masses world wide. Thank you to everyone who participated in the events and espcially to all the LF comrads who helped organized these great events.

click here for the pictures of the Mayfouk mass
click here for short videos of the Mayfouk mass L-F.org

Text by Al_3agib
Event pictures by RAA
Army checkpoint pics by Ejram

Posted by 40-Tactical on Saturday, September 20, 2003 | Permalink

Les Forces Libanaises en France : une grande messe de commémoration de Béchir Gemayel et de tous les martyrs des Forces Libanaises

A l'occasion du 21ème anniversaire du martyr Président Béchir Gemayel, et à l'occasion du jour des martyrs des Forces Libanaises, une messe solennelle a eu lieu le dimanche 14 septembre 2003 à 11 heures en l’église Notre Dame du Liban, à Paris.

Des centaines de militants ont participé à cette messe ainsi que les représentants des différents partis et courants politiques de l'opposition. Les prières se sont élevées pour le repos des âmes des martyrs ainsi que pour la libération de tous les actuels prisonniers politiques, notamment celle du Docteur Samir Geagea.

A la sortie de la messe, les Forces Libanaises ont distribué une rose avec une carte portant la phrase suivante : leur martyr est un témoignage pour nous, notre témoignage est une autre vie pour eux.

Ensuite, un grand meeting politique a eu lieu à l'Ecole des Mines de Paris. Mr Elie Baraghid, membre du Conseil Politique des Forces Libanaises et responsable des FL en France, a prononcé un discours demandant de ne pas se contenter de prier pour les martyrs, mais de
continuer la lutte pour que leur mort ne soit pas vaine. Il a insisté sur le fait que les Forces Libanaises ne font qu’un, unies autour du même projet politique, défendu par Béchir Gemayel et toujours incarné aujourd'hui par le Docteur Samir Geagea. Il a également rappelé que les Forces Libanaises n'accepteront jamais d'oublier les sacrifices de leurs martyrs.

Les Forces Libanaises
Paris - France

Posted by Zahi on Friday, September 19, 2003 | Permalink

Nadim Gemayel Speech Video

BachirGemayel.org has posted a video of the speech made by Nadim Gemayel on September 13th, 2003 at the Bachir Gemayel Mass.
click here to view the video

Posted by 40-Tactical on Tuesday, September 16, 2003 | Permalink

Bashir Gemayel's Heir Makes a Thunderous Entry into Politics

On the anniversary of his father's assassination, Nadim Gemayel has unveiled clear resolve to keep the legacy of the late President-elect Bashir Gemayel alive, and appears to have attracted quite a following and a fair share of controversy in the process.
At the annual commemoration of Gemayel's assassination on Sept. 14, 1982, the young heir thanked his mother, Solange, for leading the followers of his father and keeping the family together all these years until he became 21 and, as such, eligible to thrust himself into politics.

"Lebanon is for all its citizens, and enough of capitalizing on sectarian differences to sow discord," he told the congregation that gathered Saturday at the Miracle Icon Church in Ashrafieh to pay tribute to his father – an annual ceremony held a day in advance to avoid a clash with Baada-Aley by-elections.

But then, he himself seemed to make the religious distinction in an improvised speech he delivered in local Lebanese accent, the same as his father did: "A strong Christian wants a strong Muslim partner," he said.

Nadim Gemayel called for a brisk voter turnout for the Baabda-Aley polls, and urged support for Hikmat Deeb, the Aoun candidate, an issue that has underscored Nadim's scramble for allies that has at the same time split his family.

With his mother and sister, Youmna, at his side, the young man - a replica of the father in looks and mannerism - was greeted with wide applause and a jungle of flags and portraits reflecting who his allies might be: Samir Geagea's disbanded Lebanese Forces, Gen. Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement, the National Liberal Party and some segments of the fragmented Phalange Party, which he could not exactly rely on.

His two cousins, sons of former President Amin Gemayel, Pierre and Sami, left the ceremony before his speech to avoid an embarrassment. Pierre Gemayel is now Metn MP and backing Deeb's rival in the Baabda-Aley polls, Henry Helou.

This past month has seen quite a few public mudslinging matches between the two cousins, reminiscent to the endless bickering that marked Bashir Gemayel's relations with, Amin, who became president after the assassination of his younger brother.

Amin Gemayel, however, remained at Saturday's service with his wife Joyce, maintaining a low profile to avoid more dirty laundry hanging in public.
Source:Naharnet

Posted by digitalDNA on Sunday, September 14, 2003 | Permalink

LF Martyrs Masses Schedules around the world

"An Nanssa Lan Nanssa.." This quote is the essence of our cause and our struggle as Lebanese Forces. Our martyrs died for us to live freely and for us to praise them and live to their memory. The Greatest of sins is to forget them.

Bachir Gemayel Mass, Achrafieh, Lebanon
Saturday 13th of September, 4pm in Achrafieh, Beirut

LF Martyrs Mass, Mayfou2, Lebanon
This Year Rabtit Ilige, is organizing a mass in the memory of the martyrs of the Lebanese Christian resistance on the 21st September, 2003 at 11:00am, in Mayfou2, Al Kattara.
click here to view the invitation card

LF Martyrs Mass, Washington D.C, USA
The LF Chapter in Washington D.C is commemorating the death of President Bachir Gemayel and his rifa2 who gave their lives for a free,independent and democratic Lebanon this Saturday September 13, 2003 at 7:30pm at Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Washington, DC.

LF Martyrs Mass, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
The LF chapter in Cleveland, Ohio is commemorating the death of President Bachir Gemayel and all LF martyrs this coming Sunday September 14, 2003 at 9:30am at St Maron's Church.

LF Martyrs Mass, Akron, Ohio, USA
In Memory of the Late President Bachir Gemayel And The Lebanese Christian Resistance Martyrs, The Lebanese Forces Party Cordially invite you to attend a memorial Mass at Our lady Of The Cedars Sunday September 28 at 11:00am

LF Martyrs Mass, Los Angeles, California, USA
Sunday Spetember 14, 2003 in Los Angeles at Our Lady of Mount Lebanon (Maronite) Church at 11:00 AM.

LF Martyrs Mass, Chicago, Illinois, USA
In Memory of the Late President Bachir Gemayel And The Lebanese Christian Resistance Martyrs, The Lebanese Forces Party, The Lebanese Kataeb Party, The American Lebanese Alliance, The Assyrian Lebanese league Cordially invite you to attend a memorial Mass at Our Lady Of Lebanon Catholic Church Chicago Mary Queen of Heaven Church 426 N. West Street Elmhurst, IL 60126 September 14, 2003 at 12:00 Noon.

LF Martyrs Mass, Paris, France
Les Forces Libanaises en France ont l'honneur de vous inviter à participer à la messe commémorative célébrée à l'église Notre Dame du Liban par Mgr Saïd Elias SAID, Vicaire Patriarcal Maronite en France, le dimanche 14 septembre 2003 à 11:00am au 17 rue d’Ulm, Paris 5ème. La cérémonie sera suivie par la projection d'un film en hommage à leur mémoire.

LF Martyrs Mass, Belgium
A l'occasion du 21ème anniversaire de l'assasinat du Président Bachir Gemayel et en la mémoire toujours vivante de tous les martyrs, les Forces Libanaises en Belgique ont l'honneur de vous inviterà assister à la messe commémorative qui aura lieu Le dimanche 14 septembre 2003 à 11:30am précises à l'Eglise Notre Dame du Liban chaussée de Boondael, 222 à 1050 Bruxelles (Ixelles) If you need further information, please email: LF_Belgique@hotmail.com
Invitation card LF Martyrs Mass, Belgium

LF Martyrs Mass, Toronto, Canada
The LF Chapter in Toronto, The Lebanese Phalange (el Ightirab) and the FPM are commemorating the death of our eternal President el Shahid Bachir Gemayel this Sunday September 14, 2003 at 3:30pm at Jesus the king Catholic Church at One Lyndhurst Dr. Thornhill (intersection John & Leslie)

LF Martyrs Mass, Ottawa, Canada
The Lebanese Forces Martyrs Mass will be held on Sunday the 14 th of September 2003 at Mar Charbel's Church, 11.00AM, 245 Donald Street (Ottawa, Ontario)

LF Martyrs Mass, Montreal, Canada
Sunday September 14, 2003 at 11:30am at Mar Antonios. Montreal 1500 Docharme, Outremont.

LF Martyrs Mass, Sydney, Australia
The LF Martyrs Mass will be held on Sunday the 7th of September - 11:00am at St Josephs Church, Croydon Park.

Posted by 40-Tactical on Tuesday, September 09, 2003 | Permalink

Invitation à la messe des martyrs à Paris

Il n’est pas de plus grand amour que de donner sa vie pour ses amis". ( Jn 15,13)

A l'occasion du vingt-unième anniversaire du martyre du Président Béchir GEMAYEL et en la mémoire toujours vivante des sacrifices de la Résistance Chrétienne,

Les Forces Libanaises en France ont l'honneur de vous inviter à participer à la messe commémorative célébrée à l'église Notre Dame du Liban par Mgr Saïd Elias SAID, Vicaire Patriarcal Maronite en France, le dimanche 14 septembre 2003 à 11h au 17 rue d’Ulm, Paris 5ème.

Les Forces Libanaises
Paris, France

Posted by Zahi on Monday, September 08, 2003 | Permalink

Speech by Setrida Geagea

Here are some quotes from Sit Setrida's speech:

"Let Geagea out of prison... in order for Lebanon to be the country of justice, freedom and equality. Let him out of prison for a true national reconciliation"

"We are making a call for turning the page on all conflicts and for Geagea to be released from prison as an indicator that the black clouds have cleared out of the nations sky for ever"

"Until we meet again, with Geagea, on a day that cannot be too far"

Posted by 40-Tactical on Monday, September 08, 2003 | Permalink

Special Thanks

Special thanks to the "Men In Black" (American Universities Students) who spent more than 6 straight hours in the burning sun trying to keep the order. Better then Ibiza ;)

Also another special thanks to the Masla7a bi kell daweyera. I would also like to thank Daniel Spiro for giving LebaneseForces.com access and facilitating our job there. Finally thanks to RAA for once again getting us some great pictures. Thank you all.

Posted by 40-Tactical on Sunday, September 07, 2003 | Permalink

People at the mass

There are many different numbers on the amount of people that attended the mass. NTV just said that over 25,000 people attended the mass while our sources said between 35,000 to 45,000. In both cases if it was 25,000 or 45,000, the mass today was special and the organizing of the event was incredible. Thank you everyone.

Posted by 40-Tactical on Sunday, September 07, 2003 | Permalink

Light a candle

You can now light a candle for Bachir Gemayel online. We will never forget you. Please visit BachirGemayel.org and light a candle there.

Posted by 40-Tactical on Sunday, September 07, 2003 | Permalink

Sfeir to preside over service in memory of Bashir Gemayel

Assassinated President-Elect Bashir Gemayel’s son, Nadim Gemayel, on Thursday conveyed to Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Nasrallah Butros Sfeir the Gemayel family’s wish that the prelate hold a service to commemorate the assassination of the late leader. Following a meeting with the patriarch, Gemayel said he requested that Sfeir preside over the service, which will mark the 21st year since his father’s death. Nadim added that since the government was unable to remember its martyrs and had designated Sept. 14 as a date for the Baabda-Aley by-elections, which coincides with the date of Bashir’s assassination, the Gemayel family have decided to hold the service on Sept.13 at 4pm instead. Thus, the Gemayel family can exert all efforts on Sunday during the electoral battle.

Posted by 40-Tactical on Friday, September 05, 2003 | Permalink

Bashir Gemayel Mass

This year the mass for Bashir Gemayel will be held on September 13th and not September 14th as was previously decided. The Bashir Gemayel mass is part of the Trinity of Masses happening this month.

The Trinity
LF Martyrs Mass - Harrisa: September 7th
Bashir Gemayel Mass: September 13th
LF Martyrs Mass - Mayfou2: September 21st

Posted by 40-Tactical on Thursday, September 04, 2003 | Permalink

22 New Lebanese Forces Videos

Just added 22 new videos to the Video Archive. The new videos are a lot better quality then the older ones so I went ahead and replaced some of the old videos with newer better versions.
click here to go to the Video Archive section

update: will have the videos up in formats other then quicktime by the end of the week

Posted by 40-Tactical on Wednesday, September 03, 2003 | Permalink

Nadim Gemayel's Stand

There has been a lot of controversy and misconception about Nadim Gemayel's political stand in the upcoming elections. With his recent support for the Free Patriotic Movement, many people questioned his stand with the Lebanese Forces. This is why we asked Nadim Gemayel if he was distancing himself from the Lebanese Forces and if he had joined the FPM. This was his reply:

---------

I am not with the FPM and I am not against the Lebanese Forces.
In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

I took this position in the elections because I believe that we should all be the opposition. We cannot be with the authority and we cannot be with Henry Helou. If General Aoun and the FPM are today with us in the opposition, I don't have any problem and what I said in my speech last Sunday is very clear; “The true opposition represented here today is the FPM, the Lebanese Forces, and the Kataeb." The opposition should be one.

Please don't understand me wrong.
I did not follow Aoun, but I decided to support the opposition, and I hope that after September 7th, Sethrida will do the same. I didn't leave the Lebanese Forces, but the Lebanese Forces did not take any position in the election and I couldn’t stay neutral.

Finally, I am not being overly friendly with the FPM, but when we have the same position and the same interests, we don't have to be ashamed to be together.

I hope that you get my point of view and that you didn't misunderstand me.

Nadim Gemayel

Posted by 40-Tactical on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 | Permalink

Messe à la mémoire des martyrs des FL

Les députés Farès Souhaid et Mansour el-Bone ont invité hier les habitants de Kesrouan-Ftouh et de Jbeil à participer massivement à la messe qui sera célébrée le 7 septembre à la basilique Notre-Dame de Harissa, à la mémoire des martyrs des Forces libanaises.

Posted by digitalDNA on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 | Permalink