Source: Al-Manar TV, 23-01-2009

Once again, the Lebanese major "poles" are expected to meet Monday at the Baabda Presidential Palace to resume discussions of the country's defense strategy.
However, things seem to be different this time especially that the expected dialogue session would come a few days following another victory for the Resistance pattern in the region against the brutal Zionist entity. Thus, the Gaza model is set to impose itself at Monday's national dialogue session and on the various proposals for defense strategies at such a critical moment.

According to Lebanese daily An-Nahar, the dialogue session on Monday will witness the expression of additional defense strategy visions. MP Boutros Harb is expected to submit his own vision, while the head of the loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Mohamad Raad will submit a written vision elaborated by Hizbullah.

However, Lebanese various leaders don't seem too "optimistic" that a "common" formula for a defense strategy would be reached too soon. In this context, former President Amin Gemayel, who's one of the dialogue table constituents, said on Friday that current conditions were still "unfavorable" to achieve clear results over the national dialogue roundtable, especially after some speeches concerning the arms' issue.

But, one day earlier, Gemayel's ally, the head of the Democratic Gathering MP Walid Jumblatt, insisted that the defense strategy issue could only be solved through dialogue. "The defense strategy is solved through dialogue according to Lebanese, Arab and regional circumstances," Jumblat told reporters after meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

The national dialogue organized by President Michel Sleiman is being attended by 14 leaders representing each of the main parliamentary blocs. It is aimed at resolving lingering disputes between the country's rival parties, amid fears that the degree of disagreement would make the reaching of a consensus an "impossible" task.

But, earlier in the week, President Sleiman made sure to assure all Lebanese that "dialogue is doing well and there is no need to rush" things. "The defense strategy takes time," the statement said, noting that in some states, its discussion takes many years. "At every session, we write down common points pending political calm in order to better plan for a national strategy that gathers and guarantees Lebanon's strength," Sleiman's statement emphasized.