TV Reporter Visits Lebanese Commando Base and Participates in Traditional Eating of Live Snakes

Following are excerpts from a TV report about a TV crew visit to a Lebanese commando unit, which aired on OTV on July 25, 2011:

Reporter: Welcome to a new episode of our show. As we approach Lebanese Army Day, which will take place in a week, we will meet and experience a day in the life of the Lebanese Army. The slogan of the glorious military institution is "honor, sacrifice, and loyalty." This slogan has led many Lebanese to enlist. They sacrifice their lives, their blood, and everything they have under one banner – the defense of the land and the country, and nothing else. Today, we will celebrate Army Day with the naval commando battalion, whose slogan is: "Join, if you dare."

The military institution has chosen one of its graduates to celebrate this day with us – the singer Amir Yazbek. I am waiting for him to come and pick me up, so that we can begin this great day – Lebanese Army Day – and see what daily life is like in the Lebanese Army.

There you are, Amir! How are you?

Amir Yazbek: How are you?

Reporter: Allah be praised.

[…]

Holding a snake

What is this, commando?

Amir Yazbek: Go ahead, you start.

Reporter (taking a bite of the snake): Are we commandos, or what?

Amir Yazbek: Commandos. Leave some for me. Mmm… Delicious!

Reporter: Look how it moves… Look at the blood.

Amir Yazbek: This is its venom.

Where's the other snake?

Reporter:: I've already eaten it.

Commander: Okay, throw it away. It's dripping blood.

Reporter: Keep it for me, I'll finish it later. Let's start the fighting.

[…]