Raad, Aoun Dissatisfied with Harb΄s Defense Proposal: It Avoided the Main Issue...Protecting the Country!?

Source: Al-Manar TV, 27-01-2009

A few hours following the forth national dialogue over Lebanon's defense strategy, Lebanese rival factions seemed to have deepened their difference instead of limiting them...

While the dialogue's forth session ended as expected with the "magic" formula of postponing discussions for only 34 days, it added to Lebanon's sources of conflict a new defense "platform," submitted by (US backed) March 14 MP Boutros Harb that was hailed by his bloc but reportedly rejected by the national opposition.

MP Harb submitted during the session his own proposal for a strategy he believes would "protect" the country. Harb's proposal is based on a national defense strategy that the state would commit to, in defending Lebanon and in liberating occupied territories.

However, the first thing that catches the eye in his strategy is his call for Hizbullah to deliver its arms to the Lebanese military under a specific timetable and program. Yet, Harb perceives the Lebanese military needs to be strengthened by all possible means. He calls the state to adopt modern and advanced methods in equipping and training the military under supervision of the army's general command.

The national opposition didn't seem satisfied with Harb's proposal and didn't find in it the needed strategy to effectively protect the country from any potential aggression. In this context, the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Mohammad Raad, who's representing Hizbullah in the dialogue, said Harb's proposal avoided the main issue, which is protecting the country.

"We did not wish to comment on the proposal," Raad told Lebanese daily As-Safir. The Hizbullah MP accused Harb of misquoting Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, noting that "quotes attributed by Harb - in his strategy - to Sayyed Nasrallah were ambiguous and inaccurate."

For its part, Lebanese daily An-Nahar quoted Raad as asking Harb after discussions: "Do you want to get rid of us?" in an apparent refusal of the proposal's content.

According to Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, the head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun was also dissatisfied and displeased with Harb's proposal and presentation. The daily noted that the President didn't comment on the proposal, while the (US backed) March 14 bloc was generally supporting it. It's worth mentioning that Harb's proposal is not the first for the ‘March 14' bloc. Former President Amin Gemayel as well as Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and the head of the Democratic Gathering MP Walid Jumblatt have earlier announced their own views that coincide in some points and vary widely in others.

While Hizbullah reiterated that it will later have a position all views submitted in the various sessions, the ‘March 14' bloc launched a verbal assault against the Resistance group for not addressing its proposals yet. "How can we agree on establishing a committee of experts to study the various proposals...in the absence of Hizbullah's vision?" former President Amin Gemayel asked in this context.

Meanwhile, Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar reported that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is likely to submit his own defense strategy blueprint at the 5th round of national dialogue set for March 2. The daily also reported that cabinet minister Mohammad Safadi also said he could come up with his own ideas regarding the defense strategy.