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Similarly to previous years, the third anniversary of the disastrous explosion on August 4, 2020, is once again overshadowed by a deliberate obstruction of the investigation process. This carefully orchestrated hindrance, carried out without hesitation or remorse, raises suspicions about the motives of those involved. Why would they go to such great lengths to thwart the investigation? By shamelessly exerting (considerable) pressure to impede the investigation, Hezbollah has unintentionally bolstered the arguments of those who attribute significant responsibility to the party for the tragedy of August 4.
Much like the accusatory gaze that followed Cain persistently, the relentless pursuit of truth and the unwavering determination of the victims’ families to obtain justice will tirelessly irritate the conscience of the local authorities involved in the tragedy, regardless of their self-proclaimed “divine power.” Yet, it requires some consciousness to acknowledge the atrocity of their actions.
The events of the ill-fated August 4 are nothing less than a “crime against humanity,” a responsibility borne by those who orchestrated, coordinated, and concealed the import of ammonium nitrate, its storage in the Beirut port, and its subsequent deployment for purposes that were far from peaceful… Those very individuals who have maintained absolute security authority over the port premises for a considerable number of years.
This cataclysm, which devastated numerous neighborhoods of the capital, abruptly claiming the lives of over 230 individuals, and causing 6,000 injuries, is indicative of the modus operandi of a faction that perceives Lebanon as a mere chess piece or insignificant pawn on a vast regional chessboard, being controlled by a distant power with little regard for the welfare and essential interests of the Lebanese populace.
To further the expansionist agenda of this theocratic power, the fastest way is through systematically dismantling the existing system, structures, and institutions. This undertaking is motivated by the eager desire to substitute one order with a completely different one.
From a security perspective, all bloody tactics are allowed without a shred of mercy. We can see this reality most clearly from the events of August 4. The casualties, the profoundly injured people, both physically and emotionally, the collective and individual traumas, the psychological traumas, especially among children, the widespread devastation, and the extensive obliteration of homes and businesses are all regarded as nothing more than collateral damage in the eyes of this self-proclaimed “divine power!”
This tragedy has further demonstrated the fallacious nature of an alleged coexistence between a State and a mini-militant one. This is especially true when this de facto mini-state unconditionally aligns itself with the dictates of a regional power. Subsequently, we are confronted with a situation of masked occupation, conducted in proxy by a local faction.
This pattern has been manifested in multiple countries, including Iraq through the “Popular Mobilization” (al-Hashd al-Shaabi), Yemen with the Houthis, Syria with imported Shiite militias from various parts of the region, and Lebanon with Hezbollah. The common feature of these devilish schemes is the attempt to legitimize and institutionalize such a dual power structure at the highest echelons of governance. This has been achieved in Iraq with the “Popular Mobilization”, while it is the elusive ambition of Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Another common feature of these theocratic surges orchestrated from afar by Tehran, is the widespread decay of the central authority, leading to a gradual, yet consistent, deterioration of living conditions and the overall welfare of the populace. Simultaneously, this decline is aggravated by unrestrained violations of individual liberties and dignity. The whole situation is engulfed by a sense of constant insecurity and fear.
Despite the many obstacles raised by those who are to blame, the ongoing struggle pursued by the families of the victims, both in Lebanon and abroad, to unveil the complete truth behind the August 4 tragedy must continue.
Nonetheless, it is imperative to reinforce it by enhancing the sense of solidarity and community involvement, because, ultimately, a certain vision of life, of Lebanon, and of the place of Man in society is at stake today in this quest for justice that has been ongoing for three years…
This struggle cannot and should not diminish… The demeaning situation that our neighboring nations have been desperately facing, because of the tutelage they have fallen under, leaves us with no other choice but to persist…
