The Daily Star reports that (according to the Lebanese daily al-Liwaa’), the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s outgoing Prosecutor, Daniel Bellemare, will be issuing a revised indictment in the Hariri case and it will include several new suspects, including a politician.
I’ve lost track of the number of rumors about the STL that have been reported by Lebanese newspapers, but I thought it might be entertaining to take some bets on who the mysterious “fifth suspect” might be.
Note that the report does not specify that the politician is Lebanese. Any guesses?
Qifa Nabki 
He is Happier and Sulking.
Posted by Nadim Shehadi | February 21, 2012, 11:27 amSaad Hariri
Posted by MagnusREriksen | February 21, 2012, 11:33 amJeremy Lin???
Posted by innocent_criminal | February 21, 2012, 11:47 amFrangieh Jr.
Posted by Joseph | February 21, 2012, 11:48 amElias Murr?
Posted by lally | February 21, 2012, 11:55 amDo I get a bonbon if i guess it right? Nasser Qandil. 1000% guaranteed! 😀
Posted by danny | February 21, 2012, 12:39 pmI had someone who worked at the Presidential palace under Emile Lahoud say, “there is no way he knew about it.”
This same person also told me that he had great vision for the future and that he listened to whatever Syria told him because, “There are 20 million (at the time) of them and only about 4 million of us. If each one is armed with a fork, they could take us down easily.” Which makes me terrified when I think about what the Chinese armed with Chopsticks.
So I want to guess Lahoud. Or Franjieh Jr.
Posted by justin | February 21, 2012, 12:47 pmHow about Wahab?
Posted by Ghassan Karam | February 21, 2012, 1:45 pmMy money is on Wahab also.
Posted by AIG | February 21, 2012, 2:05 pmQandil would be my guess. But really, any of the above is a good option.
Posted by Bad Vilbel | February 21, 2012, 2:15 pmGhassan,
Wahab IMO is just a puffed up buffoon…a clown. I have a sweet tooth…and it seems BV is trying to have a piece of my bonbon…
Posted by danny | February 21, 2012, 2:42 pmdanny,
I suggested Wahab only in order to participate in the guessing game. BV, I hope that you enjoyed your time off.
Posted by Ghassan Karam | February 21, 2012, 2:54 pmQandil was mentioned in the false witness testimony.
Posted by Qifa Nabki | February 21, 2012, 2:56 pmQN
What is the “false witness testimony”?
If Qandil is the ‘politician”; then effectively the connection would be made between Syria & HA. I was trying to gamble on Mousawi (he is an MP now); just because the other four indicted are HA…But I still think I would hit snake eyes…
Posted by danny | February 21, 2012, 3:26 pmYou need someone stupid and arrogant enough to get caught, hence Wahab.
It would be interesting to see what excuse the Lebanese government will use not to arrest this “politician” whoever he is.
Posted by AIG | February 21, 2012, 4:47 pmParliamentary immunity? 😉
Posted by Qifa Nabki | February 21, 2012, 4:55 pmSomeone linked to the Ahbash SIM card purchase? Maybe they don’t count as politicians.
Posted by aron | February 21, 2012, 5:03 pmIt was Barzini all along !
Posted by Vulcan | February 21, 2012, 5:45 pmGhassan, thanks. I was here all along. There just wasn’t anything much to chime in on lately. 🙂
Posted by Bad Vilbel | February 21, 2012, 5:55 pmnasrallah himself.
Posted by sayke | February 21, 2012, 6:18 pmI mean if were going to play a whodunnit game… Cant it be someone of high intrigue.. A major scandal!
Like saad knocking off his own dad. Or aoun plotting a return from paris with the most diabolical of schemes.
Conspiracy theory marrying political intrigue!
Posted by Gabriel | February 21, 2012, 6:34 pm@21…If you want conspiracy and want to nail two birds with one bullet…Then it is Bashar! 😛
Posted by danny | February 21, 2012, 7:41 pmIf there is truth to this, then the Prosecutor is going much further than I thought he would in ascribing responsibility beyond those who were directly involved in the operation (i.e. the phone networks in the first round of indictments). Could that mean that there are credible witnesses (unlikely) or a clear money or paper trail that goes beyond the phone evidence?
Certainly, if it is a Syrian politician the STL conspiracy theorists will get very excited.
SSNP perhaps?
Posted by Jonathan | February 21, 2012, 8:34 pmSSNP is always a good option. Those guys are no strangers to assassinations.
Posted by Bad Vilbel | February 21, 2012, 8:36 pmHow about proceeding by elimination? Who is it not?
Posted by Honest Patriot | February 21, 2012, 10:35 pmHP,
only Jesus is not possible suspect,
Posted by Norman | February 21, 2012, 11:47 pmNorman,
They could really use physicians in Syria. When are you going there? You could help kill people that come wounded to the state hospitals.
Posted by AIG | February 21, 2012, 11:57 pmAIG:
That really is a horrible horrible thing to say.
Posted by Gabriel | February 22, 2012, 1:06 amI agree, Gabriel. At some point we’re all apologists for violence, some perhaps more egregiously than others. But who can cast the first stone?
Posted by Jonathan | February 22, 2012, 1:24 amAIG, come again? Where is this coming from? It is this kind of language that (a) caused the byes at Syria Comment in times past and (b) get in the way of whatever message you objectively and logically try to convey. You owe Norman an apology. Opinions are one thing. Insults are another.
Posted by Honest Patriot | February 22, 2012, 3:27 amBeatior Infelix is still my candidate – what does one get?
Posted by Nadim Shehadi | February 22, 2012, 4:30 amThe Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Posted by Mike | February 22, 2012, 5:36 amSanioura. He was tired of being in the shadows and wanted to be premiere himself.
Posted by Johnny Seikaly | February 22, 2012, 7:12 amThe guy who does the Walking Beirut tour said that someone on the tour claimed Ivana Trump was responsible. Does Donald Trump still count as a politician?
Posted by RT | February 22, 2012, 7:59 amThe Good Guys vs. The Bad Guys NewZ
Meanwhile, the IAEA struck out in Iran:
http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/2012/prn201205.html
Posted by Akbar Palace | February 22, 2012, 8:09 amAnso I say. Didn’t they find booby trapped cars in his basement?
Posted by FreeSoldier | February 22, 2012, 8:23 amStill trying to figure out nadim’s riddle. Is there a politician named As’ad Ghadban?
Posted by Qifa Nabki | February 22, 2012, 9:00 amWell it is not Wiam Wahhab, sadly, because I think his trial would be hugely entertaining and would be worth every penny we paid for the STL. QN – you are close.
Posted by Nadim Shehadi | February 22, 2012, 9:27 amBeatus Maestus, come on!
Posted by Nadim Shehadi | February 22, 2012, 9:41 amHP and Gabriel,
Yes, what I said is quite awful but it is a measured response to what Norman has been writing on SC lately. What can you say about Norman if as a physician he still can support a regime that executes and tortures wounded people coming for treatment in hospitals? I don’t owe Norman an apology. Norman owes his countrymen who are being mistreated in regime hospitals an apology.
Posted by AIG | February 22, 2012, 12:02 pm@39….Cardinal Sfeir?
Posted by danny | February 22, 2012, 12:14 pmNadim,
As’ad 7arden?
Posted by R | February 22, 2012, 12:16 pmMy Arab Double-Standard Detector Went off Again
AIG,
I noticed Norman said this recently on SC:
157. Norman said:
Syria needs to finish the militants ASAP, at any cost, people can not take the anarchy any more and Syria is risking people fighting for thier own neighborhoods,
13 10
.February 21st, 2012, 11:09 pm
My smartalik question to Norman:
Geez Norman, why is it Israel is never afforded that option?
Posted by Akbar Palace | February 22, 2012, 12:20 pmEveryone is picking former ad men and current propagandists Qandil and Wahab. But it may be wiser to choose doers and not talkers: Kanaan (dead), Ghazali, Shawkat or Lahoud are better picks!
Posted by Parrhesia | February 22, 2012, 1:03 pmParrhesia,
Except the fact that Ghazali & Kanaan & Shawkat are/were not “politicians”… :((
Posted by danny | February 22, 2012, 1:11 pmDanny,
Both Kanaan and Ghazali were politicians. But not Shawkat–at least not in an official capacity.
Posted by Parrhesia | February 22, 2012, 1:27 pmAIG:
I don’t think you owe Norm an apology. But at the very least, perhaps you should not drag discourse to the lowest common denominator?
Posted by Gabriel | February 22, 2012, 1:35 pmR #42 yes, but it is only a guess.
Posted by Nadim Shehadi | February 22, 2012, 2:12 pm46…Both were military officers in charge of security so is Shawkat. If you would like to call them politicians; no problems here. They were not elected nor ever ran for office. At least Lahoud was “elected”.
Posted by danny | February 22, 2012, 2:15 pmNaser Qandil was the one who called one of the 4 numbers telling them that Hariri left the parliament and probably in which car.
PS AIG: never appologize to Norman!!!
Posted by Ralph | February 22, 2012, 4:13 pmAP @43, please give us the link that goes to that section of SC. If this was said as you write and is not subject to a different interpretation because of context or other reason then it is utterly despicable.
Still, it would reflect on its author. Attacking the author with the same level of rhetoric debases the attacker.
Just my take on things.
Did the allies punish the Nazis by inflicting on them the same treatment they inflicted on the Jews?? Defeat your enemy. Don’t stoop down to his level.
Posted by Honest Patriot | February 22, 2012, 7:36 pmHP,
See Post 157. Don’t be so surprised, the “best and brightest” participate there under the tutelage of the renown Professor and one-time Assad excuser.
http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=13590&cp=all#comments
Here’s a interesting article I found on YNet:
The Hezbollah figure said the Shiite group’s members were enraged at Skaf’s statements “because they did not expect that a Syrian would shame the resistance in south Lebanon in such a manner.”
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4193663,00.html
I mean really, are the planets aligning like in 2001: A Space Odyssey?
Posted by Akbar Palace | February 22, 2012, 10:36 pmDid the allies punish the Nazis by inflicting on them the same treatment they inflicted on the Jews?? Defeat your enemy. Don’t stoop down to his level.
HP,
This website shows over 60 million total dead of which Jews were about 10%. So I’d say no party was too concerned with civilian dead, as they were more concerned about winning the war.
Today’s conflicts, fortunately, are beamed across the world in seconds, so I hope to think the world would act more aggressively to quell a major “international” disturbance. The jury is still out…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II
Posted by Akbar Palace | February 22, 2012, 10:44 pmHP,
It is true and i said that because most of my family in Homs had to leave their houses because of the anarchy that the militants brought to Syria and to Homs in particular, The Syrian army need to stop this anarchy where people are being kidnapped and killed by the militants, and the people of Homs and i are tired of it ,and we want it stopped,
AIG,
I would not have expected anything less from you, your frustration with Syria and president Assad is clouding your moral compass, that is if have one,
Posted by Norman | February 22, 2012, 10:58 pmSome “Jewish” Humor…
http://townhall.com/political-cartoons/michaelramirez/2012/02/05/96052
Posted by Akbar Palace | February 22, 2012, 10:58 pmNews from that nice country who supports the Bashar Assad and his mission to bring Syria into the 5th century…
“Sanctions and political pressures won’t have any effect. When a nation decides to resist, when it believes in its domestic power and its own capability, nothing can stop it,” Khamenei told the scientists, adding: “I pray for you.”
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRAN_NUCLEAR?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-02-22-17-22-55
Posted by Akbar Palace | February 22, 2012, 11:11 pmThe Syrian army need to stop this anarchy where people are being kidnapped and killed by the militants, and the people of Homs and i are tired of it ,and we want it stopped,
Norman,
Can the Israelis use the same methods when (and if) the Israeli-Arab community decides to rebel against Israel?
Posted by Akbar Palace | February 22, 2012, 11:19 pmAP,
The Israeli Arabs are Israeli and if they use arms against Israel then Israel has the right to secure peace and safety to all the people of Israel, and use force to restore the rule of law ,
Posted by Norman | February 22, 2012, 11:34 pm“At Any Cost” NewZ
Norman,
Times have changed, no?:)
Posted by Akbar Palace | February 23, 2012, 12:05 am49,
Kanaan: interior minister from 2004-2005
Shawkat: continuing position as Deputy Chief of Staff for Security Affairs
Ghazali: besides being the unofficial Viceroy/Governor of the Province of Lebanon, he currently serves as the Director of Military Intelligence for the Greater Damascus region.
A politician is not just an elected official. In the larger sense, a politician is a member of the government, or an official involved in the political administration of a country.
Posted by Parrhesia | February 23, 2012, 1:39 am@60. In your judgement all military juntas are politicians. Thank you for your kind wiki explanation…You very well know that people who take over political posts by force should not be compared to others…! Regardless; thank you.
Posted by danny | February 23, 2012, 8:30 amAriel Sharon
(And Danny, where does that leave your hero Lady Geagea? Never elected, took his position by force twice and a mass murderer to boot)
Posted by mo | February 23, 2012, 10:05 ammo,
Sharon was elected. You should be careful dude! As for Geagea he was elected by his party. LF are the most democratic of all your so called Lebanese parties. I wonder whether you qualify king Hassan Nassrallah as an elected dictator? 😀
Posted by danny | February 23, 2012, 10:19 am…and mo; talking of mass murderers; I guess it is OK to cause billions of damage and thousands of lost lives and injured to save a child killer? Look at your own backyard dude! I challenge you to criticize SG positions now. I guess he doesn’t support the murderers and mass killers of Damascus like your “Ace in the hole”.
Posted by danny | February 23, 2012, 10:33 amSharon was my guess at the politician…really you couldnt get that?
Geagea was elected? By Abou Nader and Hobeika? lol, Yeah I guess if you throw peoples babies out of windows people will happily re-elect you. At least Nasrallah didn’t have to twice run a coup against his own party…But hey, Im only defining him by your definiton of who should be looked at as a proper politician.
Im still not sure. Are you Lebanese or Israeli? You always seem to take the Israeli side and their word at everything and seem to believe every claim they make. But hey your problem; Im not arguing with you over a straw man argument you create in your head.
And criticize SG positions? Does he have his own positions? I thought they were supplied for him but hey im sure he doesnt like being out-done on the murder stakes.
As for what is happening in Syria, i’m sure you dont care as you could’nt even answer QN when he asked when the last time you set foot in Lebanon was, but when the Wahabis are done in Syria, its the “heathens” of Lebanon they are going to come for next. But you carry on enjoying your calls for bloodshed from your comfortable chair in Canada.
Its galling to me to agree with AIG on anything but when he told you to walk the walk if your gonna talk the talk, he had a point.
Posted by mo | February 23, 2012, 10:53 amMo,
Your recollection of history of Lebanon is very shaky to say the least. I don’t want to go back into the civil war era and only choose SG as the sole ‘combatant” and the rest angels…You know the names. They are the leaders of all major parties in Lebanon including Don Nassrallah. You seem to minimize the atrocities and indiscretions of your divine party while magnifying those who are not gangster oriented. I am not here to defend one or the other as they all deserve to be in the hole with your Ace.
The least I can say about SG that he was the only party that was jailed while your pilot killers and May 2008 heroes roam free. His political positions are there for you to read. Don’t be scared lol. To answer when I was in Lebanon last? Why dude? Does it matter? What if I were to tell you I was there twice last year?
Your baseless innuendo about the Wahhabis just is another tool in your W of F brainwashed thinking. That does not fool anyone.
…and here comes your best line:”And criticize SG positions? Does he have his own positions? I thought they were supplied for him but hey im sure he doesnt like being out-done on the murder stakes.”
You keep on harping on fiction while we know who your Ace’s masters are! You know that once you get your head out of the sectarian based logic you will see that the definition of mass murderer fits your beloved Mullah!
Anyways, you have your metastasized opinion while I know how to read history objectively.
Lakhayem
Posted by danny | February 23, 2012, 11:14 amdanny, “while I know how to read history objectively.”
My keyboard was sooooo lucky that I had just swallowed my coffee prior to reading your latest funny!
Posted by lally | February 23, 2012, 12:14 pmAre you Lebanese or Israeli? You always seem to take the Israeli side and their word at everything and seem to believe every claim they make.
Mo,
I see danny is guilty of the worst crime known to Man.
A capital punishment would be his fate in the “enlightened” ME.
Posted by Akbar Palace | February 23, 2012, 4:11 pmI’ll put my money on Imru al-Qais إمرؤ القيس
I’ve read the case again and again… there is no doubt in my mind anymore.
Posted by 3issa | February 23, 2012, 6:01 pmAP, a Middle East enlightened with white phosphorus bombs, isn’t it ?
Posted by 3issa | February 23, 2012, 6:21 pmSamir geagea
Posted by Nini Nini | February 23, 2012, 9:36 pmGeorge Soros
Posted by lally | February 23, 2012, 9:53 pmThe way the Baathists are performing, soon the people will beg for the Wahabis to take over. Telling, isn’t it.
Posted by maverick | February 24, 2012, 6:00 amAP, a Middle East enlightened with white phosphorus bombs, isn’t it ?
3issa,
If ME governments acted as humanely and as fairly as the GOI, there wouldn’t be that much to write about on this website.
I agree, the IDF shouldn’t use WP. I’ll let AIG touch on that if he wants to. My understanding (link below) is that not too many people have died from WP. I would guess the number of dead from Israeli WP is probably superceded in one day by those who have died in Egyptian and Syrian jails or shelling into Syrian neighborhoods.
Anyway, Israel has real and very lethal enemies, who still think they can erase the “Zionist Entinty” and who have fired 1000s of missiles into the country. So I wouldn’t expect the IDF to fire back using Nerf™ balls.
Click to access iopt0309web.pdf
Posted by Akbar Palace | February 24, 2012, 7:59 amA little jewish humor to break up the monotony…
http://www.deadline.com/2012/02/sacha-baron-cohen-oscars-2012-banned-dictator-red-carpet/
Posted by Akbar Palace | February 24, 2012, 9:27 amMore info …
http://www.republicofwadiya.com/?gclid=CKuviNCYta4CFQo0hwod9G1gnA
Posted by Akbar Palace | February 24, 2012, 9:31 amAP,
Very kind attention, you don’t agree with the use of white phosphorus bombs. You are a great individual. I like your remark regarding the comparative deaths per hour counting. It is very telling. I will now consider the use of white phosphorus bombs through a different perspective.
Posted by 3issa | February 24, 2012, 3:31 pm