Crippled by lack of unity

Those who have met Samir Geagea talk of a clever strategist, that has a vision not only for the Christian community, but for the country as a whole. Geagea and Aoun are rivals within the Christian community, and as such, Geagea will continue to attack the unholy alliance between Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement and Hizballah. I am not going to talk about this alliance anymore. It is there, thus far is working and politics is not about morals.

That being said, I do hope that Aoun understands that in spite of Hizballah's media and PR stunts [and they are good], their fantastic social programs and skillful political rhetoric, the reality is that the party follows the Vilayet e Fagiq ideology that has nothing to do with national pride or with Lebanon. In the end, it is plausible to say, that in politics, today's friend can be tomorrow's enemy and vice versa.

Interview conducted by al-Osbou al-Arabi Magazine [Arab Week] with the leader of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea:

Do you think that Hezbollah's weapons represent a balance with Israel in a way that forces Israel to change its plans and strategies? What would save us from the naturalization project is our relations with Western countries, namely the United States, as they can help us by applying pressures to prevent naturalization from taking place in Lebanon

Israel will not change its strategy vis-à-vis the issue of naturalization because of Hezbollah's weapons. Besides, this weapon is within the hands of one Lebanese group and sect, and its mere existence overshadows and discomforts other sects, namely the Christians. Also, these weapons were regrettably used internally in May and Hezbollah resorts to its weapons when it is politically weak

On Syrian -Lebanese relationship and the Christian community.

Our utmost wish as Lebanese Forces is to have serious and real relations between Lebanon and Syria. But what we have suffered over the past 25 years was very painful to us and all Lebanese factions. They imprisoned me, while they killed Rafiq Hariri. Any serious and normal relations require the recognition of these painful years. We expected Al-Assad to say that the Lebanese people have suffered due to the behavior of the Syrian regime and its intelligence apparatuses and that we want to open a new page, but he did not

Syria should stop meddling in Lebanese affairs by ceasing the transfer of weapons to certain Lebanese factions. It should also stop sending weapons and militants to Palestinian groups outside the camps, especially the groups located on the Lebanese-Syrian border.

Question: "Don't you think that the Christian community is of no importance in light of the conflicts between its forces?

Answer: "Yes, it has become beneath consideration because part of it moved to the other camp [in reference to Deputy Michel Aoun and his alliance with Hezbollah]" [mideastwire.com translation]