Hariri dead in assasination

[zenith-nadir]

Bomb Kills Former Lebanese Prime Minister - Mon, Feb 14, 2005

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Rafik Hariri, a billionaire who helped rebuild his country after decades of war but resigned as prime minister last fall after a sharp dispute with Syria, was killed Monday in a massive bomb explosion that tore through his motorcade. At least nine other people were killed and 100 wounded in the blast.

Hariri had moved toward the opposition camp after leaving office in October — in large part because of a dispute concerning Syria's controversial role in Lebanon. Hariri had rejected a Syrian-backed insistence that a rival politician, President Emile Lahoud, remain in office as president for a longer period.

Syrian President Bashar Assad said he "condemned this horrible criminal action," according to SANA, Syria's official news agency.

That's like Bin Laden saying he "condemned this horrible criminal action," in reference to 9-11...

 

[zenith-nadir]

For those not familiar with the politics in the region Hariri was one of the leading voices for ending the Syrian occupation of Lebanon.

 

[corplinx]

You would think these guys would be on their best behavior with all those US troops right across their border.

 

[richardm]

Can I be the first to blame Mossad? Thanks!

 

[geni]

You would think these guys would be on their best behavior with all those US troops right across their border.

I don't think even Bush is stupid enough to order troops there.

 

[richardm]

Can I be the first to blame Mossad? Thanks!

Apparently not

Dakhl-Allah suggested a link to Syria's arch-foe Israel.

"This comes at a time of great international pressure on Lebanon and Syria which aims to realise Israel's desires in the region and this act cannot be separated from these pressures," he told Al Jazeera television.

 

[zenith-nadir]

Apparently not

Of course not, the Mossad is responsible for 9-11 AND the invasion of Iraq in many circles...but as I was reading the article you linked I ran across this gem:

"Syria regards this as an act of terrorism, a crime that seeks to destabilise Lebanon," said Syrian Information Minister Mahdi Dakhl-Allah, whose country keeps about 14,000 troops in Lebanon under a bilateral arrangement with Beirut.

There is no bilateral agreement Reuters. On October 5, 1998, Syrian President Hafez Assad appointed General Emil Lahoud President for Lebanon. Emile Lahud, is a puppet of Assad's government in Damascus. Damascus says jump and Lahud says how high. If there was a bilateral agreement guys like Hariri - who oppose the Syrian occupation of Lebanon and Emil Lahoud - wouldn't have to be be blown up.

 

[Cleon]

There is no bilateral agreement Reuters. On October 5, 1998, Syrian President Hafez Assad appointed General Emil Lahoud President for Lebanon.

Not true. Lahud was elected by the National Assembly, per Lebanon's constitution.

In 2004, the Assembly voted to extend his term until 2007. Undoubtedly illegal, and unquestionably backed by Syria, but he was elected, not appointed.

Some new group has claimed responsibility for this. link

A previously unknown Islamist group later claimed responsibility for the killing of al-Hariri on Monday, in a video tape aired on Aljazeera.

"For the sake of our mujahidin brothers in Saudi Arabia ... we decided to implement the just execution of those who support this regime," a bearded man said on the tape. He sat in front of a black flag carrying the name Group for Victory and Holy War in the Levant.

 

[zenith-nadir]

Not true. Lahud was elected by the National Assembly, per Lebanon's constitution.

Kinda like Saddam was elected and Arafat was elected Cleon, be honest.

 

[Cleon]

Kinda like Saddam was elected and Arafat was elected Cleon, be honest.

Ah, yes, the trademark zenith-nadir "argument ad condescendium."

Unfortunately, it doesn't make your original comment any more true. It remains false. Lahud was elected. You may not like what he stands for, you may think he's a Syrian puppet (I tend to agree), but he was elected, not appointed.

See, for example:

Wikipedia on Lahud
Wikipedia on Lebanon
CIA World Factbook

 

[zenith-nadir]

Unfortunately, it doesn't make your original comment any more true. It remains false. Lahud was elected. You may not like what he stands for, you may think he's a Syrian puppet (I tend to agree), but he was elected, not appointed.

"Elected" by whom?, the lebanese people...plaaaeeezzzeee...

From your own links Cleon:

Wikipedia on Lahud: "The parliament was pressured to vote for the constitutional amendment to keep him in power by Syria (the main political broker in Lebanon)."

Wikipedia on Lebanon: "The last presidential election was in 1998. The president and parliament choose the prime minister. Freedom of speech has thus been curbed and the president must have Syrian backing in order to be in power."

Syria calls the shots, Syria put him in power, Syria changed the Lebanese constitution....Lahoud was elected in 98 as much as Saddam was in 2002 and Arafat was in 96....

 

[Cleon]

"Elected" by whom?, the lebanese people...plaaaeeezzzeee...

Wow. You really are incapable of treating this even remotely objectively, aren't you? I said

Lahud was elected by the National Assembly, per Lebanon's constitution.

Which remains true, Syrian pressure or no. He was not "appointed" by Al-Assad. He was elected by vote of the National Assembly.

In any event, indications seem to be that Syria isn't behind the bombing.

 

[zenith-nadir]

Wow. You really are incapable of treating this even remotely objectively, aren't you?

Well I could capitulate to your semantic gymnastics but I won't because - once again - Lahoud was no more 'elected' than Saddam was 'elected '.

He was not "appointed" by Al-Assad. He was elected by vote of the National Assembly.

Two-thirds of which are pro-Syria stooges who amended the constitution to 'elect' him.

In any event, indications seem to be that Syria isn't behind the bombing.

So you claim, yet if I was a good cop I would stop and ask myself who stands to gain the most from the elimination of the central figure in the movement to force Syria out of Lebanon.

 

[Cleon]

Well I could capitulate to your semantic gymnastics but I won't because - once again - Lahoud was no more 'elected' than Saddam was 'elected '.

Yeah, ok, whatever.

So you claim, yet if I was a good cop I would stop and ask myself who stands to gain the most from the elimination of the central figure in the movement to force Syria out of Lebanon.

Well, if by "you" you mean every news source on the planet, then yes. It appears to be the work of some new group, "Victory and Jihad," ticked at his connection to the Saudis. (My guess is this is their application to join the AlQaeda network.) It might still by the Syrians, but the evidence doesn't seem to be leaning in that direction.

Not that you're particularly concerned with little things like evidence.

 

[Someone]

It would seem too blatant and self destructive an act for Syria to be responsible. With Saddam gone, they can no longer play the role as a good Baathist to the bad one over the Syrian border. This allowed them to finally snuff out Aoun's revolt - though they had support from the Shia and Sunni Moslem population in doing that. Why Bashar al-Assad would want to destroy his regime and Alawite rule in Syria - both would happen in time if Syria is responsible for this assassination - is not something I understand. Given that Syria has supposedly cooperated a bit with the US in terms of them allowing it to render Al Qaeda suspects for close questioning, as well in some other areas, and no US/Israeli attacks seem imminent, there would be no need for some act of desperation. And if Baathist Syria wanted to go out with a bang, there is a more obvious target. But there was that blatantly fake terrorist attack in Damascus, last year on an ex-UN office. Maybe Syria has decided to be stupid. But I doubt it.

 

[zenith-nadir]

It appears to be the work of some new group, "Victory and Jihad," ticked at his connection to the Saudis. (My guess is this is their application to join the AlQaeda network.) It might still by the Syrians, but the evidence doesn't seem to be leaning in that direction. Not that you're particularly concerned with little things like evidence.

The bombing isn't 24 hours old and you've already identified the culprit...(think Madrid bombing)..and I'm not concerned with little things like evidence...hahahaha...

It would seem too blatant and self destructive an act for Syria to be responsible.

On the other hand I have no problem believing that someone in Syrian intelligence was given the nod from higher up for an operation unbeknownst to Assad. This would allow him and his henchmen plausable deniability. Remember Syria denies they do anything...supporting Palestinian Islamists, occupying Lebanon, letting Iraqi insurgents use their territory, hiding old pals of Saddam...

 

[Cleon]

The bombing isn't 24 hours old and you've already identified the culprit...(think Madrid bombing)..and I'm not concerned with little things like evidence...hahahaha...

Wow, you can actually say that with a straight face.

Fact is, 10 people, including a former president, are dead in Lebanon.
Fact is, a terrorist group took credit for it.

Now, it may be that Syria is behind it. Unlikely, IMO, but possible. However, the evidence isn't backing that at the moment. The evidence seems to be leaning towards this "Victory and Jihad" group being behind it.

But never mind all that. Zenith-nadir has declared that Syria is the responsible party, so it must be so.

I sincerely hope you never get called for jury duty.

 

[zenith-nadir]

Wow, you can actually say that with a straight face. Fact is, 10 people, including a former president, are dead in Lebanon. Fact is, a terrorist group took credit for it.

Fact is....nobody's ever heard of your terrorist group. Not even the Lebanese.

But never mind all that. Zenith-nadir has declared that Syria is the responsible party, so it must be so. I sincerely hope you never get called for jury duty.

Ad homs are the tool of the loser.

 

[zenith-nadir]

Lebanon Shuts Down to Mourn Assassinated Hariri - Tue Feb 15, 2005 03:13 AM ET

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon shut down on Tuesday to mourn former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri whose assassination in a car bomb blast plunged the country into political crisis and rekindled bitter memories of the 1975-90 civil war.

Angered by Syria's insistence on extending the term of his political rival President Emile Lahoud, he then joined opposition leaders in calling for a Syrian troop pullout and an end to Syrian interference in Lebanese affairs.

Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, who has previously called for a Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, told reporters: "Despite the blood and the sadness, we want to tell them: 'We don't want anything from you, go away, leave us, enough blood'."

Since it helped broker the end of the war, Syria has maintained a pervasive grip on Lebanon through its intelligence services, political allies and widespread economic interests.

Once again, if I was a cop I would ask myself who stood to benefit the most from Hariri's high-profile assasination, the regime he was fighting against or some totally unknown terrorist group who hates the Saudis....

Bomb Kills Former Lebanese Prime Minister - Tue, Feb 15, 2005

(AP) A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was too early in the investigation to know who was responsible, but said any list of suspects "would have to include the Syrians and their surrogates in Lebanon."

Justice Minister Adnan Addoum cautioned that responsibility claims could be an attempt "to mislead the investigation." But he said the explosion despite the high-tech equipment in the motorcade gave credence to "foreign elements" being behind the assassination. He did not elaborate.

 

[Cleon]

Two seconds ago you said a terrorist group was behind it, then you say Syria may be behind it, then you go back to the "evidence" that a completely unknown terrorist group is behing it. That is why I chose not to listen to you.

Reading isn't your strong suit, apparently. I didn't say "a terrorist group was behind it." I said, and again I quote, that "indications seem to be that Syria isn't behind the bombing."

Which I stand by, and is entirely consistent with the possibility that Syria may have done this. But again, the evidence is not leaning in that direction.

Ad homs are the tool of the loser.

That's not an ad-hom. An ad-hom would be saying "you can't listen to the evidence, you idiot." Characterizing your refusal to consider any evidence beyond what you've already decided in a negative fashion is not an ad-hom.