From an observer of the scene:
The Bekaa confrontation is an annual event. If the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) are not busy, they provide support to the Internal Security Force (ISF) in the crop eradication programme. However, if there are “problems” in Lebanon, the farmers take a punt that the LAF will not be able to support the police and plant more – as has happened this year, where they made the judgement that the LAF would be more concerned with the border with Syria. The ISF do not have the heavy weapons and helicopter support needed to successfully carry out the operation.
The ISF is a Gendarmerie type organisation and a Beirut paper has a different account:http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Loc...s-farmers.ashx