Cabinet minister assasinated in Lebanon - Political Forum

Voland · #1 (**permalink**) 11-21-2006, 11:37 AM

Only days after Hisbullah threatened to topple the governement of lebanese prime minister Siniora gunmen shot one of his (christian) ministers ..

Assassination in Lebanon: Government Minister Murdered in Beirut - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News

Public_Enemy · #2 (**permalink**) 11-21-2006, 10:53 PM

Poor Lebanon, they just got a chance for stability but Israel offensive embolded hezbullah , now we are starting over with civil clash. I don't think Hezbullah is such idiot that would shot him just after threatened, but someone didn't miss the oppurtunity , I dunno who but someone doesn't want stability in Lebanon for some reason.

CHUQ · #3 (**permalink**) 11-22-2006, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W.E.B. Du Bois

I just feel pity for Lebanon. That country is just totally screwed now. It seems that Lebanon is just totally defenseless. Lebanon is the new fighting ground in the brawl between the US and Israel vs Hezbollah, Iran and Syria.

They are the ground underwhich two elephants are fighting.

I agree and in his news op in Honolulu, Bush said "We must reject those who undermine a young fragile democracy." He said a lot more but this one quote caught my attention. Your what about Israel? Hypocracy!

This type of attitude is one of the main reasons that people of the region do not trust the US.

CHUQ · #4 (**permalink**) 11-22-2006, 04:49 AM

BEIRUT — Anger and panic swept the Lebanese capital yesterday after Pierre Gemayel, a young anti-Syrian minister from a political dynasty plagued by tragedy, was gunned down in broad daylight.

What now for Lebanon--news

Business Day - News Worth Knowing

CHUQ · #5 (**permalink**) 11-22-2006, 05:14 AM

Found a couple of stories abouit the assassination.

Assassination triggers fresh crisis in Lebanon | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited

Civil war - the words on all our lips yesterday. Pierre Gemayel's murder - in broad daylight, in a Christian suburb of Beirut, his car blocked mafia-style by another vehicle while his killer fired through the driver's window into the head of Lebanon's minister of industry - was a message for all of us who live in this tragic land.

Lebanon moves closer to the end?

Independent Online Edition > Robert Fisk

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Gunmen on Tuesday assassinated Lebanese Christian cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel, an outspoken critic of Syria, plunging Lebanon deeper into a crisis over ties with its dominant neighbour.

At least three gunmen rammed their car into Gemayel's vehicle near Beirut, then leapt out and riddled it with bullets, firing at Gemayel with silencer-equipped automatic weapons at point-blank range in a Christian neighbourhood, witnesses said.

Lebanon minister shot dead, Hariri son blames Syria

Is this real? Did Syria do it? Is the fact that the ruling party is christian have anything to do with the accusations?

CHUQ · #6 (**permalink**) 11-22-2006, 06:49 AM

Lebanon has emerged from the 33-day war with Israel only to find itself lately in one of the most pronounced political crises it has experienced in a generation. At first glance, the issues dividing it are somewhat arcane: the legitimacy of an international tribunal to try those suspected of killing former prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri in 2005, and the representation in the cabinet for the opposition, which comprises Hezbollah, another Shiite Muslim faction and a Christian ally. But the stakes are far higher, in effect the future of the country: What groups and their patrons -- the United States, France, Syria or Iran -- will guide Lebanese politics?

Pessimisim in Lebnon is growing, no knows what the future will bring and all are worried Iraq II is in the making.

Pessimism Deepens In Postwar Lebanon - washingtonpost.com

Tumbleweed · #7 (**permalink**) 11-22-2006, 08:43 AM

Lebanon is a mess. Bush says we support their government, yet we look the other way while Israel levels the country.

I think Lebanon should be a U.N. problem. Any U.S. interference will make matters worse.

As for the assassination, it has Syria written all over it. They have the most to lose with a stabilized government.

Voland · #8 (**permalink**) 11-22-2006, 09:12 AM

I´m not sure if Syrias role in the killing is so absolutely clear. The syrian governement has sent out signs to Europe and also the US ( reestablishment of diplomatic relations with Iraq for example) which indicate a growing willingness to cooperate and to get out of its political and economical isolation. To order such an assasination doesn´t seem helpful to that.
I see two possibilities.
1. Syrian president Assads power is not as absolute as it seems and factions within the syrian leadership can act more or less independently.
2. The killing was carried out by people who want to blame it on the Syrians and let them pay the price for it while cooking their own soup.

Voland · #9 (**permalink**) 11-22-2006, 09:29 AM

I doubt that. The Syrian regime is a strictly secular one. The Baath party, from which it emerged , was once founded by arab christians and recieves strong support from Alawites ( Assad is one ) and the christian population.
Also many Maronite christians in Lebanon like president Emile Lahoud are strictly pro-syrian. And it must be noted that Mr. Dschemayel was from a prominent family which was once called the Lebanese Kennedys by somebody but that he himself was not a very prominent politician. Ah, and what I forgot is that Hisbullah is now cooperating with the party of the former christian general Michel Aoun...

The Alawites in Syria :

Alawite - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

and the Baath party :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ba'ath_Party

CHUQ · #10 (**permalink**) 11-22-2006, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tumbleweed

Lebanon is a mess. Bush says we support their government, yet we look the other way while Israel levels the country.

I think Lebanon should be a U.N. problem. Any U.S. interference will make matters worse.

As for the assassination, it has Syria written all over it. They have the most to lose with a stabilized government.

A stable govt is something that may never happen. Sinora (?) right now is losing control and to feather his position a anti-Syrian guys gets whacked. Best thing that could happen to the govt.