2020 Lebanese Crisis

[John Fedup]

Why do some explosions result in a mushroom-like cloud? Is it just the amount of explosive or are there other factors involved

Mushroom cloud formation is a characteristic of large explosions. As the fireball rises into the atmosphere it interacts with cooler denser air and the mushroom shape starts to form.

Why the Beirut blast created a mushroom cloud

The fireball’s vivid red color sets it apart from the aftereffects of an atom bomb, as does the lack of a white flash and thermal pulse.

www.popsci.com

 

[Feanor]

Following the giant explosion in the Beirut port, large civil disturbances have broken out in the city, with protesters seizing government buildings, as well as a building belonging to the banking association. So far the police has been unable to stop them, and army troops have moved into the city. Reportedly as many as 2000 troops have entered the city. There are also unsubstantiated reports of some of the protesters burning documents in the captured buildings.

On a personal note the scale, speed, and intensity with which the situation exploded suggests that either there were significant tensions prior to this, and the explosion was merely the factor that set them off, or that there were plans in place to use large scale civil disturbance to bring significant political change to Lebanon. It's of course possible that both are true.

Попытка переворота в Ливане

В Ливане происходит попытка государственного переворота, спусковым крючком который явился визит Макрона и ультиматум переданный французским посланником властям Ливана https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/6076849.html , о котором уже писал. Не трудно догадаться, что основной целью происходящего под…

colonelcassad.livejournal.com

The army has pushed the protesters from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was announced as the headquarters of the protest. The army is using sticks and rifle butts to push back the protests.

"Штаб ливанской революции" пал

Коротко в продолжение темы про попытку переворота в Ливане https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/6081509.html 1. Ближе к ночи армия вытеснила мирных протестующих из захваченного здания Министерства иностранных дел,которое было объявлено штабом революции (по нему проходила…

colonelcassad.livejournal.com

Aerial shots of the destruction in Beirut.

Разрушения в Бейруте. Вид с воздуха

Съемки разрушений в Бейруте. Вид с воздуха.

colonelcassad.livejournal.com

 

[John Fedup]

Videos certainly show the massive extent of the damage. I would imagine much of this wasn’t insured but that is pure speculation on my part. Might be an opportunity for China to buy influence as they are probably to only nation with available cash in the COVID era.

 

[kato]

the scale, speed, and intensity with which the situation exploded suggests that either there were significant tensions prior to this,

Tensions in Lebanon never really stopped after the "October Revolution" last year that led to Hariri resigning and Diab forming the current government. The army being deployed in this context in Beirut isn't that unusual - it was already deployed to combat riots opposing the then-newly-formed government in February. After that the protests were mostly brought off the streets by the Covid lockdown for a while.

 

[ngatimozart]

Two Ministers have resigned and so far about six MPs have resigned. Early elections have been announced, but the sectarian electoral / parliamentary system needs to be changed. The biggest problem with the current system is the corruption within and until the current political elite, their staff, handlers, and owners are removed from the political arena nothing will necessarily change, apart from the faces.

Second day of protests as anger over Beirut explosion grows: Live

Two government ministers resign as world leaders pledge hundreds of millions of dollars at emergency donor conference.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[ngatimozart]

The Lebanese government has resigned, Lebanon president accepts gov't resignation after Beirut blast, with the Prime Minister Hassan Diab submitting his government's resignation to the President Michel Aoun. Diab blamed his government's collapse upon widespread endemic corruption. President Aoun has requested that Diab's government continue in a caretaker role until a new government is formed. There are also allegations of excessive force being used against the protesters. This is unsurprising given that video from Beirut has shown protesters being teargassed by security forces and other vested interests in the region do not want the status quo changed.