Geagea: Islamic State is a cancer that can be removed

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Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea during a ceremony to commemorate the LF martyrs.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea  described   on Saturday the Islamic State of Iraq  and Syria  ( ISIS) as a cancer  that should be removed  via an international  and Arab alliance, stressing that the cancer can be halted.

‘ ISIS is a cancerous tumor that surfaced at first in parts of Iraq and Syria and it’s still contained to a certain point and this can be removed only if we join our efforts via an international Arab alliance,’ the LF leader and presidential candidate  said during a ceremony to commemorate the LF martyrs.

‘If they’re trying to intimidate us then do not fear them. … Those who faced major challenges and the likes of ISIS throughout history should not fear those today,’ he said

‘We are the sons of the historical Lebanese resistance.’ He stressed.

Geagea also addressed the presidential election issue describing the continued presidential void as a “flagrant political crime,” rejecting calls for resorting to “autonomous security” under the excuse of confronting the threat posed by the Islamic State terrorists.

“It is a  political crime when some parties seek to ‘behead the republic’ with the aim of becoming its head, and when they take the country hostage in order to get the presidential chair as a ransom,” Geagea said in a possible reference to his political rival FPM leader Michel Aoun  who is reportedly  insisting that he should be the next president or no one else .

‘It is unacceptable to take the country hostage in exchange for the presidency as a ransom.’ Geagea said.

“It is a flagrant political crime to vacate the Lebanese republic of its Christian president at a time Mosul and Nineveh’s plain (in Iraq) are being emptied of their Christian residents,” Geagea added

He said the only reason Aoun sought to amend the Constitution was ‘because he failed to reach the presidency.’

Aoun has proposed that  article 49 of the Constitution should  be amended so that the people could directly elect the president instead of the Parliament.

‘Talk of amending the Constitution to bring a strong president is a useless argument because the current mechanism of voting has brought in strong presidents since independence,’ Geagea said.

He said implementing the Lebanese Constitution requires the dissolving of “all illegitimate armed groups” and “returning the military and security conditions exclusively to the Lebanese state, in addition to approving a just and balanced electoral law.”

Rejects arming 

Turning to the threat posed by the  Islamic State terrorists to Lebanon and the region,  Geagea  rejected calls for Christians and other Lebanese to arm themselves to confront terrorism, stressing that this will force the collapse of the state.

‘While we reject all kinds of self-defense, some try to promote for political purpose under the guise of fighting terrorism,’ he said

‘Christians only carried arms during the Civil War when the state completely collapsed.’ Geagea stressed

He stressed that  the state and its security institutions are  still intact and capable of defending its citizens.

“Should the need arise, or should the IS come, we are ready for resistance, and we will only die on our feet,” he stressed.

“Our martyrs did not fall to allow the presence of foreign gunmen on Lebanon’s soil, nor the presence of Lebanese gunmen who serve foreign interests … President-elect Bashir Gemayel did not die so that someone tries to prevent the election of a president,” added Geagea, a possible reference to Hezbollah which is reportedly  the main obstacle behind the election of a new president to replace Michel Suleiman whose term ended  on May 25

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Lebanese Forces leader and presidential candidate Samir Geagea during a ceremony to commemorate the LF martyrs, Saturday September 6, 2014

“Our first and only choice is the state and its institutions, army and security forces. We will fight alongside it through stances, words, patience and endurance … but we won’t hesistate for a single moment to confront anyone who tried to transgress against the state through the forces of arms, whether it is called ISIL , ISIS , (IS) or anything else,” he pledged.

Compares IS to the Syrian regime

Turning to the situation in Syria , he compared the Islamic State to the Syrian regime and added

 “Is the use of chemical weapons and the killing of thousands of people in a few minutes less horrible than the IS’ practices and the murder of hundreds of people in a few hours?”

“Is slaughtering an American journalist in the presence of cameras a less terrorist act than blowing up and murdering Rafik Hariri, Bassel Fleihan, Samir Qassir, George Hawi, Gebran Tueni, Pierre Gemayel and other martyrs?” the LF leader went on to saying  on another reference  to Hezbollah and the Syrian regime who were accused of being their murders.

 

 

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15 responses to “Geagea: Islamic State is a cancer that can be removed”

  1. $89733098 Avatar

    Well said Samir. Bravo!

  2. I don’t like this guy previous political practices. It seems of all the christian leaders , he is the only political law maker raising his voice against the isis

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      He’s the only one who makes consistent sense for the past several years.
      No-body said a good ‘leader’ has to be a guy you could chat over beer in the bar with.
      And I don’t think he’s Christian. 😉 And I don’t think it matters, which ‘sect’ … the examples of the ‘brain-dead’ are all over the place. (see ‘Electric Company’)

    2. Comtessa di Alba Avatar
      Comtessa di Alba

      Really? Not very original, i’ read this “IS is a cancer that must be removed” everywhere….

      1. $89733098 Avatar

        Wow daft mare the shite is attacking a Christian.

  3. Reasonableman Avatar
    Reasonableman

    Not sure how this will be enforced but hopefully military is ruled out, im not the one fighting or living in a war torn country and frankly ive had enough, it effects people we know which eventually affects everybody.
    IS would not be defeated militarily and no country should be dependant on what empty promises and lip service other countries harbour (especially not the countries all the way west), if you have a armed shia group then you will have an armed sunni group eventually every group would need to be armed to protect themselves.

    Think of them (IS) as “possible” humans before the war drums comeout.
    Give them and their families protection,
    That would be a good defence mechanism for lebanon and the middle east.

    Make the executive decision and let every group govern themselve and practise their faith if they all agree to all 1.disarm.
    2.protect lebanese from external enemies.
    And if it happens that any person by accident or intentionally killed somebody of another faith all groups are to chip in and pay blood money.

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      I don’t see how to get ‘blood money’ when no-one is working.
      But like you, and not living the ‘wonderful experience’, the worry about the friends is a huge pain. I actually know of one ‘western’ daughter who has now told her mother she can’t stand it all any more, and won’t be sending money back to help. The ‘connection’ can’t stand the continuous angst. Life is ruined, for both.

      1. Reasonableman Avatar
        Reasonableman

        World doesn’t stop for nobody unfortunately.
        Ofcourse families and judges would have to be reasonable with how much money they can recieve and all resources to be dried before taking the law of the injeel and forgive or take the law of al torah and an eye for an eye.
        That would concider common sense though not that common.
        How are your friends doing I hope they are in good health and happy?
        As for your western friend I know its hard having nothing to show for all her great work and patience but allah does not forget an ant least he forget her hardships.
        Indeed after hardship there is ease.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Before I go … Thanks Reasonable, for asking.
          But no-one would believe a body is still in an apartment after 2 weeks ….
          I have little to say.

          1. I Just read your comment 5th and it is sad and disturbing. I feel a need to say something to you to make a difference but I know there is nothing I CAN say except that many here do take note that you had a couple of rough weeks and many of us wish you well and are in your corner .

          2. $89733098 Avatar

            R u braying still!! I feel sorry for ur wife

          3. Reasonableman Avatar
            Reasonableman

            Not much you can say 5th just stay well.

        2. Warm greetings and welcome back Reasonable, I hope you had a great trip and made some good memories considering. if any middle east country every had a hope of coexistence of more than a dozen minorities lebanon would have been it, However a conflict of interest can not be resolved by another conflict of interest, If I am not wrong you live in australia and I live in the usa and imagine if we had trouble of any kind in our cities that we had a system where the police or paramedics only catered to one sect or another. I will put it to you another way, no good functioning country can ever be the same or become better by means of having a state within a state especially if it is sectarian based as it is an acute conflict of interest that is biased or subject to outside proxy by whom ever supports it financially or militarly. I think we both know that to rely on a real solution by means of any of the power players would be a waste of time and the damage is already done. only those who are savvy or wise enough to have taken note of experienced failures of the civil war would refrain to rely on a manly outlook or solution, so far every thing that has taken place in the rear view mirror is no indication of the work of Allah. best to you and yours friend.

          1. Reasonableman Avatar
            Reasonableman

            Yeah I did have an awsome time as much as I hated it I still prefer to be next to my family then here in aus…. crazy right?
            In aus im concidered an outsider even Though I was born here and in leb im concidered an outsider even with my leb citizenship, I guess its just the humbleness of some people there That makes me keep going back.
            How have you been? Hopefully well and enjoying life?

            I get the vibe you are trying to paint me a picture but im just not seeing it..
            Concider lebanon as a business if it hires workers (lebanese ofcourse) to cater to its visitors aslong as they are unarmed, and in return for the hospitality they must join and fight in wars which leave lebanon vulnerable or otherwise put themselves and their families at risk of being outcasted.
            Not only that enforce a bloodmoney fee which includes all sects who are thriving in lebanon to pay for any other sects negligence. The blood of arabs has become cheap and this will ensure people think twice before taking a life.
            For this to work though all sects must be unarmed including hezballah. Aslong as their is a peace treaty with these militants for a while there will be peace, we just need a president who wont provoke or take provocation.

  4. Shirdel2142 Avatar
    Shirdel2142

    Hmm powerful words,the only thing to fear is fear itself.

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