[Developing]
It’s getting very tense in Lebanon:
Industry Minister and Christian leader Pierre Gemayel was gunned down as his convoy drove through the Christian Sin el-Fil neighbourhood.
The shooting comes at a time when Lebanese political and sectarian tensions already are at fever pitch.
Mr Gemayel was a member of the Phalange party and supporter of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority, which is locked in a power struggle with pro-Syrian factions led by Hezbollah.
Michelle Malkin: This is the big news of the day. Or rather, in a non-O.J., non-Hollyweird-drenched, non-trivialized world, it would be the big news of the day.
The Lebanese Bloggers: Gemayel was leaving New Jdeideh where he was paying condolences St. Anthony-Jdeideh church. He was driving his Kia, accompanied by two others. 50 meters past the church, a car stopped and three men went down from the car and sprayed him with bullets. Angry Phalangists are burning tires in front of the Kataeb headquarters in Saifi, Beirut. The Internal Security Forces blocked the road from Doura to Saifi.
Beirut Spring: I send my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. Another hero on the road to our blood soaked independence falls.
From Beirut to the Beltway: Saad interrupted the press conference upon receiving the news. He then returned to announce that Gemayel was killed, and accused the Assad regime of trying to kill every free person in Lebanon. Hariri said, chocking with tears, “There is nothing left to discuss with the killer Syrian regime. The international tribunal is between us, and let whatever happens happen.”
BacK to Iraq: I don’t know much right now, but this could be the spark in the can of gasoline that Lebanon has become.
Outside the Beltway: Not good.
Hot Air: They’re not 100% sure yet that it was a political assassination but Fox just broke in to say the shooter was a sniper. If the Syrians are behind it, it’s both par for the course and incredibly stupid, coming as it does two days before Hezbollah is set to take to the streets to try to “peacefully” topple the government and four days before that super-keen, let-the-healing-begin summit between Iraq, Syria, and Iran.
Right Wing Nut House: The choice of the younger Gemayel as a target was no accident. It sends an absolutely clear signal to the rest of Prime Minister Siniora’s cabinet, written in blood, that no one – not even the Prime Minister himself – is safe:
7.62mm Justice: The timing is interesting, in that Hezbollah is about to take to the streets of Lebanon to try and topple the government. It will more than likely widely be blamed on Syria. It is well known that Iran, via it’s puppet state Syria, pulls the strings on Hezbollah.
Jihad Watch: Hizballah said it would topple the government. Is it making its move now?
Snapped Shot: This is definitely a continuation of Syria’s takeover-by-proxy of Lebanon, and should be roundly condemned by the international media and United Nations as such. I’m not going to hold my breath for the condemnation, though.
Sister Toldjah: I wonder who did it? Well, not really, as it’s easy to guess…
Lebanonesque: We descend yet to another of the circles of hell. I’m too sick to write about this now. The authorities promised an investigation to find the culprits. Should laugh or cry? Is that getting beyond sick or what?
Across the Bay: Syria has a primary objective that outweighs everything else: kill the Hariri tribunal, and redominate Lebanon at any cost. This is nothing short than a fight to the death for the Syrians. And, as these thugs have done throughout their bloody history, they will kill anyone. My fear is that they will go after a couple more ministers to ensure the government falls. We know what the Lebanese are prepared to do. Now, what is the Intl. Community prepared to do?
The Jawa Report: Gemayel was a member of the Kataeb Social Democratic Party, more commonly referred to as the Christian Phalange. The armed wing of the Phalange was the most important Christian faction during the Lebanese civil war. His father was the former President Amin Gemayel and his uncle, Bashir Gemayel, was also assassinated shortly after his election as President. During the civil war the Phalangists forces were allies with Israel. In 1982 it was this same Christian militia, not Israel, that massacred Palestinian refugees in the Sabra and Shatila camps.
Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns: We will give full support to the Saniora government in the days and weeks ahead…
Webloggin: The United Nations reaction was typical. They wanted to postpone the International tribunal in the Hariri case because of Lebanon’s instability. That is the kind of assertiveness we have come to expect from the increasingly pro-Muslim council.
Democratic Underground (Joanne98): The truth is that factions of the world elite are fighting and it’s their fight not ours. The people suffer in every country so I think a change is in order. Let the WEALTHY SUFFER FOR A CHANGE! I’ve always thought it suspious, that OBL banned assassinations. I makes be think they are working together against us. It’s time for a straight class warfare attitude. I wouldn’t mind having “rulers” if they weren’t so damed greedy.
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November 21st, 2006 at 7:56 pm
Democracy - Syrian Style…
Now that Syria has resumed diplomatic relations with Iran we just happen to witness the presumption of political assassinations. These are the two countries that Democrats and talking heads in the media think we should invite to the table to sit down a…
November 21st, 2006 at 9:47 pm
Destabilization, now Assassination…
Very sad news…When will this ‘Militant Madness’ Ever Stop? FM Philippe Douste-Blazy on Monday, “I do not think that there is a war between Israel and Lebanon, I think that Syria, Iran and Hezbollah are trying to destabilize Lebanon, which is our …
November 22nd, 2006 at 1:44 am
Assassination in Lebanon…
…there was another attempted assassination today. This time it was Michel Pharaon. If he had been killed, the assassins would have successfully executed a coup d’etat and caused the Lebanese government to fall….
November 22nd, 2006 at 1:45 am
” We know what the Lebanese are prepared to do. Now, what is the Intl. Community prepared to do?”
Um, on behalf of the International Community, I can practically guarantee, with a fair degree of confidence, that within 3 years we will have a preliminary draft of a very strongly worded letter ready for circulation and initial comments.