Another Assassination attempt in Beirut, but this time, the target is a symbol of the pro-Syrian establishment. Why would anyone want to kill Mr. Elias el Murr?
A bomb has targeted a motorcade of a well-known politician. The target is slightly injured, but two of his companions are confirmed dead. Usually, the rest of the story is predictable: The opposition would hold an emergency meeting where they would denounce the remnants of the Syrian-Lebanese security apparatus. They would then reach the conclusion that its head, the Pro Syrian president Emile Lahhoud, should be removed.
But the fact that the target, the outgoing Defense Minister, is the son-in-law and closest ally of the president makes this more than just a variation of the above line of events.
This comes in the middle of painstaking negotiations to form the first Syria-free government in 30 years. The appointed opposition Prime Minister was believed to be aiming for a Lahhoud-free government, with the possible exception of no one else but the very Mr. Murr, who has just been targeted.
So who did it?
The answer depends on where you stand in the conspiracy theory scale. Some would say that the Syrians targeted their own man, without informing president Lahhoud, to prove that the assassins are not just aiming at the anti-Syrians; a gambit perhaps to prove that Syria is not behind such attacks. This would also be meant to strengthen the argument of the Likes of Hezbollah, who have been arguing all along that the Israelis (or Americans) are the perpetrators, and would also clean the image of president Lahhoud, who can’t possibly attack his own son-in-law.
Mr. Wael Abou Faour, a P.S.P spokesman, who was incidently on T.V. when the explosion took place, quickly addressed this. He said to Walid Abboud on L.B.C: “the fact that this unfortunate attempt targeted a pro-Syrian this time does not mean that we take back our accusations regarding the previous attempts”
Which brings us to the other extreme of the conspiracy spectrum: The culprit is no other than Jumblat himself, who did it for revenge reasons.
This remark by a fellow Lebanese blogger is indicative:
I only know one thing: the “head of the snake” is much closer to Mukhtara than it is to Baabda or Bteghrine.
It is still early to know how this attempt will affect the Lebanese, but we can get a good idea by watching the reactions of the different parties, like the American Embasador, Hariri, Aoun and Lahhoud. Also indicative would be the kind of funeral Murr’s aids will have and the speech he would make.
But never underestimate the symbolism behind the fact that the Lebanese Defense Minister couldn’t defend himself.
**update**
The Syrian Arab News Agency(SANA)had this to say about the bombing: (you can find the Arabic version on Aljazeera)
These terrorist activities are targeting the Lebanese from all the political spectrum, which confirms that the perpetrators are directly related to the enemies of Lebanon and the enemies of stability in the region
I admit, I personally believe that the Syrians did it.
In a perverted plan that is becoming increasingly clear, they seem to be thinking: Make life hell for all the Lebanese (through random bombings and trade blockades). Eventually, the argument goes, the Lebanese will realize that they were much better off in terms of safety and economic activity when the Syrians were here, so we will invite Syria back.
The world should have one answer: regime change in Syria.
Hello, my name is Mustapha and I have been blogging about Lebanese society and politics since February 2005. You can also find me on 
Indeed, Lebanon is the land of surprises, and un-explicable events.
I would rather prefer a normal, boring, but safe country. Will there be a day?
I tend to subscribe to the first speculation, as opposed to the second extreme.
Isn’t this also just made to postpone the government formation?
I think this was done by the same people who did the other assassinations. Their targetting Murr could be either to confuse people about who might be behind this, or maybe there’s now a problem between the Syrians and Lahoud.
I am with leberal on this one (or to pressure Michel Murr and others who thinking of changing their tune, or to pressure those talking to the UN investigation). Also, let’s not forget who said “I’ll burn Lebanon on my way out”.
The Jumblatt theory I do not buy. Why would he do it? The risk of getting caught is too high, and the consequences too dire. The guy may be crazy and nasty, but he is not stupid.
PS Unrelated to Murr: Gus Kenaan removed in Syria?
I think it is definitely the Syrians again trying to do three things at once:
1- To pressure ProSyrians to remain ProSyrian.
2- To confuse the issue by targeting a pro-syrian. This gives the “blame Isreal/America” conspiracy theorists the example they need.
3- Continue to destabilize the country.
Syrian interference in Lebanon ever since Hafez Assads death has been quite childish. Their behavior is more like the Corleone family in the Godfather movies. You hurt my honor and I want revenge. Under that context their actions are very predictable including this assassination attempt.
By the way Mustapha I know your not a fan of Jumblatt but placing him as a possible suspect to this assassination is really pushing conspiracy theory to the outer edges of reality. And I know you are smarter than that.
Well… While the attemp surely made chaos for us, in our own living room. Surely those behind it wanted to achievde precisely this. Lets not go Back to the 1980′s days of Huge Conspiracies. We have 2 Extreems. Israel, and Syria. If the Lebanese balme Israel, Hizbullah would benefit (as the Publius Pundit describes -http://www.publiuspundit.com/index.php?cat=52). Though I find it un-intelligent to blame Israel for such a bombing (since its easy for the Arab world to Blame Israel for anything, and everything) I would rather shed light on Syria. Syria is a country being pulled by every major world player. France, the U.S. and the World’s U.N. There are curently intelligence agencies running all around the middle east as we speak, especially in Lebanon. Expert Analysis and think tanks all on the lookout for a political analysis. I blame outwordly Syria! After all, Lebanons’ Independance should not be handed on a silver platter! These are Martyrs, starting with Bashir Gemayil to Hariri to Kassir and Georges Hawi.
What worries me is… Why isn’t anybody getting any peice of information? A year ago, if anything happened they knew after a while who it was, and honestly I respected Police investigations… the blame this time isn’t being reached because the current Lebanese Governement dosen’t want to point fingers at Syria ‘Officially’.
it was syria.
the politics of the west is a layer on the onion that everyones seems to take for granted,when in reality it barely covers the spooks.
How do you prove how powerful you are? Assassinate the assassin.
the other thing to ponder is that:
IF syria is starting to contract, there is then a momentum within syria (rat’s leaving a sinking ship) and a reshuffling of pecking orders.
Theyre all really crooks and gangsters playing politician, is it really that much of a stretch that they’d try and off each other?
How could the US and Israel not be exploiting the situation that theyve hoped for YEARS would show up?!!
And here it is…
Buy stocks in Lebanese shipping companies. Watch for port facilities being rebuilt or expanded on the med. Fuck syria and all those other dirtbag countries’ markets, start buying drop aroders form europe.
Mustapha, what you said very much applies to Iraq too:
In a perverted plan that is becoming increasingly clear, they seem to be thinking: Make life hell for all the Iraqis (through random bombings and kidnappings). Eventually, the argument goes, the Iraqis will realize that they were much better off in terms of safety and economic activity when the Baathis were here, so we will invite the Baathis back, and there will be no more talk about regime change and democracy.
“The world should have one answer: regime change in Syria.”
Ditto.
Consider this.
Syria has a “list”. The people on this “list” are people who simply know too much. The message is: “shut up”. George Hawi was a former ally, he knew too much, same for Hariri. Kassir probably also found out a lot of info through his job. Now Elias El Murr, yes a close ally. He probably also knows things that Syria doesn’t want to leak.
Dear Friends,
Don’t you know that that the Syrians are responsible for everything that happens in our poor innocent country of peace loving people . They installed our political Mafia, corrupted our society, taught our politicians how to steal and commit murder. They introduced us to confessionalism. They used us- we did not use them.
They entered Lebanon against America’s wishes and also left without any interference by the Americans. The Syrians are monsters that rob us of our freedom , steal jobs from Lebanese labourers, destroy our agriculture and interfere with our trade.
They behave unlike our neighbour Israel which is a Jewish State (for all the Jews of the world) that respects its neighbours and is a non-violent, freedom loving country that has never coveted its neighbours territory, engaged in assinations or bombings.
America is also a freedom loving imperial power that has only killed 100,000 Iraqi and is occupying their country for their own good. And by the way , They have no wish to exploit their oil.
In this reality, one has to conclude that the Syrians tried to kill Murr and will surely want to kill Lahoud.
Lets wake up and not let our prejudices and hatreds affect our judgement.
We live in a dangerous place with many actors that use murder and state terror to acheive their goals. The Lebanese , as always, are not innocent bystanders in these plots to destroy their country. Almost all of our politicians are guilty of personal profit by joining forces with foreigners who seek to destroy our country.
Issam
Simply said:
“3adouwanne ta3rifouh khayrone min shakikin tajhalouh”
(translation: An enemy you know is better than a brother you don’t know)
Makes you wonder who is really behind the bombings, doens’t it?
Makes you wonder about the obvious and the obscure, doesn’t it?
Well then, why doesn’t push you to think about a friendship transaction?
Egypt switched sides, Saudi switched sides..
Take a look, think deep as a person longing for a better Lebanon and then answer..
Dear Issam,
Don’t YOU know: the donkey philosophized, and then brayed.