U.S. Sending FBI Team to Help Lebanon Probe Hasan Assassination
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The United States will send a Federal Bureau of Investigation team to help Lebanon probe Ashrafiyeh car bombing that killed Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau head Brigadier General Wissam al-Hasan, officials said Monday.
But U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stressed Washington's support for Lebanon's sovereignty, in a phone call with Prime Minister Najib Miqati, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.
"There is going to be an FBI team headed to Lebanon to help them with their investigation. But we'll certainly wait for the results of that investigation" before deciding any further response, he told reporters.
Describing Clinton's conversation with Miqati, he said "she was very, very clear in stressing our support for Lebanon's sovereignty" and also "stressed the importance of all political leaders working together."
He did not say whether the FBI team had already arrived in Lebanon, where there have been violent protests since Friday, when al-Hasan died in Ashrafiyeh bombing.
"It's a very sensitive time," he added, saying: "There's an investigation under way, and we're going to look to the results of that investigation. And we also would urge calm."
On Friday, the United States condemned the blast as a terrorist strike. And on Sunday, Clinton underscored "the United States' firm commitment to Lebanon's stability, independence, sovereignty and security."
On Monday, Lebanese troops deployed in Sunni areas of the capital, as fresh sectarian violence erupted, stoking stability fears after the bombing blamed on neighboring Syria.
Hasan's funeral on Sunday had been billed as a protest against Syrian meddling in Lebanon, but quickly turned into anger at Miqati, whose government is dominated by pro-Syria parties.
Despite calls for him to quit, Miqati said he would stay on at President Michel Suleiman's request to avoid a "political vacuum.”
The opposition has widely blamed Syrian President Bashar Assad for Friday's attack, as it did in 2005 when former premier Rafik Hariri was killed in a huge Beirut blast.
23 October 2012, 07:52
45
I don't know what results this would yield. Assuming Hizbullah did it at Syria's orders (which is very likely), they will turn the results of this investigation into a public campaign. Help should be sought from a neutral country like Switzerland, Sweden, Fnland, ...etc. It's wiser for the US to lead from behind in this specific case, and not take the lead so directly.
23 October 2012, 08:22
15
No matter what the world needs to know it was Syria and Hizbcocaine on this and all the other murders. Nasrallah willl say BS against the investigation.screw him. Let the truth be known.
23 October 2012, 09:59
15
Actually, the verdict is syria. if hezb were incriminated, they will show 30 year old satellite pictures and 'insist' that it was the israelis.
anyhow, no way to believe hezb any more--they aren't fighting in syria, they are fighting in 'lebanese dominated towns in syria', which according to them isn't the same.
23 October 2012, 10:59
02
it will be a quick investigation a lot of leads left behind
but the question is what will be the reaction of some lebanese if the conclusion is that the killers are not syrian or iranian ?
23 October 2012, 12:14
30
Thank you, BUT NO, THANK YOU. We want to find the real killers ONCE AND FOR ALL not shield them and accuse others of the crime. THIS JOKE MUST FINALLY END. This is not the USA. So leave us alone.
23 October 2012, 12:35
12
What a total joke, the only president in USA history that never bothered to even mention Lebanon in his mouth is Obama in his entire term. This is the worst president in Americas history. He hates Lebanese and never ever said anything to aid us in Lebanon in any way. Even Bush with all his evilness was greater by a million mile than Obama
23 October 2012, 15:33
01
U really dont know anything bush created all these things in the world b4 that there was nothing and every1 was ok....obama at least isn't dumb and is trying to solve things look at us ties with israel not that strong because obama opened his mouth and said the truth.....if u know nothing abt politics then I suggest u keep ur mouth closed b4 some1 closes it for u
23 October 2012, 21:33
00
I love your civilised commentary. I am sure you friends at the M8 thought you the etiquette of debates with using guns.
23 October 2012, 16:00
01
Dont agree at all. Bush is the worst politician in modern times since Staline and Hitler. He created more death and misery than most politicians would ever dream of.
Obama is a problem solver who is cleaning after the shit that Bush caused. Furthermore, Obama is an israeli hater. He cant stand netanyahu.
23 October 2012, 21:36
00
I did not say Bush was an angel, but he played a hand into seeing Syria leave Lebanon. You name a time when Obama mentioned the world Lebanon . I have never heard him. He is very passive.
23 October 2012, 12:37
02
I sincerely hope that Amercian never vote him in as his totally opposed to all the Arab spring and the freedom of middle eastern people .
23 October 2012, 14:08
01
I disagree Phoenix, the FBI is coming to help with the investigation...why on earth would we accept that? so here we are again..if the investigation leads to syria and hizbullah, they will deny it under the pretext that it was an Israely controled investigation through the FBI...and if it was the Israelies, the FBI will cover it up...
can t we get the gizmos and training for it, we didnt need the FBI for samahas case (at least not publicaly stated)...
24 October 2012, 04:46
01
FBI to save the day... they should set up a permanent office or bureau in Beirut
24 October 2012, 06:47
00
I'm going to ask a serious question here. Let's say the FBI conducts an honest investigation and it turns out that Israel is the culprit, do you think the US will come out and say this? I personally don't think so.
Even if the culprit is Saudi Arabia, Turkey, France, Great Britain or any other US ally of that calibre, do you think the FBI will risk making this revelation? I also don't think so.
The only possible outcomes from this investigation are (1) The FBI saying they have found nothing or (2) The FBI accusing Hezbollah/Syria/Iran.
If you are really interested in finding out the truth, you will see the conflict of interest in the FBI conducting this investigation.
24 October 2012, 15:31
00
Eli, I believe the FBI already knows that Israel didn't do it or otherwise they wouldn't be sent to Lebanon, secondly, The FBI will be assisting and not controlling the investigation, finally, your argument can also be used against Lebanese intelligence branches close to M8 and hizballa like the Military intelligence...
