Mustaqbal Slams Raad's Remarks on 'Liberation Strategy'

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday condemned remarks by MP Mohammed Raad, head of Hizbullah’s Loyalty to Resistance bloc, about postponing the debate over a defense strategy for the country until after the liberation of Lebanese territory still being occupied by Israel.

“Hizbullah has decided to ruin all the efforts exerted by President Michel Suleiman and a number of parties to discuss the rest of the controversial issues during the upcoming dialogue sessions,” the bloc said in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

On Monday, Raad said: “Let those who don’t want the Resistance tell us about the method they will adopt to liberate the rest of our land.”

“Right now, we don’t want a national defense strategy, as we’re still in the phase of liberation and we have plenty of time ahead to discuss the defense strategy after liberation,” Raad added.

Addressing the rival March 14 camp, Raad stressed that the international community cannot help Lebanon liberate its territory and defend its maritime resources because “most of the sides in the international forums are the masters of our (Israeli) enemy and they are not neutral.”

“They are the partners of the aggressors,” Raad added.

Al-Mustaqbal bloc slammed the government for “the state of general deterioration in the country caused by its approach in running the public affairs.”

It accused the government of “improvisation, hasty decisions and lack of vision that have caused chaos in most sectors … under the supervision of Hizbullah which controls the republic and its political and security decisions.”

The bloc reiterated that “the solution to pull Lebanon out of this deteriorating dilemma is the departure of this government and the formation of a salvation government.”