Little Green Footballs - US Embassy in Beirut Targeted

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Wed, Dec 10, 2003 at 11:04:05 am PST

A Lebanese man and a Palestinian were arrested earlier today, foiling an attempted terror attack against the US embassy in Beirut: Two men arrested with explosives outside US embassy in Beirut.

An army statement said the pair was arrested at 11:00 am (0900 GMT) at the entrance to the embassy in Awkar, which lies 15 kilometres (nine miles) outside Beirut.
The Lebanese man was arrested before he could make his way past the reception desk, while the Palestinian was nabbed in a car outside the gates of the fortress-like complex that houses some 500 people.

"Questioning of the suspects has begun,” the statement said, adding that the authorities will endeavor to “arrest everyone involved and bring them to justice."

The army did not identify either of the men, nor did it say whether they had any accomplices. It was not immediately known whether they belong to any political organization.

Security sources said the Lebanese man, who was carrying a package containing sticks of dynamite, was nabbed by embassy security personnel and quickly turned over to the army.

Earlier, an embassy spokesperson said “a man with a suspicious package was arrested outside the entrance gate” of the massive compound, which houses some 500 people.

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32 comments

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Kalb caD-di-nee Wed, Dec 10, 2003 9:06:59am

I thought Bombadan is over.

Let's Roll Wed, Dec 10, 2003 9:10:08am

I wonder who gets to "interrogate" them?

GW Wed, Dec 10, 2003 9:10:39am

"The army did not identify either of the men, nor did it say whether they had any accomplices. It was not immediately known whether they belong to any political organization."

We do consider Islam a political organization don't we? I mean, just read their chart... er, the koran.

Morgan Wed, Dec 10, 2003 9:15:45am

Why have an embassy in Lebanon? The one is Damascus should be sufficient.

Crill Wed, Dec 10, 2003 9:18:18am

everyone involved

They're going to arrest all of Hezbollah? Cool!

ChgoAtty2001 Wed, Dec 10, 2003 9:22:36am

/LLL Rewrite

Two outstanding, peaceful members of the Islamic religion of peace were minding their own business, just carrying around explosives wired to go off at a moment's notice, when they were brutally attacked without provocation by United States occupation force terrorists. Witnesses at the scene described the attack as bloody and gruesome. One witness said that the blood was already soiled by the brutal Americans, covered in dirt by the time he went to go rub his hands in it.

Beirut is located near Israel, which is building an Apartheid Wall at the benefit of Jews, baking Jewish matzos with the blood of Islamic (The Religion of Peace!) Children, and killing Palestinians for Jewish target practice. This, however, is purely anti-Zionism, which is allowed, and not anti-semitism. The United States is also run by Jews.

Did we mention the Jews are the source of all evil in the world? Not Islam (Peace, dammit, the religion of fucking PEACE! END THE MOTHERFUCKING OCCUPATION!)

/LLL Rewrite Over

iowahawk Wed, Dec 10, 2003 9:23:51am

Did we get French permission to arrest them?

mickthemick Wed, Dec 10, 2003 9:31:38am

Blowing it up the first time wasn't good enough for these filthy, evil bastards? Apparently not. Beasts.#1 Kalb

I thought Bombadan is over.

Bombadan is over. Now adherents to the RoP can commit acts of terrorism any time instead of waiting 'till dark.

Mr Pol Wed, Dec 10, 2003 9:33:35am

#7 iowahawk

Probably not. So they'll be released tomorrow morning.

Occasional Reader Wed, Dec 10, 2003 9:38:50am

So I guess there's no chance of them extending a "bombing pause" to the kuffar during the Hannukah/Christmas season? How culturally insensitive of them.

Rick W. Wed, Dec 10, 2003 9:40:07am

Earlier, an embassy spokesperson said “a man with a suspicious package..."

hehe

John Gibbon Wed, Dec 10, 2003 9:42:09am

These guys just won a free ticket to Guantanamo!

Yes, a sunny worry free all expense paid vacation to that sunny carribean isle of Cuba. No need to pack bags, we've got your vacation garb to include stylish goggles to shield your eyes...

friend Wed, Dec 10, 2003 9:42:32am

Thank God they were stopped! Our security people were alert, and it seems that allah didn't want these potential martyrs in heaven right now. It's too full, and and he's having trouble finding more virgins. Just a joke.

John Gibbon Wed, Dec 10, 2003 9:47:03am

These islamist seem to have a problem these days with executing their classic suicide bomber missions:

First, a young specialist cranks ~200 rounds of SAW ammo into a potential car bomb two days ago, thereby saving his entire battalion. (Iraq)

Two women can't seem to find the Duma in time, so they just blow themselves up in downtown Moscow

Now this...I'm glad they are getting more inept!!

Joel Wed, Dec 10, 2003 9:50:57am

Let's see how the media will spin this so it becomes Israel's fault.

OT - By the way, Tom Friedman is doing a piece on the Israeli-Palestinian situation tonight at 10:00 on the Discovery Channel. I think that I'll skip it and rely on LGFers to reprot on it.

Engineer Wed, Dec 10, 2003 9:54:25am

#15 Joel

By the way, Tom Friedman is doing a piece on the Israeli-Palestinian situation tonight at 10:00 on the Discovery Channel. I think that I'll skip it and rely on LGFers to reprot on it.

Trying to save your TV set from thrown objects?

Unmutual Wed, Dec 10, 2003 9:59:20am

Earlier, an embassy spokesperson said “a man with a suspicious package..."

Bill Clinton?

norar Wed, Dec 10, 2003 9:59:47am

OT.

Did anybody see reports in mainstream press on the Bagdad anti-terror demonstrations???

I could only read about it on Zeyad's 'Healing Iraq'

12/10 was called to be anti-terror day in Iraq well in advance, so there are no excuses for a press not to be there.

Renna Wed, Dec 10, 2003 10:01:15am

Joel, I'm betting that the spin will be more to the effect that since the Iraq war (bwack! quagmire, bwack) has inflamed the Muslim street, this is all W's fault. Never mind that this sort of stuff has been going on for decades (centuries?) before last March. Heck, when my own father was in Beruit in the 60s, the locals shot at him. Perhaps that's why he never really liked my Lebanese boyfriend from college?

I could be wrong, maybe the press will go for a two-fer and blame Bush and the Jooos.

Mr Pol Wed, Dec 10, 2003 10:04:08am

#18 norar

It was reported, and fairly so, on French TV tonight.

Renna Wed, Dec 10, 2003 10:05:13am

Just stopping by so I hope I'm not repeating what's been covered but Documents Destroyed in Terror Case Against Professor

TAMPA, Fla. — Trying to cut down on clutter, clerks at a federal courthouse accidentally destroyed search warrants in the case of a University of South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian charged with aiding terrorists. …The U.S. government accuses him of being the North American head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. He faces life in prison if convicted.

EW1(SG) Wed, Dec 10, 2003 10:06:44am

It was not immediately known whether they belong to any political organization.

Any bets that they belong to a political group whose name starts with an 'H'?

Rick W. Wed, Dec 10, 2003 10:14:38am

EW1(SG)

What is the "SG" designator? (I'm an "SS", forgive the ignorance.)

AG abu Houston Wed, Dec 10, 2003 10:21:03am

They are probably Palestinian Jew and a Lebanese Zionist.

Arabs don't target Americans, they are fooled by the Mossad into thinking that they are targeting Zionist instillations.

And if the Arabs can't be fooled, the Mossad sends it's own operatives.

BIG Wed, Dec 10, 2003 10:24:45am

#18 norar

I haven't seen anything on it.

I also haven't seen you in awhile. Did you and Simone have a spat?

Papijoe Wed, Dec 10, 2003 10:28:21am

The army did not identify either of the men

quickly turned over to the army

Would that be the Marines?

abu cannoncocker Wed, Dec 10, 2003 11:12:43am

#26 papijoe

I would assume it was the Lebanese Army. From reading the article I would say they never got in the compound and were arrested at the main pedestrian gate by The lebanese. The U. S. Marines are responsible for the Internal security of the Embassies they guard. We have no powers of arrest and can only turn people over to the host country for prosecution. I was a Marine Embassy Guard. I lived through the seldom mentioned suicide bombing (by Al Dawa) of the American Embassy in Kuwait in Dec 1983. The splodey dopes blew up the wrong building thank g-d. they got our liqour warehouse though. Long tour after that.

abu cannoncocker Wed, Dec 10, 2003 11:19:59am

Now that I think of it, on the day they blew up the embassy in Kuwait our Palestinian receptionist, Palestinian Arabic language teacher and Palestinian dispatcher all called in sick.

Things that make you go Hmmm

Papijoe Wed, Dec 10, 2003 11:22:10am

27 abu cannoncocker

Ah, hadn't thought of that. Thanks.

The splodey dopes blew up the wrong building thank g-d. they got our liqour warehouse though. Long tour after that.

*cringe*

Didn't you get those bottles of "Scope" in your care packages?

Joel Wed, Dec 10, 2003 11:26:40am

#16 Engineer
I won't watch the show (Tom Firedman on Discovery) because I have to watch my blood pressure. That is why I also refuse to watch on CNN "The Capital Gang" and NBC "The McLaughlin Group." People such as Pat Buchanan, Robert Novak, Mark Shields and Eleanor Clift are not good for the BP.

# 19 Renna - Lebanon used to be after Israel, the best country in the Middle East. It started going down hill after 1970 - 71 when Arafat after being thrown out of Jordan, relocated his terror organization to Beirut.

abu cannoncocker Wed, Dec 10, 2003 11:34:40am

#29
didn't you get those bottles of "Scope" in your care packages?

LOL. We were very inventive. We took turns flying to Bahrain with empty suitcases. Loading up with booze and flying back. We had diplomatic passports and weren't subject to search. Oneday I was going through the Kuwaiti airport leaking a broken bottle of Johnnie Walker Black from a suitcase. I was laughing and crying at the same time.

Sapper Wed, Dec 10, 2003 11:48:02am

WHAT THE HECK - HOW DID ANYONE GET INTO THE RECEPTION DESK AREA WITH A PACKAGE???

Now that the lastest bombers have liquid high-explosives and timers (see Debka today) why on earth are we allowing anyone near the entrances without a quick search in the car park or at a road block???