Former MP Emil Lahoud responded in a statement to comments made by the leader of the Lebanese Forces party, Samir Geagea, during the 27th anniversary of the bombing of Our Lady of Salvation Church. Lahoud said, "We heard Samir Geagea speak about former President General Emil Lahoud regarding his relationship with Syria and the resistance, a relationship we have never been ashamed of, unlike Geagea’s past relationships and some of his present ones."
Lahoud added, "We take pride in our relationship with the resistance that liberated Lebanon from the Israelis, whom Geagea dealt with and relied upon, and protected Lebanon from terrorism. Were it not for the resistance, and Syria and Russia, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi would have roamed in Lebanon and perhaps set up tents in Maarab, and Geagea, who boasts of his military uniform, would have had a turban on his head and a dagger at his waist, raising the slogans of the Brotherhood."
He continued: "As for the relationship with Syria, we preceded Geagea by years in visiting it, going to Qardaha, while we did not know any Syrian officials at that time. The difference between us is that we remain steadfast in our alliances and principles, while he has turned himself into a servant to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on behalf of his supposed friend, Saad Hariri."
Lahoud expressed regret over "Geagea using rhetoric that tickles the feelings of Christians, while what is needed at this stage is to rise above sectarian discourse that has contributed to leading the country to what it has become. However, we remind those who have lost the wisdom they were nicknamed with, as well as others with weak memories, that during President Lahoud's era, Lebanon was in excellent condition, with criminals in prison and the corrupt out of power."
He concluded, "We would have wished that Geagea, instead of his daily similar speeches and tweets, would make an effort at this stage, relying on his close relationships with several Gulf states to secure vaccines, at least for his supporters, thus earning a point in his career amid the massive number of black marks that, if we needed to remind him of, would require volumes rather than just a statement. But the problem with the man is that he prefers the color black, due to his history and deeds."
