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2008-02-13 Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Hizbullah announces Imad Mugniyah killed (by mysterious Boom)
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Posted by phil_b 2008-02-13 05:48|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [11131 views ]  Top

#1 Could've been the Israelis.

Coulda been a work accident.

Also coulda been an attempt to go off the radar screen. Anybody check the DNA?
Posted by Bobby 2008-02-13 06:25||   2008-02-13 06:25|| Front Page Top

#2 This is great news indeed. The shia terror mastermind that was responsible for planning the bombing of the American Embassy in beirut in 1983 killing over two hundred of our nation's finest.

I would capitalize this development at the top of the page, and also include some fireworks display.

This is a big defeat for the terror masters in Teheran and Qom.
Posted by eu=4thReich 2008-02-13 06:34||   2008-02-13 06:34|| Front Page Top

#3 Meshaal hiding under a child's bed with soiled underwear?
Posted by Frank G">Frank G  2008-02-13 06:45||   2008-02-13 06:45|| Front Page Top

#4 Woo hoo! One less inbred troglodyte murderer on the planet!
Posted by Parabellum  2008-02-13 07:15||   2008-02-13 07:15|| Front Page Top

#5 I like the way this year is starting out so far. Abu Laith al-Libi dead, Mansoor Dadullah captured, Adam Pearlman missing and now this. Take out the fishing poles boys, the big fish are biting.
Posted by Chunky Phurong7960 2008-02-13 07:53||   2008-02-13 07:53|| Front Page Top

#6 It said an Iranian school and a Syrian intelligence office were in the same area of Kafar Soussa where the explosion occurred.

Looks like there are disadvantages to "one stop shopping"...
Posted by tu3031 2008-02-13 08:10||   2008-02-13 08:10|| Front Page Top

#7 I have the same thoughts as Bobby - plus the news sources are Hizbullah and DEBKA. So, good news, IF true, but my doubt-meter is still reading pretty high.
Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore  2008-02-13 08:47||   2008-02-13 08:47|| Front Page Top

#8 i doubt this is an attempt to go to ground. The story is too embarassing to Baby Assad. the guy was offed, in the middle of Damascus, right outside a Syrian Intell office. Theyd have made up something that sounded more like a real accident, or an illness, or a death somewhere less embarassing.

I also dont think he was doing bombmaking work in his car, and he was more of an organizer than a bombmaker, IIUC.

No, somebody offed him. The list of folks who would want to is rather long, but the subset of those who could actually pull it off, again in the heart of Damascus is much shorter.

And Franks comment is right on. This sends a very loud message to the Hamas types hiding in Damascus that they are not safe there. I cant help but think that was the main reason to off this guy.
Posted by liberalhawk 2008-02-13 09:36||   2008-02-13 09:36|| Front Page Top

#9 The militant Shiite organization said Mugniyah was assassinated by Israeli agents.

Coulda been a lot of people. Israelis, Syrians, US, Iran... or a combination.
Posted by Pappy 2008-02-13 09:41||   2008-02-13 09:41|| Front Page Top

#10 no, Syria wouldnt kill someone nominally under their protection in an overt act of violence in the middle of Damascus. It kinda guts the reputation of Damascus as a place for folks to hide. Iran wouldnt do it for similar reasons.

The list of folks who would want to do it, is Israel, the US, the anti-Hezb Lebs, and the Argentines. The Argies certainly dont have the tradecraft/networks etc to do it. The Lebs might have the networks, but does anyone really think the younger Hariri, or heaven help us, Jumblatt, could pull this off?

Maybe an Arab intell agency, egypt, but do they have the competence for this?
Posted by liberalhawk 2008-02-13 09:48||   2008-02-13 09:48|| Front Page Top

#11 Wally was promising Hezbollah war just a day or two ago. I suppose this could be the opening shots. He wasn't bad at this sort of thing 20 years ago.
Posted by Fred 2008-02-13 09:57||   2008-02-13 09:57|| Front Page Top

#12 I strongly agree with all of liberalhawk's comments (he's an organizer, not a bombmaker; if a plot to disappear they'd have picked a less embarrassing way) except the last sentence. The Israelis had more than enough reason to kill him for his own sake (Argentina, etc) rather than killing him mostly to message Hamas. The Hamas leaders are far easier to reach than Mugniyah, who was as elusive as anyone on the planet (see Bob Baer's books). If you want to reach for secondary reasons for the Israelis to get him, the most obvious is American gratitude because of the bombings and kidnappings he organized that targeted us. But it's clear he was killed the first time anyone got a clear bead on him rather than as a message. A message would imply the Israelis (or whoever pulled it off) could have gotten him any time and only chose this moment to send a message. Instead the mission was opportunistic and well executed.
Posted by Odysseus 2008-02-13 10:00||   2008-02-13 10:00|| Front Page Top

#13 ok, maybe wally and his folks are better than I give him credit for. Given the Syrian Druze pop, it wouldnt be hard for him to have very extensive networks of sympathizers, and even formal operatives, in Syria generally and in Damascus in particular.

I would THINK that Damascus is a very tight security situation, where its harder to pull something off than in, say, Beirut. But I defer to your superior judgement on these things.


Of coures theres no particular reason it couldnt be some combination of Mugniyahs enemies at work.
Posted by liberalhawk 2008-02-13 10:01||   2008-02-13 10:01|| Front Page Top

#14 The cynic in me wonders if he was fingered by the Iranians, though. Looking for some quid pro quo?
Posted by Deadeye Cromong4699 2008-02-13 10:04||   2008-02-13 10:04|| Front Page Top

#15 what Oddy says is persuasive, BUT - given the urgency to the current govt of Israel of getting quiet in Sderot and ending the Hamas effort to interfere with the Abbas talks, and given their trepidation at doing that via a large scale ground op in Gaza, the timing of this is fortuitous.
Posted by liberalhawk 2008-02-13 10:05||   2008-02-13 10:05|| Front Page Top

#16 As a former Marine, I say job well done. Adios, fucker.
Posted by Ulailing Big Foot5634">Ulailing Big Foot5634  2008-02-13 10:10||   2008-02-13 10:10|| Front Page Top

#17 okay synthesis - heres my current hypothesis

Israel has been gunning for him steadily, for the reasons oddy says. Wally has declared war on hezb, more or less. Israel has a need to go after Hamas guys in Damascus. At some point in the recent past, Mossad and Wally, who have probably been talking for some time, decided to increase the level of cooperation to major joint ops in Damascus - for intel, and for targets of opportunity. Utilizing Wallys networks inside Syria, and Israels financial and technical resources. In the course of this joint op, they got a bead on Mujniyah, both sides agreed he was a worthwhile target, and bam - he gets his virgins.

Posted by liberalhawk 2008-02-13 10:10||   2008-02-13 10:10|| Front Page Top

#18 I KILLED HIM!

Ok, not really, but I am joyfully pleased that someone, somewhere finally got to take the shot that I have wanted for so many years.

RIP, Robert Stethem and William Buckley.
Posted by Atomic Conspiracy 2008-02-13 10:13||   2008-02-13 10:13|| Front Page Top

#19 drt - dead right there
Posted by legolas 2008-02-13 10:39||   2008-02-13 10:39|| Front Page Top

#20 Mugniyah, who has been in hiding for years, was among the fugitives indicted in the United States for the 1985 hijacking of a TWA airliner in which a US Navy diver was killed and the abduction of westerners in the country during the 1980s.

The chickens come home to roost.
Posted by JohnQC 2008-02-13 10:53||   2008-02-13 10:53|| Front Page Top

#21 Correction: The chickens come home to roast not roost.
Posted by JohnQC 2008-02-13 10:54||   2008-02-13 10:54|| Front Page Top

#22 I'm not saying it was Wally, only that he could be the one to get the credit. It could also be the Frenchies. Remember, they lost 58 Paras 20 seconds after the Marines were boomed in Beirut. Muggsy was not well-liked by many people who have pretty long institutional memories.
Posted by Fred 2008-02-13 11:00||   2008-02-13 11:00|| Front Page Top

#23 How did the Israelis or the Americans finger him? He's been successful in hiding from retribution for twenty years, and was in the heart of Terrorland. It was a one-man boom, car bomb instead of a helizap or cross-border JDAM.

I'm thinking he was screwing somebody's sister. Somebody with access to a "workshop" and his car.
Posted by Mitch H.">Mitch H.  2008-02-13 11:03|| http://blogfonte.blogspot.com/]">[http://blogfonte.blogspot.com/]  2008-02-13 11:03|| Front Page Top

#24 Is this "The beginning of the end"?

The mass defections from AQI, plus previously mentioned successes make me think that the recent clearouts at Gitmo were in anticipation of a new crop of inmates resulting from a major intel coup.

Or better still, winding it down; having served its purpose.
Posted by Admiral Allan Ackbar 2008-02-13 11:39||   2008-02-13 11:39|| Front Page Top

#25 no, Syria wouldnt kill someone nominally under their protection in an overt act of violence in the middle of Damascus. It kinda guts the reputation of Damascus as a place for folks to hide. Iran wouldnt do it for similar reasons.

Deadeye pretty much summed it up. Iran might have done it as a condition for future... diplomatic developments.

Or - the Iranians intend to tighten their grip on Hesb'allah and Muggsie was a problem to achieving that.

Syria likewise regarding a quid pro quo, or they could have done it as a favor to the Iranians, to get rid of a 'guest' that's overstayed his welcome.
Posted by Pappy 2008-02-13 11:41||   2008-02-13 11:41|| Front Page Top

#26 Syria+Israel+USA deal?
Posted by Pholugum Stalin1270 2008-02-13 11:53||   2008-02-13 11:53|| Front Page Top

#27 Others: The killing of Mr. Mugniya, Hezbollah’s No. 2 and one of the top wanted men by the FBI, was neatly executed in Syria, using a small bomb planted in his vehicle that took him out immediately. The usual and likely suspects are the CIA or the Mossad, who had the highest interests in taking him down.

If that is true, then this would be a resounding success for those intelligence services, and a huge embarrassment to the Syrian authorities, not least because of the location of the killing -next to an Iranian School- and its timing -coinciding with a 2-day visit by the Iranian foreign minister to Syria-

But should we totally dismiss conspiratorial thinking? After all, this is Syria, with its famously draconian security apparatus. Could such a significant killing happen on its turf without the regime’s knowledge? Could it be that Syria is sending Mr. Obama a peace offering that precedes Mr. Brzezinsky’s visit to embarrass Mr. Bush?

What about Lebanon? Mr. Walid Jumblat said yesterday that the Lebanese could “no longer coexist with Hezbollah”, and alluded to a Hezbollah role in Killing captain wissam Eid. Did Mr. Jumblat know something we didn’t know? And finally, is it a coincidence that Hezbollah will hold a funeral for Mr. Mughniya at the same day that March 14 is planning to demonstrate en mass?

http://www.beirutspring.com/
Posted by Pholugum Stalin1270 2008-02-13 12:01||   2008-02-13 12:01|| Front Page Top

#28 In Bob Baer's first book, he ID this cat as the biggest fish in the pond. IMHO, very few nations have the means and motive to do the hit. Reap sow rinse - repeat as required.
Posted by Bangkok Billy 2008-02-13 12:06||   2008-02-13 12:06|| Front Page Top

#29 "Do you think you feel anything? Or does it all just fade to black?"
Posted by Tony Sopranos Brother in law 2008-02-13 12:24||   2008-02-13 12:24|| Front Page Top

#30 i can well understand that Syria or Iran or both might have wanted to off this guy - I have trouble imagining they couldnt have found a less embarassing time and place to do it.

An offering to Zbiggy? Kind of early for that, eh? I mean whats to lose from waiting to see who actually wins the US election?
Posted by liberalhawk 2008-02-13 12:32||   2008-02-13 12:32|| Front Page Top

#31 Hammer Time!
Posted by doc 2008-02-13 12:34||   2008-02-13 12:34|| Front Page Top

#32 So...d'ya think Meshaal is planning to start his own car any time soon?

LOL.
Posted by Seafarious 2008-02-13 12:45||   2008-02-13 12:45|| Front Page Top

#33 Iran press announces, He's dead, Jim.

Hezbollah top official assassinated
Posted by Sherry">Sherry  2008-02-13 12:59||   2008-02-13 12:59|| Front Page Top

#34 Berkley flying its flags at half staff...
Posted by Icerigger 2008-02-13 13:46|| http://coonlakebeach.com]">[http://coonlakebeach.com]  2008-02-13 13:46|| Front Page Top

#35 Where do I send the exploding flower arrangement to?
Posted by danking70 2008-02-13 13:48||   2008-02-13 13:48|| Front Page Top

#36 7 Cockles Be Warm and Toasty

Imad Mughniyeh in HELL alla'ROASTY

Cockles Be Warm and Toasty

Hajj Hussein Halil in HELL alla'ROASTY
Posted by RD">RD  2008-02-13 13:55||   2008-02-13 13:55|| Front Page Top

#37 Maybe we should say that through diplomacy we negotiated him to death.

or maybe the onion will take care of that
Posted by mhw 2008-02-13 14:08||   2008-02-13 14:08|| Front Page Top

#38 This Hit will make for one hell of a book someday... wild guess

USA supplies real time movements and radio traffic around the Syrian intelligence office and car park.

Israel and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt supplies the VIBED and the team to place the VIBED.
Posted by RD">RD  2008-02-13 14:21||   2008-02-13 14:21|| Front Page Top

#39  i can well understand that Syria or Iran or both might have wanted to off this guy - I have trouble imagining they couldnt have found a less embarassing time and place to do it.

True, but maybe they had no choice but to yield control over time and place in order to keep their hands clean.
Posted by Butch Flaique2675 2008-02-13 14:42||   2008-02-13 14:42|| Front Page Top

#40 *shrugs*
Posted by liberalhawk 2008-02-13 15:10||   2008-02-13 15:10|| Front Page Top

#41 If I were to pick a name behind this, I'd say Wally as well.

Maps and info on the Druze.
Posted by phil_b 2008-02-13 15:16||   2008-02-13 15:16|| Front Page Top

#42 maybe they had no choice but to yield control over time and place in order to keep their hands clean

Mugniyah made it a habit to be difficult to track. Likely he wasn't easily accessible even to the Iranians or Syrians (tho it'd be easier for them than, say, the CIA).

Likely a matter of taking the opportunity when it arose.
Posted by Pappy 2008-02-13 16:22||   2008-02-13 16:22|| Front Page Top

#43 Hey! Let it be a mystery and hope for more mysteries to come to a fruition.
Posted by twobyfour 2008-02-13 16:32||   2008-02-13 16:32|| Front Page Top

#44 It said an Iranian school and a Syrian intelligence office were in the same area of Kafar Soussa where the explosion occurred.

Could be a lucrative neighborhood to hang out in and people watch. It probably already is for certain somebodies...
Posted by tu3031 2008-02-13 16:37||   2008-02-13 16:37|| Front Page Top

#45 One thing for sure is even tho there will be Bushel Baskets full of Conspiracy Theories only one will connect Bird's Eye Peas and ole Shit Mouth's trip [Arlen Spector] as a signed, sealed and delivered proof dat da CIA and Mossad had their sneaky mitts all over dis.....

~:)
Posted by RD">RD  2008-02-13 21:48||   2008-02-13 21:48|| Front Page Top

#46 The Arab conspiracy theorists are already saying this was Syria as part of a deal cut with the UN to get them a pass on the Lebanon assasinations.

Syria - This proves we are even-handed in our assasination policy.
Posted by phil_b 2008-02-13 22:00||   2008-02-13 22:00|| Front Page Top

#47 BTW, it was a professional job. Small explosive device in the drivers seat. Must have been triggered by someone with eyes on the target.

Clean and neat, sounds like Mossad. Syrian operatives would have blown up half a city block.
Posted by phil_b 2008-02-13 22:11||   2008-02-13 22:11|| Front Page Top

#48 What's the last thing that went through Mugniyah's mind?

His ass.

Thanks, you've been a great audience. Be sure to tip the waitress.
Posted by ed 2008-02-13 22:14||   2008-02-13 22:14|| Front Page Top

#49 LOL Ed - "I'm here all week, try the veal"?
Posted by Frank G">Frank G  2008-02-13 22:29||   2008-02-13 22:29|| Front Page Top

#50 Don't mean to bust anybody's bubble , but death pic please.
Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-02-13 23:27||   2008-02-13 23:27|| Front Page Top

#51 Holy smokes a Burg record? Is it to late to bake a cake :)?

I'm thinking a 72 raisin bread topping LOL!
Posted by Icerigger 2008-02-13 23:49|| http://coonlakebeach.com]">[http://coonlakebeach.com]  2008-02-13 23:49|| Front Page Top

#52 Never too late Icerigger... might I suggest Devil's Food Cake.... 'cause that's what that bastid is right now....devil's food.
Posted by Rex Mundi 2008-02-13 23:58||   2008-02-13 23:58|| Front Page Top

23:58 Rex Mundi
23:56 twobyfour
23:55 Rex Mundi
23:49 Icerigger
23:47 Icerigger
23:43 anymouse
23:42 BigEd
23:40 Nancy Pelosi
23:40 BigEd
23:36 BigEd
23:32 3dc
23:27 JosephMendiola
23:21 JosephMendiola
23:19 Junior Asst. Sock Puppet of Doom
23:13 Big Spinetch2077
23:13 JosephMendiola
23:07 phil_b
22:54 trailing wife
22:53 SR-71
22:41 Frank G
22:39 Danielle
22:37 crosspatch
22:37 ed
22:35 crosspatch
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