The Guardians of the Cedars Party issued the following weekly communiqué:

It is shameful that the issue of appointing a new Army Commander continues to be lost in the maze of politics and politicians, and at the mercy of the ongoing disputes between the parties to the conflict. It is everyone’s duty, should they still have a sense of shame and patriotism, to accelerate making a decision on this matter by allowing the President to choose the most suitable man to lead this most patriotic of the national institutions. The President knows best when it comes to the affairs and needs of the Army, and is the keenest on its safeguard and cohesion.

The ongoing arms smuggling across the Syrian-Lebanese borders, according to the latest UN report, exposes one more time the true face of the Syrian regime behind the mask, the ill intentions it harbors toward Lebanon, and the sabotage plans it continues to scheme in order to destabilize and undermine Lebanon’s security according to a timing that suits the regime’s own political agenda.

The Lebanese people entrust this issue into the French President’s hands as he prepares to visit Damascus, and hope that he will put it on top of his own agenda of talks with Syrian officials die to its potentially dangerous ramifications to the future of Lebanon in particular, and the region in general.

If President Sarkozy is confident in his ability to curb Syria’s behavior vis-à-vis Lebanon, as he claims, we then draw his attention to consider the intentions and actions, and not just promises and sweet talk by the Syrians.

Lebanon, at your service

Abu Arz
August 29, 2008