Is it really likely Syria used a suicide bomber to assassinate Hariri?

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Suicide bomber blamed for Hariri's death-
Probe by Lebanese officials unearths solid evidence that truck with explosives set off fatal blast for Hariri

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-woleba0324,0,3258640.story?coll=ny-world-big-pix

March 24, 2005

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Lebanese investigators have concluded that former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed by a suicide bomber driving an explosives-laden truck, according to two security officials familiar with the probe.

>>>>Many in the Lebanese opposition reject the suicide bomber explanation and insist that the bomb, which killed Hariri and 17 others, was planted underground. They argue such an operation would require greater planning and the knowledge of the country's security services. The opposition quickly blamed the assassination on Syria and its allies in the Lebanese government, but officials in Damascus and Beirut have denied any involvement.

Both sides are awaiting a preliminary report on the bombing due to be released today by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The report, which was prepared by a UN fact-finding team dispatched by Annan last month, is expected to criticize Lebanese security agencies for negligence in their investigation. The report is likely to focus on mistakes such as a decision by Lebanese officials to remove the wreckage of Hariri's motorcade from the scene hours after the bombing, which made it harder to investigate the blast.

Even if the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber, opposition leaders say they would still blame Syrian and Lebanese intelligence as complicit. There is a long history of intelligence agencies in the Middle East using front groups to carry out political assassinations.

[IndianaGreen]

1. Who had to gain from Hariri's death?

Since Syria has been on the defensive since the assassination, I suggest we look elsewhere for the culprit.

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2. I agree

If it bears out this weakens the Bush administration's prospects for pinning this on Syria.

[Village Idiot]

3. No offense intended, BUT:

I am Jewish and only reasonably well-informed on this issue, but even I believe it was ALMOST CERTAINLY a Mossad operation...

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4. Doesn't Mossad regularly assist the Christians against the Shi'ites?

This would be the same as the CIA getting involved in this. Some sort of chaos inducing action to enable the U.S. to move into Lebanon in defense of Israel, much like Reagan did. Kinda follows what we are doing in Iraq. So destructive, considering the effect it has of bolstering the Shi'ites, at least in Iraq, and creating a popular resistance to them in Lebanon. Not the easiest explanation, but not so outrageous either.