Hariri Killing Called Terrorist Act

Released yesterday, the UN report of the assassination of Lebanese former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri indicates that it was a terrorist act planned by high-ranking Syrian and Lebanese intelligence officers. Frankly, the report only voiced what everyone knew or strongly suspected. Hariri and 15 others died when a six-car convoy was bombed in downtown Beirut. It wasn't an accident nor a suicide.

Chief UN investigator Detlev Mehlis identified several Syrian and Lebanese suspects;

Syrian Major General Asef Shawkat,
Syrian Lt. General Rustom Ghazali,
Syrian former Presidential Aide Farouq Al-Sahraa,
Lebanese Major General Jamil al-Sayyed,
Lebanese Brigadier General Mustapha Hamdan, and
Lebanese Major General Ali Hajj.

Each of the suspects has a history of high-level political and military nefariousness. And, one particularly damning entry in the report, Brigadier General Hamdan accused Hariri of being pro-Israel and is quoted as stating, "We are going to send him on a trip -- bye, bye Hariri." Belligerent? I'd say.

In response, Syrian Information Minister Mehdi Dakhlallah stated that the UN report was "politicized," "false," and "far from professional." Damascas is obviously embarrassed and expects the investigation results will lead to increased international pressure on Syrian President Bashar Al Assad to cooperate with the inquiry, to quit helping Palestinian terrorists, and to stop supporting instability in Lebanon and Iraq.

Four pro-Syrian security chiefs in Lebanon have been arrested and charged with murder on the recommendation of UN investigator Detlev Mehlis. Already, an anti-Syrian member of the Lebanese Parliament, Jibran Tueini, has called for President Emile Lahoud to step down.