BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) - A powerful bomb killed an anti-Syria lawmaker and six others Wednesday in a Christian neighborhood of Beirut, threatening to derail an effort by an already deeply divided Parliament to elect Lebanon's next president in voting to begin next week.
Antoine Ghanem, a 64-year-old member of the Christian Phalange party who had returned from refuge abroad only two days earlier, was the eighth anti-Syria figure and fourth lawmaker from the governing coalition to be assassinated in less than three years.
LTU932 From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 13864 posts, RR: 51 Reply 1, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1061 times:
They can deny it as much as they want: it's clear that Syria is directly responsible for this assassination. I mean, why else would an anti-Syrian politician get suddenly killed by a car bomb? That's hardly coincidence. All Syria wants is to reoccupy Lebanon and keep it in chaos so they can control the country.
Airxliban From Lebanon, joined Oct 2003, 4492 posts, RR: 55 Reply 3, posted (5 years 9 months 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1017 times:
Rest in peace to Antoine Ghanem and everyone that died with him on that day and everyone else who has been a martyr for Lebanon. Including all of the assassinations and bombings, those who have died in the army and the innocent people who died during israel's war last July.
The title of this thread, in the meantime, is pure speculation and not fact. Why do we have to assume it's Syria? There has been no investigation on that issue and until there is I dont think we should pass off our speculation as fact. There is much more at play here than the notion of Syrian intervention to maintain control in Lebanon or revenge at having been kicked out.
Falcon84 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (5 years 9 months 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 985 times:
Yes, Syria. That stalwart against terrorism; that nation that is a essential nation to peace in the region. At least that's the way one of our esteemed members looks at that nation.
Syria is, like Iran, a thug nation, who's sole goal in the region is destabalization. And, besides this episode, may be trying to get nuclear material from the DRPK? The world would be better without Syria.
LAXspotter From India, joined Jan 2007, 3650 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (5 years 9 months 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 984 times:
Quoting Falcon84 (Reply 6): The world would be better without Syria.
hopefully you mean that in the political context, and hopefully this is not a statement of what a waste Syria is, it is a beautiful country with a rich history and culture, I would hate to see Syria go anywhere, but the Politicians yes, its time for their own little revolution, but I doubt its gonna happen, doesnt justify american intervention by any means tho.
"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel" Samuel Johnson
ME AVN FAN From Switzerland, joined May 2002, 13875 posts, RR: 27 Reply 9, posted (5 years 9 months 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 967 times:
Quoting LTU932 (Reply 1): That's hardly coincidence. All Syria wants is to reoccupy Lebanon and keep it in chaos so they can control the country.
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Unfortunately right. Except that chaos is exactly what Syria does NOT want. Otherwise there would be four murders per month ! The Syrian Mukhaberat would have the capability for that. And please realize that what left Lebanon were some military troops and some Mukhaberat offices were "cleared" BUT the Syrian Mukhaberat not only stayed on, they had a very good agent in Beirut in the person of General Lahoud. While government duties are in the hands of the PrimeMinister (CEO) the president acts like a chairman with some general influence. So that you can be quite sure that the next President will also be a "Syria-man". It however will be far more difficult to find out but far more interesting, to which faction in Syria the new Beirut office holder will be affialiated.
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Quoting Airxliban (Reply 3): The title of this thread, in the meantime, is pure speculation and not fact. Why do we have to assume it's Syria? There has been no investigation on that issue and until there is I dont think we should pass off our speculation as fact. There is much more at play here than the notion of Syrian intervention to maintain control in Lebanon or revenge at having been kicked out.
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You of course are right in regard to "much more at play", but people (including me) go to some conclusion upon hearing those news. But you rather may tell me why the name "Antoine Ghanem" gives me a "ring" but I am unable to place him. What were his other functions and positions ?
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Quoting Falcon84 (Reply 6): Yes, Syria. That stalwart against terrorism; that nation that is a essential nation to peace in the region. At least that's the way one of our esteemed members looks at that nation.
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You cannot simplify matters. Just as other countries in this world, Syria is mostly against terrorism and terrorists, except "their" terrorists. And just as other nations, Syria is intent on dominating smaller neighbours.
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Quoting Falcon84 (Reply 6): Syria is, like Iran, a thug nation, who's sole goal in the region is destabalization.
Not correct. Syria is interested in stability in the region, but of course on Syrian terms. Not very different from the politics of the big powers.
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BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11141 posts, RR: 61 Reply 10, posted (5 years 9 months 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 953 times:
Lebanon since its independence has been on an uphill struggle because of its very fragile nature. Many players have contributed to this struggle from the creation of the Palestinian refugee problem, having Israel as a neighbor, to the Baath takeover of Syria in 1963. During the 1975-1990 civil war, Lebanon was a playground for many foreign players.
Now it is a battlefield between the West and Syria/Iran.
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
JJJ From Spain, joined May 2006, 1628 posts, RR: 2 Reply 15, posted (5 years 9 months 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 925 times:
Most people in the street (and very especially christian phalangists) blame Syria. I mean, who else could be behind this and past (e.g. Pierre Gemayel Jr. just months ago) assassinations.
Ghanem was living in Abu-Dhabi since he had received very real death threats. It's so very clear where they came from.
Falcon84 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 16, posted (5 years 9 months 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 913 times:
Quoting ME AVN FAN (Reply 9): You cannot simplify matters. Just as other countries in this world, Syria is mostly against terrorism and terrorists, except "their" terrorists. And just as other nations, Syria is intent on dominating smaller neighbours.
Quoting ME AVN FAN (Reply 9): Not correct. Syria is interested in stability in the region, but of course on Syrian terms. Not very different from the politics of the big powers.
I knew you'd prove my words correct, MAF. And you didn't fail.
You see, their leaders do NOT need anybody to "harbour" them. They can move around quite freely in practically all of the Arab World from Casablanca to Muscat.
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Quoting JJJ (Reply 15): Most people in the street (and very especially christian phalangists) blame Syria. I mean, who else could be behind this and past (e.g. Pierre Gemayel Jr. just months ago) assassinations.
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My question is not so much whether Syria is involved, but rather which faction in the Syrian power struggle was pulling the strings. You may regard this as a minor point, but to people in Syria and Lebanon it is a vital, or rather lethal point of utmost importance. You have to bear in mind that General Lahoud is the man of Damascus in Beirut, and then you realize the magnitude of the problem.
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LTU932 From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 13864 posts, RR: 51 Reply 21, posted (5 years 9 months 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 870 times:
Quoting CupraIbiza (Reply 12): I dont really know of course but I wouldnt think so. I think Hamas is more a Saudi linked organisation, Hamas are Sunni, al-Assad of Syria is Shi'ite
It's more likely that Syria helps Hezbollah instead of Hamas.
Beaucaire From Syria, joined Sep 2003, 5252 posts, RR: 26 Reply 22, posted (5 years 9 months 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 859 times:
While nobody knows the truth or any details,I would refrain from jumping to hasty conclusions.
Syria is currently trying to get out of the corner it has been put into by the Americans (state that sponsors terror..)
If I would be Bashir,I would definitely not like to get involved in any further escalation in Lebanon.I'd rather try to show responsible diplomatic stance and de-escalation.Everybody -like in this forum-automatically cries- that's Syria !
What do we really know other than a Lebanese politician who has a track-record of being hostile to Syrian politics has been assassinated.Yes- I am absolutely hostile to any Syria involvement in Lebanon- but Lebanon is a complicated country with ton's of fractions split into sub-fraction who have shonw in the past to be capable to generate civil war.
I don't try to excuse potential Syrian involvement-but we should try be getting some more information...
ME AVN FAN From Switzerland, joined May 2002, 13875 posts, RR: 27 Reply 23, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 836 times:
Quoting LTU932 (Reply 21): It's more likely that Syria helps Hezbollah instead of Hamas.
Syria has a variety of "contacts", Hizbullah is just one of them. Others are the Amal Party, General Lahoud, General Aoun, and many others.
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Quoting Beaucaire (Reply 22): If I would be Bashir,I would definitely not like to get involved in any further escalation in Lebanon.I'd rather try to show responsible diplomatic stance and de-escalation.
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I am, to my utter regret, seriously in doubt about how much of the state apparatus he actually controls. In fact, also his father only had partial control. That most of the power holders in Damascus are Allaouites and linked with the armed forces in one way or the other does not make matters easier.
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this of course is a problem. Just as in the case of Hariri, where everybody knows that Hariri was killed just a day after he by court decision won control over the St.Georges Hotel and could DISown the family which had been in control of that place for more than a century and everybody saw that he was killed right across from the old entrance to that hotel and right in front of A) the dependence of the Phoenicia Hotel, B) right in front of 2 night clubs and C) right in front of 3 early morning cafes. I some 7 months after his assassination parked my car right where he got killed and walked all around the place and also talked with some gents of the St. Georges Marina about the matter. So interesting ! The weather was windy, I took some swimming in the swimming pool of the St. Georges Marina and then went out to have a look-around .......
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Falcon84 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 24, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 819 times:
Quoting Beaucaire (Reply 22): While nobody knows the truth or any details,I would refrain from jumping to hasty conclusions.
Maybe so, but it's certainly part of the M/O of Syria in Lebanon.
Quoting Beaucaire (Reply 22): .
Syria is currently trying to get out of the corner it has been put into by the Americans (state that sponsors terror..)
The Americans put them there? How so? If it walks, looks, quacks like a duck, it's a duck. Syria IS a nation that sponsors terrorism, so the truth is THEY THEMSELVES are the reason they're in that position, not the United States.
25 LTU932: But isn't Hezbollah one of their prime contacts nevertheless?
26 CALTECH: Syrian troubles, North Korean nuclear material in Syria now. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...rld/middle_east/article2512380.ece
27 ME AVN FAN: NO, Syria fights against terrorism - ONE of them no doubt. But General Lahoud is number one. And I dare say that Hizbullah is just a "peasant figure"
28 HuskyAviation: You're either for terrorism or against it, MAF. And Syria hasn't proven to anyone that they are against, not least the Lebanese. Even you seem confus
29 ME AVN FAN: For instance to the USA, by providing the USA with vital services in the struggle against terrorism. For instance to its own people by fighting down
30 Kay: It isn't about one good guy and one bad guy, it's more complicated than that. Yes I do believe that Syria and its government are responsible directly
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