The Lebanese Army never played a role in defending Lebanon from successive Israeli invasions. Before the 1975 war, the mission of the army was to 1) prevent Muslims and Christians from killing one another; 2) oppress Palestinians and leftists in Lebanon. The mission of the Lebanese Army has changed somewhat. It sill does not play any role in defending Lebanon from successive Israeli invasions. It now is used to prevent Shi`ites and Sunnis from killing one another, and to prevent rival Christian groups from killing one another. What a country. The late Pope ostensibly had said that Lebanon is more than a homeland; it is a message. I say Lebanon is not a homeland; it is a joke--an unfunny one.