veteranstoday--2020-08-09--Lebanon: The Beirut Blast, Destablisation, Chaos an attempt at Regime change

An attempted coup d ’ état is underway in Lebanon .
Another orchestrated colour revolution being attempted , as rioters turn violent , take over government buildings , burn documents and properties .
The target is regime change , or worse , an outright religio-sectarian Civil War , which for long has been a US-Israeli-Saudi plan to destroy Lebanon .
Interference by US and France in the immediate aftermath of the terror attack Statements by US Ambassador Shea Dorothy and French President Macron are clear pointers to this nefarious design .
“ The Lebanese people deserve leadership that listens to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In fact , MK Moshe Feiglin , an extreme right-winger from Israeli PM Netanyahu ’ s Likud Party , could not hide his happiness at the tragedy that had befallen Beirut .
Feiglin wrote that he was , “ sending his thanks to G-d , and all the geniuses and heroes really ( ! )
who organized for us this wonderful celebration in honour of the Day of Love.
” Feiglin surely seems to know the “ geniuses and heroes who organised ” this massive terror attack .
Interesting indeed , should I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” President Macron of France , the old colonial power , immediately flew into Beirut on the 6th of August , 2 days after the terror attack on the 4th of August and went on to say , “ If reforms are not carried out , Lebanon will continue to sink .
What is also needed here is political change .
This explosion should be the start of a new era.
” This is the same Macron facing massive popular protests in France from hundreds of thousands of discontented and angry farmers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are protesting against Macrons ’ Neo-liberal reforms and massive corruption .
The Yellow Vest movement as it ’ s popularly called , faces great repression and violence from the French police .
Thus the pretentious and arrogant Macron is hardly qualified to preach to other nations .
In fact , on a lighter note , the French are appealing to the Lebanese to keep Macron in Beirut , as he ’ s a disaster for France .
Which country , which government , which army , will permit an ambassador or a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such provocative statements immediately in the aftermath of such a massive terror attack on their soil ?
The entire Beirut port destroyed , more than a 150 dead and counting , more than 5000 injured , with an unprecedented 300,000 people who have lost their houses .
The population of Beirut is around a million , while the entire population of Lebanon is around 4 million .
It will take between an estimated $ 10 to $ 15 Billion to rebuild the port and the city .
Beirut city itself has been declared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been floated on Avaaz , appealing to France to once again come and rule Lebanon under the French Colonial mandate for 10 years .
This is truly pathetic , and the collaborators will soon be exposed .
These are all clear signals for the collaborator forces to carry out a coup , ensuring US , French , Israeli and Saudi support .
Protesters have killed one policeman , even as many protesters have been injured in violent clashes with the police .
A group of Retired Army officers too got into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and announced that it was the HQ of the revolution and appealed to the protesters to takeover other government buildings .
Three hours later they were vacated by a contingent of the Lebanese army .
The protesters are destroying , burning documents and files in key government ministries , namely Foreign Affairs , the Economic and the Environment Ministries .
On their part , both the Lebanese Government , President Michel Aoun , PM Hassan Diab and the Army have stated that the people have legitimate grievances and have the right to protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the vandalisation of property , of government buildings and documents will not be allowed .
PM Diab has also called for elections to be held within a period of 2 months .
The target of this terror attack , contrived destabilisation and chaos is undoubtedly Hezbollah and all the constituents of Lebanese National Resistance that have all made great sacrifices whilst valiantly resisting the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 .
They have defended Lebanon and successfully defeated Israel , when finally the Zionist military machine was forced to retreat in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to occupy the Sheba farms .
This was followed by another Israeli invasion in 2006 , where again the Lebanese National Resistance defeated Israel and ended their military domination of the region .
Israeli terror via its military machine had finally been counter-balanced by the courage and resilience of the Resistance .
In context of the Beirut blast , aspersions are being cast and anger mainly being directed against the Hezbollah for storing weapons at the port , a charge that Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah has denied and scoffed at .
Hezbollah is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and thus Hezbollah takes great precautions in hiding and securing its weaponry from being targeted by Israel .
Thus a public place like the port is clearly out of the question .
On his part , Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah has called for an open and transparent investigation into the Beirut blast .
The investigation will prove as to who were the real perpetrators and thus some of the key issues that they need to ascertain are the following : ▪Who was responsible for the storage of the Ammonium Nitrate , since when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to remain in the port ?
▪Was the destruction caused by an advanced potent weapon fired by a foreign nation ?
▪According to the Lebanese Army , there were 29 aerial incursions of Lebanese airspace by Israeli fighter-jets , over the 1st and 2nd of August just 48 hours prior to the blast on the 4th of August .
▪Radar images of unusual patrols and reconnaissance operations of four US Navy spy planes on the Lebanon-Syria are also part of the evidence .
Was the US monitoring the operation leading to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does control the access to the port ?
According to Steven Sahounie , Damascus based journalist and political analyst , “ Hassan Koraytem is the General Manager of the Port Authority of Beirut , and a member of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri ’ s ‘ Future Party ’ , which controls access to the Port.
” Thus once again we have the Hariri factor , the pro-US-Saudi ally in control of the port , another key part of the mounting evidence of internal sabotage and an external attack .
On the issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ require further investigation , as it was clearly present in the port .
Yet the “ White Mushroom Cloud ” that we all have witnessed , is evidence of another volatile material , a new weapon , a new advanced missile , that has been ominously plausibly unleashed in this terror attack .
Here Lebanese President General Michel Aoun has publicly stated that , “ The cause has not been determined yet .
There is a possibility of external interference through a rocket or bomb or other act.
” In fact US President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ terrible attack ” , and went on to say that “ American generals told him that it was likely caused by a bomb.
” Trump ’ s public statement is remarkable indeed , as his Generals clearly told their President that it was an “ attack ” .
This later led to denials by Defence Secretary Mark Esper , who insisted it was an “ accident ” .
Yet the White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows defended the President and stated that , Trump only told reporters on Tuesday what military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president shared with the American people what he was briefed on , with 100 % certainty I can tell you that.
” Clearly an attack by an external force , namely Israel , with the full knowledge of the US , France and Saudi Arabia can not be ruled out .
In my estimation , they are the real perpetrators of this vile act of terror .
They have a history of such bloody acts , as we all well know .
In this hour of great peril , we stand in solidarity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Resistance and both are intertwined .
This remarkable nation has survived despite all the plots to divide the society and engineer civil wars .
Lebanon has survived despite the economic sanctions imposed upon them by the US , France and Saudi Arabia .
This has created a severe economic crisis , leading to hyper inflation and record unemployment rates , even as Lebanese oligarchs have swindled the banks , leaving Lebanon burdened with a gargantuan debt of around $ 90 Billion .
This is compounded with the fact that the war on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of political , economic and social destabilisation within Lebanon .
Do note that effigies of President Michel Aoun and Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah are being selectively burnt by protesters .
This is despite the well known fact that it was the US-Saudi backed Hariri clan , the Future Party and their allies , that control the key sectors of the economy and have gained enormously by their corrupt misrule of the country .
Thus if the current Michel Aoun government arrests certain powerful corrupt leaders and individuals , Lebanon will descend into civil war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powers and private militias .
According to noted Syrian-Palestinian analyst and Beirut based journalist Laith Marouf , it is in fact the French gift of the sectarian parliamentary system that has been the bane of Lebanon .
The entire political edifice is based on a “ confessional system ” whereby the political representatives are elected on the basis of their narrow religious and sectarian identities .
This has ensured that Lebanon remains internally divided and weak .
The political system itself is designed to prevent a larger Lebanese National identity from emerging , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religio-sectarian system .
This compounded with the fact that there is a disproportionate amount of foreign interference in domestic Lebanese affairs , due to which the government remains divided , weak and indecisive .
This in fact provides the space for the unbridled looting and corruption by the ruling classes .
Despite all these seemingly insurmountable hurdles , Lebanese society has given birth to one of the most remarkable national resistance movements of our time , a resistance movement that has withstood and defeated the combined might of the US and Israel over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a miracle .
Basically Lebanon is paying the price of standing with the axis of the Resistance in the region , namely Palestine , Syria , Iraq , Iran and Yemen .
These nations refuse to surrender their sovereignty and their independence to the might of the imperial , Zionist , collaborator nexus and are thus facing an outright war on military and economic fronts .
Despite all the odds , this nation with a population of only 4 million , continues to resolutely stand with the resistance .
The overwhelming number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the liberation of Palestine and of the entire region – and it is due to this very reason that they are paying the ultimate price .
All these plots have failed , even as the Lebanese National Resistance has grown stronger and has gained legitimacy and respect across the world , much to the chagrin of the imperial-collaborator nexus .
This is also an appeal to the International solidarity movements against Imperialism and Zionism , the international Palestine solidarity movements , the Anti-War movements , to come out and expose this nefarious plot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberation movements across the region and the world ; an appeal to come and stand with Lebanon and defend the Resistance that today is the vanguard and stands at the very frontlines and defends the world .
Feroze Mithiborwala is an expert on West Asian affairs .
He is also the Founder-National General Secretary of the India Palestine Solidarity Forum .
He was also the organiser of the First Asian Convoy to Gaza ( 2010 ) and the Global March to Jerusalem ( 2012 ) .

By Feroze Mithiborwala for VT
An attempted coup d’état is underway in Lebanon. Another orchestrated colour revolution being attempted, as rioters turn violent, take over government buildings, burn documents and properties. The target is regime change, or worse, an outright religio-sectarian Civil War, which for long has been a US-Israeli-Saudi plan to destroy Lebanon.
Interference by US and France in the immediate aftermath of the terror attack
Statements by US Ambassador Shea Dorothy and French President Macron are clear pointers to this nefarious design.
USA ambassador Shea Dorothy issued a statement supporting the rioters stating,
“The Lebanese people deserve leadership that listens to their demands for transparency and accountability.”
In fact, MK Moshe Feiglin, an extreme right-winger from Israeli PM Netanyahu’s Likud Party, could not hide his happiness at the tragedy that had befallen Beirut. Feiglin wrote that he was, “sending his thanks to G-d, and all the geniuses and heroes really (!) who organized for us this wonderful celebration in honour of the Day of Love.”
Feiglin surely seems to know the “geniuses and heroes who organised” this massive terror attack. Interesting indeed, should I say, “Elementary my dear Watson!”
President Macron of France, the old colonial power, immediately flew into Beirut on the 6th of August, 2 days after the terror attack on the 4th of August and went on to say, “If reforms are not carried out, Lebanon will continue to sink. What is also needed here is political change. This explosion should be the start of a new era.”
This is the same Macron facing massive popular protests in France from hundreds of thousands of discontented and angry farmers, workers, students, pensioners, who are protesting against Macrons’ Neo-liberal reforms and massive corruption. The Yellow Vest movement as it’s popularly called, faces great repression and violence from the French police. Thus the pretentious and arrogant Macron is hardly qualified to preach to other nations.
In fact, on a lighter note, the French are appealing to the Lebanese to keep Macron in Beirut, as he’s a disaster for France.
Which country, which government, which army, will permit an ambassador or a president of a foreign nation to make such provocative statements immediately in the aftermath of such a massive terror attack on their soil?
The entire Beirut port destroyed, more than a 150 dead and counting, more than 5000 injured, with an unprecedented 300,000 people who have lost their houses. The population of Beirut is around a million, while the entire population of Lebanon is around 4 million. It will take between an estimated $10 to $15 Billion to rebuild the port and the city. Beirut city itself has been declared a National Disaster.
An online petition has been floated on Avaaz, appealing to France to once again come and rule Lebanon under the French Colonial mandate for 10 years. This is truly pathetic, and the collaborators will soon be exposed.
These are all clear signals for the collaborator forces to carry out a coup, ensuring US, French, Israeli and Saudi support.
Protesters resort to violence and vandalism
Protesters have killed one policeman, even as many protesters have been injured in violent clashes with the police. A group of Retired Army officers too got into the act and took over the Foreign Ministry and announced that it was the HQ of the revolution and appealed to the protesters to takeover other government buildings. Three hours later they were vacated by a contingent of the Lebanese army.
The protesters are destroying, burning documents and files in key government ministries, namely Foreign Affairs, the Economic and the Environment Ministries.
These are clear attempts to destroy the evidence and thus pre-empt the time bound investigation being carried out by the Government looking into the Beirut blast.
On their part, both the Lebanese Government, President Michel Aoun, PM Hassan Diab and the Army have stated that the people have legitimate grievances and have the right to protest. But the protests must be peaceful and the vandalisation of property, of government buildings and documents will not be allowed. PM Diab has also called for elections to be held within a period of 2 months.
Target: The Lebanese National Resistance
The target of this terror attack, contrived destabilisation and chaos is undoubtedly Hezbollah and all the constituents of Lebanese National Resistance that have all made great sacrifices whilst valiantly resisting the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982.
They have defended Lebanon and successfully defeated Israel, when finally the Zionist military machine was forced to retreat in the year 2000, though yet they continue to occupy the Sheba farms.
This was followed by another Israeli invasion in 2006, where again the Lebanese National Resistance defeated Israel and ended their military domination of the region. Israeli terror via its military machine had finally been counter-balanced by the courage and resilience of the Resistance.
The Beirut Port Blast
In context of the Beirut blast, aspersions are being cast and anger mainly being directed against the Hezbollah for storing weapons at the port, a charge that Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah has denied and scoffed at.
Hezbollah is the primary target of the Israeli war machine, and thus Hezbollah takes great precautions in hiding and securing its weaponry from being targeted by Israel. Thus a public place like the port is clearly out of the question.
On his part, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah has called for an open and transparent investigation into the Beirut blast.
Key Questions for the Investigation
The investigation will prove as to who were the real perpetrators and thus some of the key issues that they need to ascertain are the following:
▪Who controlled the port security?
▪Was there a Hezbollah weapons depot?
▪Who was responsible for the storage of the Ammonium Nitrate, since when was it present, why was it allowed to remain in the port?
▪Was the destruction caused by an advanced potent weapon fired by a foreign nation?
▪According to the Lebanese Army, there were 29 aerial incursions of Lebanese airspace by Israeli fighter-jets, over the 1st and 2nd of August just 48 hours prior to the blast on the 4th of August.
▪Radar images of unusual patrols and reconnaissance operations of four US Navy spy planes on the Lebanon-Syria are also part of the evidence. Was the US monitoring the operation leading to the massive attack on Beirut?
So who does control the access to the port?
According to Steven Sahounie, Damascus based journalist and political analyst, “Hassan Koraytem is the General Manager of the Port Authority of Beirut, and a member of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s ‘Future Party’, which controls access to the Port.”
Thus once again we have the Hariri factor, the pro-US-Saudi ally in control of the port, another key part of the mounting evidence of internal sabotage and an external attack.
On the issue of the Ammonium Nitrate, that does require further investigation, as it was clearly present in the port. Yet the “White Mushroom Cloud” that we all have witnessed, is evidence of another volatile material, a new weapon, a new advanced missile, that has been ominously plausibly unleashed in this terror attack.
Here Lebanese President General Michel Aoun has publicly stated that, “The cause has not been determined yet. There is a possibility of external interference through a rocket or bomb or other act.”
In fact US President Trump clearly stated that it was a “terrible attack”, and went on to say that “American generals told him that it was likely caused by a bomb.”
Trump’s public statement is remarkable indeed, as his Generals clearly told their President that it was an “attack”.
This later led to denials by Defence Secretary Mark Esper, who insisted it was an “accident”. Yet the White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows defended the President and stated that, Trump only told reporters on Tuesday what military officials had told him. “The president shared with the American people what he was briefed on, with 100% certainty I can tell you that.”
Clearly an attack by an external force, namely Israel, with the full knowledge of the US, France and Saudi Arabia cannot be ruled out. In my estimation, they are the real perpetrators of this vile act of terror. They have a history of such bloody acts, as we all well know.
The Lebanese National Resistance
In this hour of great peril, we stand in solidarity with the Lebanese people and the Lebanese National Resistance and both are intertwined. This remarkable nation has survived despite all the plots to divide the society and engineer civil wars.
Lebanon has survived despite the economic sanctions imposed upon them by the US, France and Saudi Arabia. This has created a severe economic crisis, leading to hyper inflation and record unemployment rates, even as Lebanese oligarchs have swindled the banks, leaving Lebanon burdened with a gargantuan debt of around $90 Billion.
This is compounded with the fact that the war on Syria has led to a great degree of political, economic and social destabilisation within Lebanon.
Do note that effigies of President Michel Aoun and Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah are being selectively burnt by protesters. This is despite the well known fact that it was the US-Saudi backed Hariri clan, the Future Party and their allies, that control the key sectors of the economy and have gained enormously by their corrupt misrule of the country.
Thus if the current Michel Aoun government arrests certain powerful corrupt leaders and individuals, Lebanon will descend into civil war, protected as they are by foreign powers and private militias.
Lebanese Confessional Political System
According to noted Syrian-Palestinian analyst and Beirut based journalist Laith Marouf, it is in fact the French gift of the sectarian parliamentary system that has been the bane of Lebanon.
The entire political edifice is based on a “confessional system” whereby the political representatives are elected on the basis of their narrow religious and sectarian identities. This has ensured that Lebanon remains internally divided and weak. The political system itself is designed to prevent a larger Lebanese National identity from emerging, strait-jacketed as they are in a narrow religio-sectarian system.
This compounded with the fact that there is a disproportionate amount of foreign interference in domestic Lebanese affairs, due to which the government remains divided, weak and indecisive. This in fact provides the space for the unbridled looting and corruption by the ruling classes.
The Lebanese National Resistance
Despite all these seemingly insurmountable hurdles, Lebanese society has given birth to one of the most remarkable national resistance movements of our time, a resistance movement that has withstood and defeated the combined might of the US and Israel over nearly 4 decades. This in itself is a miracle.
Basically Lebanon is paying the price of standing with the axis of the Resistance in the region, namely Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Yemen. These nations refuse to surrender their sovereignty and their independence to the might of the imperial, Zionist, collaborator nexus and are thus facing an outright war on military and economic fronts.
Despite all the odds, this nation with a population of only 4 million, continues to resolutely stand with the resistance. The overwhelming number of the Lebanese People remain committed to the liberation of Palestine and of the entire region – and it is due to this very reason that they are paying the ultimate price.
All these plots have failed, even as the Lebanese National Resistance has grown stronger and has gained legitimacy and respect across the world, much to the chagrin of the imperial-collaborator nexus.
We stand with Lebanon
This is also an appeal to the International solidarity movements against Imperialism and Zionism, the international Palestine solidarity movements, the Anti-War movements, to come out and expose this nefarious plot against the Lebanese National Resistance and the liberation movements across the region and the world; an appeal to come and stand with Lebanon and defend the Resistance that today is the vanguard and stands at the very frontlines and defends the world.
Feroze Mithiborwala is an expert on West Asian affairs. He is also the Founder-National General Secretary of the India Palestine Solidarity Forum. He was also the organiser of the First Asian Convoy to Gaza (2010) and the Global March to Jerusalem (2012).


veteranstoday--2020-08-09--Israeli Knesset ex Member: “Thank God for Beirut blast! As a nuclear bomb”

While the spiritual leader of Shia Muslims in Lebanon , Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah preaches unity among religious confessions , a former member of the Knesset ( Israel ’ s one-chamber parliament ) thanks God for the explosion that devastated Beirut , leaving a provisional toll of 158 deaths .
In this contrasting approach , we can measure the will of the Islamic exponent to sooth public emotion after the street riots that broke out in Beirut due to the outbreak of an ammonium nitrate deposit , which some believe was triggered by an external attack .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook that he thanked God that the deadly blast took place in Beirut , and claimed it was just in time for Tu B ’ Av , a festival of love which has become a romantic Jewish holiday for dancing , handing out flowers and singing .
The media MEMO ( Middle East Monitor ) reported .
« Today is Tu B ’ Av , a day of joy , and a true and huge thank you to G-d and all the geniuses and heroes really ( ! )
who organized for us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day of love » wrote Feiglin , leader of the libertarian Zionist party Zehut , and former member of Likud , the party of Benjamin Netanyahu , which he represented in the Knesset between 2013 and 2015 .
The former parliamentarian made even heavier allusions in an interview with a local radio , where he spoke of a nuclear bomb and a possible Israeli responsibility , among the hypotheses circulating about the mysterious and terrible massacre .
« You don ’ t really believe that this was some messy fuel warehouse , yeah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was supposed to fall on us as a rain of missiles ?
!
I have some experience with explosives .
The largest explosion I took part in was 2.5 tons of TNT » said the former Israeli parliamentarian as reported by MEMO .
What we saw yesterday at the Port of Beirut was much bigger .
The destructive effect ( without the radiation ) was like a nuclear bomb – added Feiglin – If it was us , and I hope it was us , then we should be proud of it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ balance of terror .
By avoiding saying it ’ s us .
We are putting ourselves on the dark side of morality .
We are all allowed to rejoice that it exploded in the port of Beirut and not in Tel Aviv » .
The statements of the leader of Hezbollah are of the opposite tenor .
« We are before a major humanitarian and national catastrophe at all levels » Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah , a legendary figure in Lebanon because he is believed to be a descendant of Muhammad , said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressing condolences to the relatives of the victims and hoping for a speedy recovery of the wounded and the discovery of the numerous missing .
« There are more than 150 martyrs ; the majority of them are Lebanese , with a remarkable number of Syrians and national from of different countries » the explosion hit the port of Beirut right in the area of some foreign embassies , severely affecting the Syrian and Australian embassies .
Hezbollah is now a ruling party in Lebanon in support of the Shiite premier Hassan Diab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority Shiite party Amal and the block Christian of the Free Patriots Movement , led by the former Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil , which also includes the President of the Republic Michel Aoun , a former army general .
Aoun himself ended up in the crosshairs of the rioters who , since October 2019 , have been contesting unidentified episodes of corruption ( certainly much less serious than those that emerged in Italy with the PalamaraGate which uncovered plots between magistrates and politicians without a single arrest ) and the ongoing economic crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the protests piloted by CANVAS and western secret services , the financial collapse of the country was actually caused as in Venezuela by the US sanctions against Lebanese banks considered to be financing Hezbollah , which Washington claims is a terrorist organization because of its alliance with the Shiite Pasdaran of Iran .
« Beirut blast has been completely obliterated .
This would cause major economic losses .
This explosion affected all the Lebanese with all their sectarian affiliations .
Beirut is city of all the Lebanese and represents all segments of Lebanese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love and solidarity with each other » Nasrallah added , as reported by the Lebanese media Al Manar .
Nasrallah hailed the stances taken and relief aids sent by the Arab and foreign governments as well as resistance movements to support Lebanon , despite the siege imposed by the United States , and pointed out that Hezbollah views the visit of the French President positively , as it comes in the context of helping and uniting the Lebanese .
« We wish US imposed its siege just on Hezbollah , not on all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yesterday , on the “ Saturday of anger ” a few hundred rioters skilfully trained in urban warfare like those of the 2005 Cedar Revolution that still boasts by CANVAS ( the self-styled anti-violence center in Belgrade financed by the American counter-intelligence of the Central Intelligence Agency ) , Hezbollah , Aoun and Prime Minister Diab were targeted with violent protests .
In the predominantly Christian neighborhood of Achrafieh , a large group of demonstrators – including many army veterans – occupied the historic Bustros building , home to the Foreign Ministry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the rioters .
On the facade of the building , which had been damaged in the explosion on Tuesday , large red banners depicting the clenched fist with the words “ Beirut capital of the revolution ” were spread .
The army then freed the seat believed to be the symbol of President Aoun .
Lebanese police arrested 20 people .
Among the agents , according to a statement quoted by the site of the newspaper L ’ Orient le Jour , there are 70 injured , but one of them would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Red Cross had provided a total toll of 238 wounded , of which 63 were hospitalized and 175 treated on the spot .
Amid calls for early elections , premier Hassan Diab assured in a speech to the nation that , “ The massacre in the port of Beirut will not go unpunished.
” “ All those responsible for the port will be investigated , ” he added .
Diab called on political parties to resolve the country ’ s crisis in two months , otherwise there will be early elections .
Lebanese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced his resignation today , according to Lebanese media .
Protesters pointed the finger at Hezbollah for the ammonium nitrate storage warehouse from which the fatal explosion would have started , although as reported by Gospa News , multiple other military sources claim that there have been more triggers due to bombs or missiles .
« Just after the explosion , some local and Arab TV channels as well as social media pages adopted an alleged scenario which claims that Beirut port ’ s warehouse which exploded contained missiles or ammunition for Hezbollah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of missiles in the port and confirmed that nitrate is used for agricultural and industrial purposes , they ( local and Arab TV channels ) insisted that the ammonium nitrate had been stored by Hezbollah for 6 years in order to blame the party for the explosion – highlighted Nasrallah – I categorically deny the claim that Hezbollah has arms cache , ammunition or anything else in the port.
» President Aoun had previously stated that all hypotheses were possible : the accident but also a bomb or a missile for an external @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neither runs the Beirut port nor does it interfere in its administration , adding that the Resistance knows more about the Haifa Port in Occupied Palestine than the Beirut Port .
« As a Resistance , it ’ s our duty to know what ’ s going on in Haifa Port , but not Beirut Port » .
While the demonstrations in Lebanon have come under the attention of the Western media , only Russia Today has highlighted the protests in Israel .
« Footage shows officers dragging away demonstrators outside Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people were detained in Jerusalem after a thousands-strong rally .
A clip from RT ’ s Ruptly video agency shows scuffles between activists and police officers on Sunday as they attempt to disrupt a sit-in at the Israeli PM ’ s official residence in central Jerusalem , that has been become the focus of frequent anti-government demonstrations » wrote Russia Today .
After midnight , police demanded demonstrators to disperse , then started to remove by force those who refused to leave .
According to The Times of Israel , at least three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order and attacking officers.
” Demonstrations have been taking place across Israel for the past several weeks – the largest protests since 2011 – over the corruption charges against Netanyahu and what critics perceive as his government ’ s poor handling of the coronavirus crisis .
Fabio Giuseppe Carlo Carisio © COPYRIGHT GOSPA NEWS for VETERANS TODAY only no reproduction without authorization – original post

UPDATE ON 11 AUGUST
Lebanon’s government resigned Monday as the fallout from last week’s deadly explosion deepened a political crisis in the country’s blast-ravaged capital.
Prime Minister Hassan Diab said he would resign along with all of his ministers. “We will back down and stand with the people. We need to open the door for the people,” he said in an address to the nation.
The Masonic-Zionist Deep International State has once again won in tormented Lebanon.
The street uprising of a few thousand guerrillas, skilfully piloted by Canvas, a self-styled CIA-backed anti-violence center, is destabilizing the country as it did in the 2005 Cedar Revolution before the subsequent blitzkrieg unleashed by Israel in 2006.
The protests had already provoked in 2019 the fall of the previous government of vast alliances between Shia Muslims, Sunnis and Maronite Christians of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, son of Rafīq al-Ḥarīrī, killed in an attack on the seafront of Beirut on February 14, 2005 together with 22 other people.
That attack, like this week’s massacre by the explosion that is suspected to have been caused by an external attack, added fuel to the fire of the Cedar Revolution for the suspicions against some Hezbollah (awaiting trial), in a provocation for a conflict between Hezbollah (a Shiite party and paramilitary force) and the Sunnis.
This takes place in the context of continuous provocations that are covertly orchestrated by extremist Sunnis, like the Wahabis of Saudi Arabia, historical allies of Israel.
POSTED ON 9 AUGUST 2020
by Fabio Giuseppe Carlo Carisio for VT Mediterranean
While the spiritual leader of Shia Muslims in Lebanon, Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah preaches unity among religious confessions, a former member of the Knesset (Israel’s one-chamber parliament) thanks God for the explosion that devastated Beirut, leaving a provisional toll of 158 deaths.
In this contrasting approach, we can measure the will of the Islamic exponent to sooth public emotion after the street riots that broke out in Beirut due to the outbreak of an ammonium nitrate deposit, which some believe was triggered by an external attack.
While former Israeli parliamentarian Moshe Feiglin posted on Facebook that he thanked God that the deadly blast took place in Beirut, and claimed it was just in time for Tu B’Av, a festival of love which has become a romantic Jewish holiday for dancing, handing out flowers and singing. The media MEMO (Middle East Monitor) reported.
«Today is Tu B’Av, a day of joy, and a true and huge thank you to G-d and all the geniuses and heroes really (!) who organized for us this wonderful celebration in honor of the day of love» wrote Feiglin, leader of the libertarian Zionist party Zehut, and former member of Likud, the party of Benjamin Netanyahu, which he represented in the Knesset between 2013 and 2015.
The former parliamentarian made even heavier allusions in an interview with a local radio, where he spoke of a nuclear bomb and a possible Israeli responsibility, among the hypotheses circulating about the mysterious and terrible massacre.
«You don’t really believe that this was some messy fuel warehouse, yeah? Do you understand that this hell was supposed to fall on us as a rain of missiles?! I have some experience with explosives. The largest explosion I took part in was 2.5 tons of TNT» said the former Israeli parliamentarian as reported by MEMO.
What we saw yesterday at the Port of Beirut was much bigger. The destructive effect (without the radiation) was like a nuclear bomb – added Feiglin – If it was us, and I hope it was us, then we should be proud of it, and with that we will create a balance of terror. By avoiding saying it’s us. We are putting ourselves on the dark side of morality. We are all allowed to rejoice that it exploded in the port of Beirut and not in Tel Aviv».
The statements of the leader of Hezbollah are of the opposite tenor.
«We are before a major humanitarian and national catastrophe at all levels» Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, a legendary figure in Lebanon because he is believed to be a descendant of Muhammad, said in a televised speech on Friday, after expressing condolences to the relatives of the victims and hoping for a speedy recovery of the wounded and the discovery of the numerous missing.
«There are more than 150 martyrs; the majority of them are Lebanese, with a remarkable number of Syrians and national from of different countries» the explosion hit the port of Beirut right in the area of some foreign embassies, severely affecting the Syrian and Australian embassies.
Hezbollah is now a ruling party in Lebanon in support of the Shiite premier Hassan Diab, who is also supported by the majority Shiite party Amal and the block Christian of the Free Patriots Movement, led by the former Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, which also includes the President of the Republic Michel Aoun, a former army general.
PILOTED RIOTS IN BEIRUT
Aoun himself ended up in the crosshairs of the rioters who, since October 2019, have been contesting unidentified episodes of corruption (certainly much less serious than those that emerged in Italy with the PalamaraGate which uncovered plots between magistrates and politicians without a single arrest) and the ongoing economic crisis.
As highlighted in other articles on the protests piloted by CANVAS and western secret services, the financial collapse of the country was actually caused as in Venezuela by the US sanctions against Lebanese banks considered to be financing Hezbollah, which Washington claims is a terrorist organization because of its alliance with the Shiite Pasdaran of Iran.
«Beirut blast has been completely obliterated. This would cause major economic losses. This explosion affected all the Lebanese with all their sectarian affiliations. Beirut is city of all the Lebanese and represents all segments of Lebanese society. We must express sympathy, love and solidarity with each other» Nasrallah added, as reported by the Lebanese media Al Manar.
Nasrallah hailed the stances taken and relief aids sent by the Arab and foreign governments as well as resistance movements to support Lebanon, despite the siege imposed by the United States, and pointed out that Hezbollah views the visit of the French President positively, as it comes in the context of helping and uniting the Lebanese.
«We wish US imposed its siege just on Hezbollah, not on all the Lebanese» he said.
But yesterday, on the “Saturday of anger” a few hundred rioters skilfully trained in urban warfare like those of the 2005 Cedar Revolution that still boasts by CANVAS (the self-styled anti-violence center in Belgrade financed by the American counter-intelligence of the Central Intelligence Agency), Hezbollah, Aoun and Prime Minister Diab were targeted with violent protests.
In the predominantly Christian neighborhood of Achrafieh, a large group of demonstrators – including many army veterans – occupied the historic Bustros building, home to the Foreign Ministry, and immediately proclaimed it as the headquarters of the rioters.
On the facade of the building, which had been damaged in the explosion on Tuesday, large red banners depicting the clenched fist with the words “Beirut capital of the revolution” were spread. The army then freed the seat believed to be the symbol of President Aoun.
Lebanese police arrested 20 people. Among the agents, according to a statement quoted by the site of the newspaper L’Orient le Jour, there are 70 injured, but one of them would later die. Last night the Lebanese Red Cross had provided a total toll of 238 wounded, of which 63 were hospitalized and 175 treated on the spot.
HEZBOLLAH DENY AMMUNITION IN THE PORT
Amid calls for early elections, premier Hassan Diab assured in a speech to the nation that, “The massacre in the port of Beirut will not go unpunished.”
“All those responsible for the port will be investigated,” he added. Diab called on political parties to resolve the country’s crisis in two months, otherwise there will be early elections. Lebanese Information Minister, Manal Abdul Samad, announced his resignation today, according to Lebanese media.
Protesters pointed the finger at Hezbollah for the ammonium nitrate storage warehouse from which the fatal explosion would have started, although as reported by Gospa News, multiple other military sources claim that there have been more triggers due to bombs or missiles.
«Just after the explosion, some local and Arab TV channels as well as social media pages adopted an alleged scenario which claims that Beirut port’s warehouse which exploded contained missiles or ammunition for Hezbollah. Although official sources denied the presence of missiles in the port and confirmed that nitrate is used for agricultural and industrial purposes, they (local and Arab TV channels) insisted that the ammonium nitrate had been stored by Hezbollah for 6 years in order to blame the party for the explosion – highlighted Nasrallah – I categorically deny the claim that Hezbollah has arms cache, ammunition or anything else in the port.»
President Aoun had previously stated that all hypotheses were possible: the accident but also a bomb or a missile for an external attack.
Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that Hezbollah neither runs the Beirut port nor does it interfere in its administration, adding that the Resistance knows more about the Haifa Port in Occupied Palestine than the Beirut Port.
«As a Resistance, it’s our duty to know what’s going on in Haifa Port, but not Beirut Port».
RALLY IN JERUSALEM AGAINST NETANYAHU
While the demonstrations in Lebanon have come under the attention of the Western media, only Russia Today has highlighted the protests in Israel.
«Footage shows officers dragging away demonstrators outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence. Several people were detained in Jerusalem after a thousands-strong rally.
A clip from RT’s Ruptly video agency shows scuffles between activists and police officers on Sunday as they attempt to disrupt a sit-in at the Israeli PM’s official residence in central Jerusalem, that has been become the focus of frequent anti-government demonstrations» wrote Russia Today.
After midnight, police demanded demonstrators to disperse, then started to remove by force those who refused to leave. According to The Times of Israel, at least three people were detained for “disturbing public order and attacking officers.”
Demonstrations have been taking place across Israel for the past several weeks – the largest protests since 2011 – over the corruption charges against Netanyahu and what critics perceive as his government’s poor handling of the coronavirus crisis.
Fabio Giuseppe Carlo Carisio
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veteranstoday--2020-08-10--MSF: We need strings attached, Trump’s COVID Giveaway to Big Pharma

By : Dr. Carrie Teicher , MSF USA Director of Programmes , and Christopher J. Morten , JD , PhD , Teaching Fellow/Supervising Attorney , New York University , School of Law U.S. gives bulk of COVID-19 funding for new medicines , vaccines , and diagnostics to office that won ’ t tell us how money is being used or if products created will be affordable As taxpayers , we all deserve to know where our money is going , and to know that it ’ s being spent well .
So during the COVID-19 pandemic , Americans should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax dollars being poured into one federal research office and its industry partners , without any apparent accountability or assurance that the products created will be affordable .
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority ( BARDA ) was created to address chemical , biological , radiological , and nuclear threats and has received , to date , more US taxpayer money than any other US government entity to develop new medicines , vaccines , and diagnostics to fight COVID-19 : at least $ 5.5 billion since early 2020 .
Unfortunately , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is being used .
BARDA does nothing to guarantee that its pharmaceutical and defense industry partners will share research and development ( R & D ) costs , clinical trial results , or other data that physicians and researchers need .
Worse , BARDA does not require its industry partners to make products developed with this funding widely available and affordable once they hit the market here and abroad .
That is good news for pharmaceutical corporations that want BARDA to finance the creation of their COVID-19 products without any strings attached .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in COVID-19 money that BARDA has already given to Johnson & Johnson , $ 30 million to Sanofi , $ 483 million to Moderna , $ 1.2 billion to AstraZeneca , and $ 628 million to Emergent BioSolutions .
But it ’ s bad news for everyone else who may not be able to access new medicines developed with BARDA funding .
No matter how much public funding goes into developing these tools , pharmaceutical companies will be free to charge whatever they want and obtain patents that create 20-year monopolies and block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Without strings attached to the funding to ensure equitable allocation and global access , countless people all over the world could be completely shut out from these publicly financed medical advances , including many people MSF is treating for COVID-19 around the world .
So there ’ s concern in MSF that the current acting director of BARDA announced his office would be “ prioritizing domestic concerns.
” This means BARDA — which was built on the idea that health should be handled like a security threat rather than a basic human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using taxpayer money , and then allow its partners to make it available only in the United States .
But we know we can only end the pandemic domestically if we work to end it globally .
BARDA works .
It has helped to shepherd more than 50 FDA*-approved products to market since 2007 .
This includes Merck ’ s recently approved vaccine for the Ebola virus — a vaccine that MSF used on the ground in Democratic Republic of Congo — that received approximately $ 175 million in BARDA funding .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failing to hold companies accountable — something that has real-life public health consequences .
For example , BARDA was involved in an expensive deal with Philips to purchase ventilators for the U.S. ’ s Strategic National Stockpile that left the stockpile without a single Philips ventilator when COVID-19 hit , because the company was slow to ramp up production .
And a recent investigation revealed that BARDA signed misguided contracts in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic that weakened rather than strengthened its ability to demand fair prices on the vaccines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partners create with public funds .
We can ’ t let BARDA repeat such mistakes .
First , BARDA should attach strings to the public money they give industry partners to require medical tools that are created are affordable and widely distributed to people in need around the world .
The Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act that passed earlier this year committed at least $ 3.5 billion to BARDA — a massive public investment .
New bills are proposing billions more .
Second , BARDA should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worldwide , non-exclusive licensing so patents don ’ t stand in the way of generic manufacturers that want to create more affordable versions of medicines , vaccines , and diagnostics .
This is the best way to meet what will be the vast global demand , and avoid shortages and rationing .
For example , as soon as an effective vaccine is developed , billions of doses must be distributed as quickly as possible to meet the medical need — something no single manufacturer , even a giant like Johnson & Johnson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own .
Third , BARDA should ensure that it and its industry partners share R & D costs , clinical trial results , and other research data transparently and widely with the public , physicians , scientists , and policymakers .
For example , it is critical that drug manufacturers have access to data that already exists so they don ’ t have to replicate clinical trials to collect their own data , which would slow down the production of their own more affordable versions of medicines and stand in the way of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public that funded these tools should know how their money is being used and why certain partners were chosen to receive funding .
This information helps define what a reasonable price should be once a product hits the market in the US and abroad .
The COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis , and an important moment to do the right thing .
BARDA is making a massive — and much-needed — public investment in lifesaving medical products to tackle this disease .
That investment will bear fruit only if BARDA demands that its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that investment affordable and accessible to all .
*The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public health in the US by ensuring the safety , efficacy , and security of human and veterinary drugs , biological products , and medical devices , among other products .

https://medium.com/@MSF_access/we-need-strings-attached-b51952795e6b
By: Dr. Carrie Teicher, MSF USA Director of Programmes, and Christopher J. Morten, JD, PhD, Teaching Fellow/Supervising Attorney, New York University, School of Law
U.S. gives bulk of COVID-19 funding for new medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics to office that won’t tell us how money is being used or if products created will be affordable.
As taxpayers, we all deserve to know where our money is going, and to know that it’s being spent well. So during the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans should be alarmed by the vast sums of their tax dollars being poured into one federal research office and its industry partners, without any apparent accountability or assurance that the products created will be affordable.
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) was created to address chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats and has received, to date, more US taxpayer money than any other US government entity to develop new medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics to fight COVID-19: at least $5.5 billion since early 2020.
Unfortunately, we have very little idea how this funding is being used. BARDA does nothing to guarantee that its pharmaceutical and defense industry partners will share research and development (R&D) costs, clinical trial results, or other data that physicians and researchers need. Worse, BARDA does not require its industry partners to make products developed with this funding widely available and affordable once they hit the market here and abroad.
That is good news for pharmaceutical corporations that want BARDA to finance the creation of their COVID-19 products without any strings attached. This includes the US $456 million in COVID-19 money that BARDA has already given to Johnson & Johnson, $30 million to Sanofi, $483 million to Moderna, $1.2 billion to AstraZeneca, and $628 million to Emergent BioSolutions.
But it’s bad news for everyone else who may not be able to access new medicines developed with BARDA funding. No matter how much public funding goes into developing these tools, pharmaceutical companies will be free to charge whatever they want and obtain patents that create 20-year monopolies and block more affordable generic versions from being produced.
Without strings attached to the funding to ensure equitable allocation and global access, countless people all over the world could be completely shut out from these publicly financed medical advances, including many people MSF is treating for COVID-19 around the world.
So there’s concern in MSF that the current acting director of BARDA announced his office would be “prioritizing domestic concerns.” This means BARDA — which was built on the idea that health should be handled like a security threat rather than a basic human right — could finance a medical tool using taxpayer money, and then allow its partners to make it available only in the United States. But we know we can only end the pandemic domestically if we work to end it globally.
BARDA works. It has helped to shepherd more than 50 FDA*-approved products to market since 2007. This includes Merck’s recently approved vaccine for the Ebola virus — a vaccine that MSF used on the ground in Democratic Republic of Congo — that received approximately $175 million in BARDA funding.
But the office has been criticized before for failing to hold companies accountable — something that has real-life public health consequences. For example, BARDA was involved in an expensive deal with Philips to purchase ventilators for the U.S.’s Strategic National Stockpile that left the stockpile without a single Philips ventilator when COVID-19 hit, because the company was slow to ramp up production.
And a recent investigation revealed that BARDA signed misguided contracts in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic that weakened rather than strengthened its ability to demand fair prices on the vaccines, drugs, and other products its industry partners create with public funds.
We can’t let BARDA repeat such mistakes.
First, BARDA should attach strings to the public money they give industry partners to require medical tools that are created are affordable and widely distributed to people in need around the world.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that passed earlier this year committed at least $3.5 billion to BARDA — a massive public investment. New bills are proposing billions more.
Second, BARDA should require its industry partners to commit to worldwide, non-exclusive licensing so patents don’t stand in the way of generic manufacturers that want to create more affordable versions of medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics.
This is the best way to meet what will be the vast global demand, and avoid shortages and rationing. For example, as soon as an effective vaccine is developed, billions of doses must be distributed as quickly as possible to meet the medical need — something no single manufacturer, even a giant like Johnson & Johnson, will be able to achieve on its own.
Third, BARDA should ensure that it and its industry partners share R&D costs, clinical trial results, and other research data transparently and widely with the public, physicians, scientists, and policymakers.
For example, it is critical that drug manufacturers have access to data that already exists so they don’t have to replicate clinical trials to collect their own data, which would slow down the production of their own more affordable versions of medicines and stand in the way of adequate global supplies.
Additionally, the public that funded these tools should know how their money is being used and why certain partners were chosen to receive funding. This information helps define what a reasonable price should be once a product hits the market in the US and abroad.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis, and an important moment to do the right thing.
BARDA is making a massive — and much-needed — public investment in lifesaving medical products to tackle this disease. That investment will bear fruit only if BARDA demands that its industry partners make the products created with that investment affordable and accessible to all.
* The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public health in the US by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices, among other products.