Residents of Beirut's southern suburb, including relatives of victims of the car bomb on August 15, place flowers on a memorial stand erected in dedication to the victims of the Tripoli bombing, at the site of the bomb that targeted Beirut's southern suburb on 24 August 2013. (Photo: AFP - Anwar Amro)
Things happen on their own. They do not need to be prepared. This happened yesterday. The chaos accompanying rescue operations at the scene of the terrorist crime in Tripoli did not distract people or politicians from discussing the reactions. Some were concerned whether March 14 leaders will accuse Hezbollah of the crime. Nobody cared for their accusations of the Syrian regime; this is small talk that does not make any difference. However, accusing Hezbollah means a lot.
The crude statements of Future Movement MP Khaled al-Daher does not only betray his ignorance or rejection of the logical desire to prevent bloodshed. It is an indication of a destructive mind, which seems to be delighted by the outbreak of sectarian killing.
However, others who spoke on behalf of people or who represented political forces with some weight were shocked by the scenes fatal madness. It could be the first time that Future Movement officials avoided direct accusations of a Lebanese side being behind the explosion. On top of this, it was the first time that security officials close to the movement went as far as suggesting broader assumptions. This means that investigations must consider all assumptions, including the possibility that takfiri groups were behind this crazy act for reasons that are beyond internal political confrontations.
On the other hand, people seemed to be busy with other things, such as monitoring social media sites and comments by other citizens. Some of the more cunning spent the whole day looking for vengeful or gloating statements by Hezbollah and March 8 supporters. However, they did not find what they hoped for. Of course, not all March 8 supporters are in a tranquil mood. But the blood of the Dahiyeh bombing martyrs is not dry yet. People are still burying those whose remains are being collected or waiting on those who are yet unidentified. This created a space for rhetoric, which seems at first glance to be a ray of hope for those wishing for peace. If it proves genuine, it could become a source of distress for those leading the blind terror throughout the country. It was the rhetoric that maintained that the Tripoli bombers are brothers in heart, mind, and loyalty with the Dahiyeh bombers and others, who are preparing to bomb other places.
Part of the problem is that nobody listened to the statements by the commander of the armed forces General Jean Kahwaji a few days ago. He said that military intelligence has been pursuing terrorist cells planning to bomb places with various sectarian, confessional, and political loyalties for some time, aiming to ignite deadly sectarian strife. Continued neglect of these statements will mean that the bloodshed will not stop.
Measures need to be taken the day before tomorrow, not only to track and prosecute the murderers and attempt to deter them, but also to disable their main catalyst, which is sectarian incitement and agitation rampant among the sides of the conflict in Lebanon. This is an extremely important factor and could be bigger than finding explosives warehouses. Security forces should aim to stop, kill, or blow up all arms traders in Lebanon, regardless of nationality or sect. Public opinion will thank all those who will eliminate this category, which sells death day and night.
But is this sweet talk useful in a moment of truth?
It could be useful if people decide to pressure all political forces to prevent the transformation of the political conflict into a bloody confrontation, in a realistic manner that does not carry heavy slogans. In all honesty, linking the fate of the weapons of death in the alleys with the weapons of the resistance, means that there is a lack of will to solve this major problem.
Yesterday, Tripoli lived through a bloody day that claimed dozens of victims. Yesterday's guillotine, with all its brutality, is nothing like the stupidity or even treason of the neighborhood thugs. Those who put car bombs at the doors of mosques to blow them up when worshippers are gathering or leaving are planning indiscriminate and intensive murder. This is what takfiris of all shapes and sizes are known for.
Ibrahim al-Amin is editor-in-chief of Al-Akhbar.
This article is an edited translation from the Arabic Edition.
The crude statements of Future Movement MP Khaled al-Daher does not only betray his ignorance or rejection of the logical desire to prevent bloodshed. It is an indication of a destructive mind, which seems to be delighted by the outbreak of sectarian killing.
However, others who spoke on behalf of people or who represented political forces with some weight were shocked by the scenes fatal madness. It could be the first time that Future Movement officials avoided direct accusations of a Lebanese side being behind the explosion. On top of this, it was the first time that security officials close to the movement went as far as suggesting broader assumptions. This means that investigations must consider all assumptions, including the possibility that takfiri groups were behind this crazy act for reasons that are beyond internal political confrontations.
On the other hand, people seemed to be busy with other things, such as monitoring social media sites and comments by other citizens. Some of the more cunning spent the whole day looking for vengeful or gloating statements by Hezbollah and March 8 supporters. However, they did not find what they hoped for. Of course, not all March 8 supporters are in a tranquil mood. But the blood of the Dahiyeh bombing martyrs is not dry yet. People are still burying those whose remains are being collected or waiting on those who are yet unidentified. This created a space for rhetoric, which seems at first glance to be a ray of hope for those wishing for peace. If it proves genuine, it could become a source of distress for those leading the blind terror throughout the country. It was the rhetoric that maintained that the Tripoli bombers are brothers in heart, mind, and loyalty with the Dahiyeh bombers and others, who are preparing to bomb other places.
Part of the problem is that nobody listened to the statements by the commander of the armed forces General Jean Kahwaji a few days ago. He said that military intelligence has been pursuing terrorist cells planning to bomb places with various sectarian, confessional, and political loyalties for some time, aiming to ignite deadly sectarian strife. Continued neglect of these statements will mean that the bloodshed will not stop.
Measures need to be taken the day before tomorrow, not only to track and prosecute the murderers and attempt to deter them, but also to disable their main catalyst, which is sectarian incitement and agitation rampant among the sides of the conflict in Lebanon. This is an extremely important factor and could be bigger than finding explosives warehouses. Security forces should aim to stop, kill, or blow up all arms traders in Lebanon, regardless of nationality or sect. Public opinion will thank all those who will eliminate this category, which sells death day and night.
But is this sweet talk useful in a moment of truth?
It could be useful if people decide to pressure all political forces to prevent the transformation of the political conflict into a bloody confrontation, in a realistic manner that does not carry heavy slogans. In all honesty, linking the fate of the weapons of death in the alleys with the weapons of the resistance, means that there is a lack of will to solve this major problem.
Yesterday, Tripoli lived through a bloody day that claimed dozens of victims. Yesterday's guillotine, with all its brutality, is nothing like the stupidity or even treason of the neighborhood thugs. Those who put car bombs at the doors of mosques to blow them up when worshippers are gathering or leaving are planning indiscriminate and intensive murder. This is what takfiris of all shapes and sizes are known for.
Ibrahim al-Amin is editor-in-chief of Al-Akhbar.
This article is an edited translation from the Arabic Edition.