A very big coincidence?
75th Anniversary
4th August, 2020. Beirut.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/massive-explosion-shakes-lebanon-s-capital-beirut/story-YiNnlPB8DiNXJpd9PJB6PN.html
Welding? Fireworks?
Chemicals? Ammonium Nitrate? Sodium nitrate? Munitions?
Industrial accident?
Intentional terrorism by State or other agency?
One thing is clear from the video evidence (See below) the event was in two stages: the first appears to be some sort of fire emitting grey smoke; the second a few seconds later an explosion of huge force, immediately creating a 'mushroom cloud' of red smoke (Sulphur dioxide?) and a significant blast of nuclear device proportions, damaging structures up to three miles distant.
If as suggested here, the cause of the blast was 2,700 tons of Ammonium nitrate store for some years in a dock facility, there still needs to be an explanation - extreme heat or explosive device - for it to react violently. The article claims a repeat of the Tiajin explosion in 2015. https://theconversation.com/what-is-ammonium-nitrate-the-chemical-that-exploded-in-beirut-143979
Initial reports indicated this was caused by fireworks and another from stored fertilizers, a common component of terrorist devices, CNN reports today (5.8.2020) that, "
"Explosion caused by "confiscated high explosive material," Lebanese official says." (https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/lebanon-beirut-explosion-live-updates-dle-intl/h_e6713bdae252e2feee83a4e3263c09ac)
"Major General Abbas Ibrahim, of Lebanon's General Security Directorate, said the massive blast that shook Beirut's port area on Tuesday was caused by confiscated “high explosive materials.” It would be "naive to describe such an explosion as due to fireworks," Ibrahim told Lebanese TV."
This of course raises a number of questions such as confiscated by whom and from whom, the answer to which would at least indicate who was aware of their location and may give an indication who may want to destroy them, or use the fact to destroy people and property over a wide area?
If it was an intentional act rather than just a costly industrial accident, those actors already engaged in conflict in the area are obviously in the frame. It is inconceivable that the Lebanese government would itself wish to impose this scale of damage on an already fragile social and political situation.
No, the usual suspects must be considered as possible initiators - Iran, Turkey, the remnants of 'Al qaeda' organisations and of course Israel. All would be in the frame.
Would Iran that has supported Hezbollah and been connected to acts of terror in Lebanon want increase world wide hostility against it in the territory and around the world at this time when it is already under significant pressure? I very much doubt it.
Rogue Sunni remnants might be irresponsible enough but would they want to destroy their own?
The most significant indicator resides with the explosives themselves and who would want them destroyed. Both Israel and Turkey might have cause to remove them from the scene but perhaps for different reasons.
Turkey has pursued military operations to extend its territory and influence in the northern parts of both Syria and Lebanon, whilst Israel has only recently been engaged in attacks in southern Lebanon, Syria and Iran and is well known for its pre-emptive attacks against any facility it sees as 'threatening', to which it applies a very broad definition.
Israel's intelligence network in Lebanon is legendary. If anyone would know of an arms cash that may pose a threat in the hands of Hezbollah, Israel would, and its past actions, particularly in Gaza, prove it is never squeamish about the death and destruction it creates in furthering its political and military aims.
Almost immediately Israel uniquely, put out a statement denying involvement. Would this qualify for the time-honoured judgement: "Methinks The lady doth protest too much"? Contra-indicative is the fact that from the Haaretz quote below, the Israeli Army was amazingly quick off the mark. Within virtually hours of the explosion it had apparently warned and ordered the Western Galilee Hospital to take in casualties.
Nevertheless there emerged an apparent divergence of approach from the top political echelons clearly indicated by the President's son in the quote below. The fact that he thinks moral and practical support for thousands of dead and injured may be a serious crime, points to him believing the explosion was actually a good thing, rather akin to his father's notorious quote that "9/11 was good for Israel". Like father, like son it seems and the inference may go much deeper.
Time may tell. In any event, we may be fairly sure that the intelligence agencies of the west (MI6/CIA etc.) not to mention Israel's Mossad, will already have a pretty good idea whether this was by accident or design, and if the latter what was the motivation and intention. They may even have been party to whatever machinations were involved - if there were any. If they were or weren't, don't expect them to come clean any time soon. After all it is almost twenty years since 9/11 and nearly sixty since Kennedy's assassination and we are still waiting.
From: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/tel-aviv-mayor-announces-solidarity-with-lebanon-slammed-by-right-wing-lawmakers-1.9049005?utm_source=Push_Notification&utm_medium=web_push&utm_campaign=General
Tel Aviv Announced Solidarity With Lebanon.
Accusations of Cozying Up to Israel's Enemy Were Quick to Follow
Tel Aviv Mayor says City Hall will be lit up in the colors of Lebanon's flag: 'Humanity precedes conflict'
"Jerusalem Affairs Minister Rafi Peretz said that while offering humanitarian aid to Lebanon is the right thing to do, "waving the flag of an enemy country in the heart of Tel Aviv is morally questionable." Yair Netanyahu, the premier's son, wrote that the initiative was a felony."
"Tuesday's blast flattened much of the city's port, damaging buildings and blowing out windows and doors as a giant mushroom cloud rose above the capital. Hours later, ambulances still carried away the wounded – now over 4,000 – as army helicopters helped battle fires raging at the port."
"Officials did not say what caused the initial blaze at the port that set off the blast. A security source and media said it was started by welding work being carried out on a warehouse."
"On Wednesday, the director of the Western Galilee Hospital in Nahariya, Dr. Masad Barhoum, said they were "prepared to take in the wounded."
"According to Barhoum, he had contacted Diab, as well as Lebanese President Michel Aoun and the country's parliament to extend a helping hand. He reiterated that in the past the center has treated 3,000 wounded from the Syrian civil war, and added that the Israeli army informed him of the possibility that some of the injured from Lebanon would arrive for treatment.
The 'Americans Knew' web site has just added this post to FB. It lends credence to my suspicions:
Richard Silverstein reports in the website Tikun Olam: “A confidential highly-informed Israeli source has told me that Israel caused the massive explosion at the Beirut port earlier today which killed over 100 and injured thousands. The bombing also virtually leveled the port itself and caused massive damage throughout the city.” - Read the full report: https://israelpalestinenews.org/breaking-israel-bombed-bei…/
For awhile the blog was loading extremely slowly, but now it appears that has been fixed. If the problem recurs, we're also posting the article's text below, by Richard Silverstein, reposted from Tikum Olam (FYI Silverstein has inside sources and his information is generally reliable):
A confidential highly-informed Israeli source has told me that Israel caused the massive explosion at the Beirut port earlier today which killed over 100 and injured thousands. The bombing also virtually leveled the port itself and caused massive damage throughout the city.
Israel targeted a Hezbollah weapons depot at the port and planned to destroy it with an explosive device. Tragically, Israeli intelligence did not perform due diligence on their target. Thus they did not know (or if they did know, they didn’t care) that there were 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a next door warehouse. The explosion at the arms depot ignited the next door warehouse, causing the catastrophe that resulted.
It is, of course, unconscionable that Israeli agents did not determine everything about their target including what was in its immediate vicinity. The tragedy Israel has wreaked is a war crime of immense magnitude.
The ICC has already been investigating Israel for war crimes in Gaza since the 2014 Operation Protective Edge. Now, I imagine it will expand the scope to incorporate today’s criminally negligent massacre.
Though Israel has regularly attacked Hezbollah and Iranian weapons depots and convoys in Syria, it rarely undertakes such brazen attacks inside Lebanon. This attack in the country’s capital marks an even greater escalation. The sheer recklessness of this operation is astonishing.
Not surprising though. An operation of this sort can only happen amidst internal political dysfunction. Bibi is on the ropes and desperate to change the subject. When his intelligence officers brought the plan to him he probably rubbed his hands with glee and said: “Go to it!” Israeli intelligence was naturally out to please the boss and probably cut corners in order to make the attack happen. When no one is at the wheel saying “Stop!” the boat hits an iceberg and sinks. That’s possibly what happened here.
The Israeli bombing brings to mind similar bombings orchestrated by its agents in Beirut in the period before and after its 1982 invasion. Ronen Bergman’s book on Mossad assassinations and Remy Brulin have documented multiple Israeli bombings during this period which wreaked widespread death and destruction on the city’s civilian population.
In this case, the damage done was accidental. But that will be little comfort to the thousands of Beirutis whose lives have become a living hell as a result of this Israeli crime.
As an aside, former Likud MK Moshe Feiglin tweeted a quotation from the Bible about the disaster: “There never have been such great days in Israel as the 15th of Av [the day of the bombing] and Yom Kippur.”
Of course, it pains me to admit that Pres. Trump was correct in his earlier statement that the explosion was a “terrible attack,” and that the information was conveyed to him by “his generals.” In this case, he and they were right.
There could (and should) be domestic political repercussions for this disaster. As Netanyahu approved the attack, he is responsible for the consequences. In 1982, a commission of inquiry found Ariel Sharon culpable for the invasion of Lebanon and the massacre at Sabra and Shatilla. He was sent into political exile for a decade. At the very least, this should disqualify Bibi from leading the country. This would be the outcome in any democratic nation in which the leader was held accountable for his failures.
But alas, Israel is not such a nation, and Bibi always seems to weasel out of responsibility for his blunders. The difference here is that the Israeli leader is already under pressure due to his government’s disastrous response to Covid19 and the looming corruption trial on three counts of bribery. This could be the tipping point.
Normally, Israelis would not bat an eye at such a massacre. They have become inured to the suffering they inflict on their Arab neighbors. But given Netanyahu’s collapsing popularity, this could hasten his end.
Israel couldn’t have picked a worse time to inflict such suffering on Lebanon. The country is in deep economic crisis. Businesses are going bankrupt, people have nothing to eat, politicians quarrel and blame while doing nothing. Lebanon is a basket case. Suffering is everywhere. There is little appetite from its Arab brethren like Saudi Arabia to come to its aid. If any country did not need this added tragedy it is Lebanon. But there you go–Israel doesn’t seem to have any sense of shame or restraint when it comes to inflicting pain on its neighbors.
Of course there will be doubters. Those who disbelieve my source. But to them I point out two pieces of circumstantial evidence which are telling. Normally, if Israel has undertaken a successful terror attack (such as those against Iran) it will either refuse to comment or a senior military or political figure will saying something like: While we refuse to comment, whoever did it did the world a favor.
In this case, Israel immediately denied responsibility. Even Hezbollah supposedly said Israel hadn’t caused the damage (likel
y protecting itself from the inevitable blame that will fall upon it for storing its weapons next to a building filled with explosive material).
y protecting itself from the inevitable blame that will fall upon it for storing its weapons next to a building filled with explosive material).
The second tell-tale sign is that Israel never offers humanitarian aid to its Arab neighbors. During the Syrian Civil War the only group to whom Israel offered humanitarian assistance was its Islamist anti-Assad allies. Israel has never offered such aid to Lebanon, until today. Instead, it has rained down death and destruction for decades. For it to do so now is the height of chutzpah."
Copyright AFP 2017-2020. All rights reserved.
A video shared tens of thousands of times on social media claims to show a missile strike causing an explosion that devastated Beirut, with posts alleging that the footage is “infrared” or “thermal” imaging of the blast. This is false; the missile was edited into the original video, and a filter was added to give the illusion of thermal or infrared imaging.
The video shows large plumes of smoke rising above the port of Beirut and, around six seconds later, appears to show a missile striking the port, leading to a large explosion.
For many social media users who shared the video, it is clear evidence that the explosion in Beirut on August 4th, which killed at least 160 people and injured thousands, was a result of a missile strike.
Some users correctly describe the video as a “negative” version, a filter that makes the lightest areas of the video darkest and vice versa, while others wrongly call it “infrared” or “thermal” imaging.
Michel Aoun, the Lebanese President has said that either “negligence” or a “missile or bomb” triggered the explosion of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate -- a highly explosive substance -- stored at the port, but the exact circumstances of the blast remain unclear.
The explosion has led to protests by demonstrators who say the disaster could not have happened without the corruption and incompetence that have come to define Lebanon's ruling class.
The same clip as the one shared on social media appears 11 seconds into the CNN video, though no missile is visible and no negative filter has been applied.
After the explosion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKFbhO2CXUY
ReplyDeleteNote white flash to the right at 1:20 in : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3dUt67DHH4
ReplyDeleteferrous was what I thought but apparently it could be sulphor dioxide. it seems there was 'traditional' grey smoke fire first then the huge explosion. before it a very suspicious bright light can be seen (not unlike 9/11) there is a report (see my article) that an israeli source admitted they were responsible for blowing up weapons cashe but didn't intend to set the ammonium nitrate off. mmmm unlikely i would say. Of course Trump let the cat out of the bag, quickly contradicted by the Pentagon. But then Lebanon always was on the 'seven countries' list, so make of that what you will. I have lost all faith in pronouncement of western governments on matters of terror events.
ReplyDeleteExplosion from 7 angles! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGEmD6j8diU&fbclid=IwAR0QLf0er4_SnxLHW4Rs2y0gI_bwJvIxqCV-TPX1NZeo1cHJOoX25tgR1Tg
ReplyDeleteLift the Veil: Trump: "A bomb of some kind":
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50mGPhuNUWM&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR12Tg-dDCHSQsSIyWffbbhEV_tPrZ9idEvyDQmoX1EofahlQPiAv1SB9p4
Beirut Explosion Caused by Israeli Missile?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9ZoTsPVPuQ&feature=push-lsb&attr_tag=J_fn1erogJJlIpcM%3A6
I quite agree this was NOT an atomic weapon and have never suggested it was. The point I was making was the strange coincidence of appearance, consequence and timing that Lebanese people themselves described as "their Hiroshima". Obviously tiny in comparison, it has nevertheless caused deaths in their hundreds and widespread devastation in the vicinity of the blast. Ammonium nitrate as a constituent of rapid oxidising (i.e. explosion) is well known but still requires detonation. The preceding fire is obvious but as yet unexplained. White flashes can be seen in it and this, whatever their cause, might have set the 2,700 tons of the material off. But in addition there is now video evidence of an in-coming missile at an acute angle. The video appears on the face of it to be genuine but as yet has not been validated and so may be fake. If the latter on the basis of the frames it appears fairly convincing. If so it could only be described as an an act of war, and there are only a limited possible perpetrators, Israel being the most obvious, although a number of states in that incendiary zone, with access to such weaponry and possibly motive. However in numerous articles I have pointed out Israel's track record in such matters, never reticent even to bomb nuclear facilities and civilian areas with little regard to the human consequences. The Stuxnet episode was an example of the US and Israel working together to frustrate Iran's nuclear programme that went viral. It's involvement in terrorist attacks, espionage and assassination is well known. From the notorious case of the USS Liberty, the United States has aided and abetted its actions. Within this context and the specific threats against Lebanese infrastructure only days before, Israel must remain a primary suspect, particularly if the missile theory is proved correct. The Lebanese PM has specifically not ruled it out. Now as to the 'Hiroshima' reference the connotations are clear. By all accounts Israel has at least 100 nuclear weapons and the ability to deliver them to to all its neighbours. If it did carry out this egregious act, what better way to remind its potential enemies of its capability and the consequences should it so choose?
ReplyDeletePaul Mobbs Tony Gosling I had a couple of days off after an intense week -- catching up with berrying and bread-making.
ReplyDeleteThere is a world outside of the on-line echo-chamber, you know; and when I said "drink some chamomile tea and watch a sunset", I was being *absolutely* serious -- I really think you need to go off-line for a while and do that.
Anyhow, with regards to your earlier comment regarding my, "personal gaslighting"...
The offence of self-deception is not a 'victimless' offence when it comes to social media. That's because social media, in part because of its algorithmic nature and technological bias, is an engineered debate -- designed to amplify extremes rather than simply communicate information.
You are being used. And knowing you as I do, I think you could see that if you wished, but for the comforts of 'group-think' encouraged by the on-line echo-chamber
The best defence against being used is simply not to believe anything unless you can multiply verify it against external 'known' facts -- and by 'known' I mean hard science, not some guy ranting opinion into a video stream in Utah.
The moment I saw that video of the explosion I spent some time looking at all the different angles & info. available because I knew that the "alternate reality" types would try and spin this -- even though this case, because of the huge amounts of multi-source media available is very difficult to 'spin'.
Literally, we've got such an 'orgy of evidence' when it comes to the causes and effects of this event to verify its probable authenticity:
See the white precipitation of water vapour of expanding at high speed? Indicates a high-order detonation pressure wave, not an expansion of gases from a gas explosion/oxidising fire.
See the orange-brown cloud -- characteristic of nitrogen/ammonia compounds, not the black (carbon) that remains from hydrocarbon combustion, or light grey/translucent fume from the fully-saturated nitrogen bonds of high-explosives.
Finally there's the simple scale of this, clearly single, detonation, estimated at somewhere between 500 and 700 tonnes of TNT -- way beyond a conventional bomb/missile, or the US 'MOAB'-type device rated 11-15 tonnes TNT (though as said above, video evidence disproves fuel/air device).
If you strip down to the basics of what the evidence shows, it excludes all the possibilities that you and others are trying to spin -- not least the fact that one of the articles you cited has already been exposed as using manipulated video footage.
Thing is, in this case you are not the only 'victim':
By trying to spin this to fit your own agenda, you belittle the suffering of the people of Beirut, whose lives were already hellish. More than anything else, that is what makes me spend the time replying to you. That's the real offence here.
You pawn your humanity by trying to spin this clearly 'definable' incident as something malevolent, when in fact it demonstrates exactly the kinds of stupidity that the Lebanese people themselves are struggling against. You are a vulture feeding off the carcass of human suffering -- which is why I'm raising an exception in this case.
Given the good work have done in the past, your forays into conspiracy-land also devalue the local people/protesters you will interview, or local stories/issues you will cover in the future -- which again, if you could only appreciate the harms you are causing here, is why your claims cause offence to activists more widely.
I'm not 'unfriending' you (as people have told me I should do). I'm not going to take you off of my email list for the stuff I circulate. It's just that when you have known someone a long time, every now an then it's important that you have the honesty to stop them and say, "Dude!..." when they fuck up.
COINCIDENCE OR WHAT? In dramatic policy shift, Israel to hold Lebanon accountable for Hezbollah attack
ReplyDeleteDefense Minister Benny Gantz has instructed the IDF to bomb Lebanese infrastructure if Hezbollah harms Israeli soldiers or civilians.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/07/31/in-dramatic-policy-shift-israel-to-hold-lebanon-accountable-for-hezbollah-attack/?fbclid=IwAR1zIOr16Qv-E4TB28yp1wb79uuF2Q0e_Ne_VCNjLg1q7k65G5uj37zHRXY
Tim Veater Relationships between people is complicated and nuanced let alone between nations! It seems you jump to un-supported accusations and condemnations too freely. That is a weakness in any personality setting out to find the truth or to discuss issues openly and freely. Where is your evidence for your accusation that I think only in'black and white' as you put it? I like to think I consider issues objectively and forensically, even if it runs against the prevailing narrative. Nothing that has transpired or been revealed following the Beirut blast has contradicted what I opined in my article immediately after it, which was that Ammonium nitrate has the potential to oxidise explosively but remains relatively stable unless detonated. The central issue is therefore what detonated it and was it by accident or design? On the second issue of the relationship between America and Israel, particularly in the realm of 'Intelligence', it may not be 'black and white' as you put it, but it would be hard not to aver from reams of evidence from the Six Day war and before, that the relationship is generally co-operative, as is clearly the State Department and Pentagon's. I mentioned the USS Liberty and Stuxnet as just two examples, but these are merely two of a whole swathe of activity. The Israeli nuclear programme could not have advanced without active and passive American support even if espionage and theft was also involved. Currently America supports Israel financially as is well known - over 142 BILLION since the Second WW! As I understand it Israel has been an unofficial member of the 'Five Eyes' for some time but even it were not, the extensive spying of electronic communications by all sides, including of course the NSA and GCHQ, means there can be few secrets between them. For this reason alone Britain and America must know if this was a 'covert' act of war by Israel, although this does not mean they would necessarily inform us the 'general public'. The cited cases above are sufficient to prove that point.
ReplyDeleteA very distinctive shock wave:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKY4QcgxYTQ&fbclid=IwAR2bbEmH4Wq0YRORRZrDhVULpmPhFxmw3lTVkEs9aWWJ6NXeSBZvUiZAxj8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAW6NkFJiWI
ReplyDeleteSweden's Covid incidence drops off a cliff without lock-down:
ReplyDeletehttps://gumshoenews.com/2020/08/11/sweden-why-has-the-rate-of-infection-dropped-so-precipitously/