Explosion in Beirut kills at least 135. 5,000 wounded.

[_priapism]

BEIRUT (AP) — A massive explosion rocked Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the city’s port, damaging buildings across the capital and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky. More than 70 people were killed and 3,000 injured, with bodies buried in the rubble, officials said.

The blast struck with the force of a 3.5 magnitude earthquake, according to Germany’s geosciences center GFZ, and it was heard and felt as far away as Cyprus more than 200 kilometers (180 miles) across the Mediterranean.

[watcher1]

A warehouse containing tons of ammonium nitrate seized from a ship years ago that sits right next to a warehouse containing fireworks. Reports said people saw a flames coming from the warehouse containing the fireworks moments before the explosion.

Trump said he heard from our "great" generals that it was the work of terrorists.

[_priapism]

Trump said he heard from our "great" generals that it was the work of terrorists.

And that is why I posted a news story in 1408.  Our White House idiot announces on national television that Beirut was “attacked” by “a bomb.”

I swear he just says the first thing that pops into his head.  No filter.  No diplomacy.

[Jed_]

The orange clown creates false narratives designed to instill fear which he thinks is good for his re-election.

Our great cities are in flames!  That’s why you need me, the law and order president.
The muslims are bombing!  That’s why you need me, I’m tough on terrorists.

[_priapism]

The orange clown creates false narratives designed to instill fear which he thinks is good for his re-election.

Our great cities are in flames!  That’s why you need me, the law and order president.
The muslims are bombing!  That’s why you need me, I’m tough on terrorists.

And I have high school friend idiots (small town Texas) arguing with me this morning that the experts are wrong.  “Just look at the way the grain fell from that silo and the way the building leans!  This was no accident!”  Excuse me Joe.  You have an associates degree from Tarleton State.  You live 3 miles from where you were born.  Last time I checked, you have zero accident investigation or reconstruction experience.  So you’re going to ignore all the experts (including the Israelis) to support your Dumbster In Chief’s brain fart?  Really.  It’s as stupid as people who refuse to wear masks... What you say?  You don’t wear a mask either?   

[xXshepXx]

And I have high school friend idiots (small town Texas) arguing with me this morning that the experts are wrong.  “Just look at the way the grain fell from that silo and the way the building leans!  This was no accident!”  Excuse me Joe.  You have an associates degree from Tarleton State.  You live 3 miles from where you were born.  Last time I checked, you have zero accident investigation or reconstruction experience.  So you’re going to ignore all the experts (including the Israelis) to support your Dumbster In Chief’s brain fart?  Really.  It’s as stupid as people who refuse to wear masks... What you say?  You don’t wear a mask either?   

And I thought Texans should be familiar with ammonium nitrate disasters
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_City_disaster

[_priapism]

And I have high school friend idiots (small town Texas) arguing with me this morning that the experts are wrong.  “Just look at the way the grain fell from that silo and the way the building leans!  This was no accident!”  Excuse me Joe.  You have an associates degree from Tarleton State.  You live 3 miles from where you were born.  Last time I checked, you have zero accident investigation or reconstruction experience.  So you’re going to ignore all the experts (including the Israelis) to support your Dumbster In Chief’s brain fart?  Really.  It’s as stupid as people who refuse to wear masks... What you say?  You don’t wear a mask either?   

And I thought Texans should be familiar with ammonium nitrate disasters
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_City_disaster

I lived in Galveston, across the bay from Texas City, back in the 60’s.  People were still talking about it.  Texas City involved about 2400 tons of ammonium nitrate.  This latest blast was 2700 tons.  They only used 2.4 tons to level the Federal Courthouse in Oklahoma City.  So Beirut was the force of 1,125 OK City explosions.

[purpleshoes]

The blast struck with the force of a 3.5 magnitude earthquake, according to Germany’s geosciences center GFZ, and it was heard and felt as far away as Cyprus more than 200 kilometers (180 miles) across the Mediterranean.

For the sake of accuracy I have to point out that 200 kilometers is closer to 125 miles, give or take a mile.

180 miles would be 290 kilometers (or kilometres as Obi would say  )

When I was a kid in school we were told America would be fully converted to the metric system by the year 2000. And we'd all have flying cars by 2015. 

[Lois]

I was shocked at the size of the explosion.  Holy moly!  It is said that half the city was destroyed or damaged in the blast.  People are still searching the ruble and the death toll is sure to go up.  Poor Lebanon, the city never seems to catch a break.

[Jed_]

This guy seen leaving a Port of Beirut management meeting?  It certainly would explain a lot.

[ObiDongKenobi]

A warehouse containing tons of ammonium nitrate seized from a ship years ago that sits right next to a warehouse containing fireworks. Reports said people saw a flames coming from the warehouse containing the fireworks moments before the explosion.

Trump said he heard from our "great" generals that it was the work of terrorists.

This video shows a fire and several small explosions before the ammonium nitrate explodes.

[_priapism]

All of the experts have looked at it, including the Israelis, and have said it appears to be an accident. But Trump, egomaniac that he is, continues to push his impulsive statement. So Fox News is trying to create a back dialogue to make him look like less of an idiot than he is. But face it, the cats out of the bag. Only the Kool-Aid drinkers are looking to Trump as an authority on anything at the moment.

[ObiDongKenobi]

The latest addition of the UK Sunday Times (owned by Trump's latest best friend Rupert Murdoch) contained an article implying that the reason behind the continued storage of the ammonium nitrate was because of Hezbolah's participation in the Lebanese government. 

I'm afraid I can't provide evidence of the article because I read it at a friends house and no longer have the copy (old fashioned papyrus reader here).

   

[_priapism]

The latest addition of the UK Sunday Times (owned by Trump's latest best friend Rupert Murdoch) contained an article implying that the reason behind the continued storage of the ammonium nitrate was because of Hezbolah's participation in the Lebanese government.  

I'm afraid I can't provide evidence of the article because I read it at a friends house and no longer have the copy (old fashioned papyrus reader here).

    

I’ve read quite a bit implying that also.  But the line of reasoning goes something like this: Hezbollah is bad.  Hezbollah likes weapons and IED’s.  Hezbollah runs smuggling operations out of the port.  Therefore, it must be Hezbollah’s fault.

The fact is the presence and amount of ammonium nitrate in Hangar 12 has been known for years.  Port authorities repeatedly asked for judicial orders to move or dispose of it.  I don’t think Hezbollah would blow up a major income source.  But nothing yet has shown a smoking gun concerning Hezbollah.

[ObiDongKenobi]

I read it as Hezbollah were responsible for putting pressure on the government for the continued storage of it, not for the detonation of it.