Beirut Explosion Targets American Diplomats
An large explosion in the Karantina Area in Beirut targeted a car that belonged to the American embassy. No Americans were killed.
Some Lebanese passer-byes were dead, but this is very much about the Americans.
If you ask me, this large provocation of American interests without going all the way (like targeting the Ambassador for example), resembles very much the Iranian provocation of American warships in the straight of Hormuz last week.
America is being tested and George bush is given the salutary fireworks while he’s in the region…
I could be speculating too early, but what ever it is, it doesn’t bode well for the days ahead.
Some Updates:
- According to Lebanese news bulletins, the American Ambassador, Mr. Jeffrey Feltman was the intended target. The convoy was a security make-believe decoy intended to thwart such assassination attempts.
-The American Embassy in Beirut released the following statement:
The U.S. Embassy condemns in the strongest terms the January 15 car bomb attack in the Dora area north of Beirut. The Embassy also extends its deepest condolences to the families of those killed in this explosion. We offer our wishes for the full and speedy recovery of those injured in this attack.The Embassy is outraged that there are still those who work to undermine Lebanon’s stability through murder and intimidation. The Lebanese people deserve to live in peace and security in an independent and united Lebanon. Crimes like the Dora attack will not weaken the international partnership working to support and strengthen Lebanon’s independence and democracy. Out of respect to the victims of today’s terrorist explosion, Ambassador Feltman has canceled the farewell reception he was hosting tonight. The Ambassador expresses to all Lebanese his deep appreciation for friendship and cooperation during his tenure in Lebanon.
More Updates:
- Firas Maksad of the Lebanese Renaissance foundation (facebook group), linked the attack with Hezbollah’s recent fiery anti-American speech:
“Today’s blast will be interpreted by many as a message for U.S. President George Bush, who is currently on a Middle East tour drumming up support against Iran. It is also the latest in a series of escalations that have coincided with the Bush visit, including an attack against United Nation forces operating in southern Lebanon, the firing of two-rockets by an unknown party into Israel and Hizbullah inspired street riots against the U.S. backed government. Hizbullah has been extremely critical of the visit, with group leader Hassan Nasrallah yesterday expressing great pride in being the “enemy of the Great Satan.” The group is also held responsible by the U.S. for the bombing of U.S. Marine barrack in 1982 which killed over 200 servicemen.The blast coincides with the expected return to Beirut of Arab League envoy Amr Moussa, who secured nominal commitment from Syria to facilitate the election of a president through its Lebanese allies. Syria’s commitment however and the success of Moussa’s initiative are now very much in doubt.”
- A video of the immediate aftermath is available here.
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Hello, my name is Mustapha and I blog in The Beirut Spring about Lebanese society and politics. I started in February 2005 after the killing of P.M. Rafik Hariri.
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they just keep pushing our buttons and one day they will regret it. luckily we have a very long temper, other wise we would have blown their stupid little ski boats outta the water in the straits of hormuz.
seriously…who do the lebanese think is doing all this shit in lebanon? isnt it obvious that its syria and iran?
anthemboy,
It’s not that obvious… but it doesn’t matter, we still can’t do anything about it. If you have any suggestions let us know.
If you knew a little bit about Lebanese politics and the history behind them you would quickly realize that anyone could be responsible… without exceptions.
Readers,
You really Beleive there is a so-called Shiite Hilel vs a Sunni Arab world?
And we, Lebanese, find outselves in the middle?
Where does Israel stand in all this? Why where they happy by Americans selling 20 Billion $ to the K.S.A?
Easy to raise questions, even harder to know why. All we do is observe…
I would love to see how Hassan can blame this latest terrorist act on Israelis and their Lebanese allies!!!
Here’s a quick and rough test to find the culprits: If the street protests on the old airport road were called off abruptly and hushed instantly, then it’s probably Syria behind the explosion. If not well, it’s Iran.
Meanwhile, I read somewhere that some people were caught attempting to re-light the fires in Karantina.
Also, the poor finishing suggests that it was a rush decision based on improvisation, which is not how the Iranians execute.
My prediction is that Syria is trying to wreak havoc in Lebanon, possibly start a civil war so that it can justify intervening in Lebanon during the Arab Summit in Damascus; same-old fireman trick.
The bottom line is, WAYNIYYEH EL DAWLEH??? (in this case, stupid FPMers)
LOL
I’m waiting to see the usual bunch of idiots show up and tell everyone how this attack was perpetrated by the Zionists and the CIA….
Noone among you though about al qaida?
No one though that some will accuse syria while others would accuse israel etc…
If they accuse al qaida it opens doors to other discussions:
is syria behind all bombs that targetted lebanon? What is the link btw for ex some of the majority and some al qaida representatives?
on the other side, if for ex the hezbollah would accuse al qaida, wouldnt it increase the antagonism btw sunnites and shias and therefore the probability of occurences of civil war?
Syria and israel are to be blamed in order to avoid theses scenarios to occur.
ps: hi moustafa, hope you got a good trip back from your safari,
Jester, sorry for the meeting but i lost your number…
Bad vibes….i think some other stupids already blamed Syria and Iran….
And like burger sad it IT COULD BE ANYONE….;)
Ado,
Well, at least Syria and Iran have motive. I don’t get the “it could be anyone” mentality.
fyi, most people here in lebanon are dismissing the idea that this was a decoy convoy for ambassador feltman… it seems to be just a rumor.
Bad Vilbel,
Everyone has motive. Some are stronger than others but in reality no motive is big enough to kill innocent people so it makes it very difficult to judge who’s motive is big enough for murder. I also know that pretty much every single Lebanese/Syrian/Iranian player in this mess has already killed for political benefit (maybe Saad Hariri is the only one who didn’t). But he’s still young and naive…
I didn’t hear that it was a make-beleive convoy anywhere. On LBCI they said the car was coming back from the airport after dropping someone there.
CIA renegades Did IT!!!!Just like March 14 is killing their leaders off, so has USA decided to kill off its diplomats!!
thank you Hassoneh…
Sorry all,
there was a technical error that somehow converted this post to a draft and made it disappear.
Anyway, I fixed it. Sorry again
Who in Lebanon investigates these events…Inspector Clouseau??? It seems that initial assassination headlines drop to the bottom of the sea like blocks of cement while the list of bombing events grows longer. Murder with impunity seems to be par for the course.
frenchie u want to suggest alqaeda did it??? where’s the tape on aljazeera to claim responsability or least of all on an alqaeda related website???? Do u really believe this has qaeda M.O.? Get real! This was a message that Lebanon can be brought back to the 80s period of disintegration and instability. The state institutions are paralyzed, the economy is collapsing, the civil unrest and divide is sharp and now the isolation of Lebanon is being introduced though targetting the diplomats same as in the 80s. Lebanon is used as a mailbox by iran and syria to address the US and hassoun and aoun are playing out their part perfectly.
On vehicle NO American embassy number plate, just an ordinary Lebanese one. see this picture:
http://harryzzz.blogspot.com/2008/01/breaking-news-bomb-attack-on-us-embassy.html
[...] This Blog Only « Previous Post Wednesday, January 16, 2008 [...]
Some of you people are ridiculous. I understand the need to not jump to conclusions, and to seem fair and balanced. But people are dying here, and there’s a point at which saying “We don’t know who did it.” and “Everyone has motive” becomes a bit ridiculous.
You really expect me to believe this assbackwards logic that some want to peddle, like the US is killing its own people and allies, to make the other side look bad? Like the other side needs any help looking bad anyway. I mean, come on! We’ve heard for years now how the US had a sinister project for the region. We’ve heard for years now Hassan Nassrallah tell us how he’s going to fight tooth and nail to prevent the US project in Lebanon. We’ve heard him time and again tell us how Ambasssador Feltman is controlling Saniora, Geagea and Jumblatt. And now you want me to believe that someone ELSE is after an attempt on the US ambassador (or US interests or whatever)? What for? What are these other motives you speak of? Someone wants to make Nassrallah look bad? Trust me, those who don’t like Nassrallah already have 8 million reasons to think he looks bad.
I swear, you folks are ridiculous.
Re that license plate, LBC and other news stations also mentioned this fact during their live coverage as well as Daily Star.
In fact, that was what so surprising about it: they pretty much all mentioned the car was a regular car and the people in it were Lebanese, yet they knew instantly it was linked to the US embassy.