–important update below–
The killers had lain in wait for al-Mabhouh, whom Hamas admits was involved in the killing of two Israeli soldiers in 1989, since the previous night. Flying in from Paris, Frankfurt, Rome and Zurich, the team of ten men and one woman arrived within three hours of each other. The alleged mastermind of the operation, a Frenchman using the name Peter Elvinger, was the last to arrive at 2.30am on January 19. The team dispersed for the night to hotels near the airport and to the Al Bustan Rotana. – Assassins had Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in sight as soon as he got to Dubai
A tale of stolen identities, intrigue, long awaited revenge, and deep covert planning. The legendary Mossad at the center of an international thriller conjuring up the world that Jason Borne inhabits. Having read everything Ludlum ever wrote, then re-read them, I’ve been following this since the murder of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was reported. Al-Mabhouh was the founder of Hamas’s military wing, the Ezzedeen al Qassam Brigades. The details that have been uncovered so far and so quickly are truly stunning. Identities of real people used to create false entry with fake passports, with a base to communicate that is linked to Austria. Targeting a senior Hamas leader who arrived in Dubai alone, presenting the perfect opportunity for his enemies.
The assassins, suspected to be Mossad agents, found a moment when the top Hamas leader was traveling alone, without bodyguards, to allegedly arrange a shipment of weapons, according to the UK Times.
As an international manhunt began for the 11 suspects yesterday, one particular anomaly in the case remained. Folliard is the only woman named so far, but footage of the final surveillance shows a second woman arriving at the hotel accompanied by a man in a Panama hat and a beard. It is not known whether this woman is one of two Palestinians arrested in Dubai last week in connection with the murder.
Britain’s foreign secretary David Miliband, via the BBC, is “outraged” and pledged to “get to the bottom” of how British identities were utilized via fake passports to carry off the assassination. Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor and Sir Peter Ricketts, the head of the UK’s diplomatic service have met, but Miliband wasn’t talking about what was said. But the notion that the Israeli Ambassador would know squat about a Mossad operation is laughable.
If Mossad did orchestrate the assassination in Dubai, which is the assessment so far.
“Our investigations reveal that Mossad is involved in the murder of al Mabhouh. It is 99 per cent, if not 100 per cent that Mossad is standing behind the murder,” said Gen Tamim.
We’re about to see how well Israel can cover, deflect, but also bridge across this wily international plot, as outrage and stunned allies realize that Israel is a nation that will do whatever it deems necessary to avenge and make clear that they may be a small nation, but they will not allow violence towards them to go unpunished.
Let’s hope someone is already busy writing the screenplay.
We need to stay well away from this one.
All eyes on Israel.
TM UPDATE: Steve Clemons adds more to this tale, including a mug shot graphic of the assassins (used below), but also the issue of Hamas – Israeli prisoner swaps, but more importantly what I’ve also been mulling, that the assassination “may create such international frustration with Israel for disrupting efforts at regional stabilization and negotiations that there may be a real push to now end the international isolation of Hamas,” to quote Clemons. That my friend Steve begins his post with a shout out to yours truly is much appreciated.
I’m already anticipating a movie on this. I agree we need to stay well away from this one but I do marvel at their subterfuge (is that the correct word?) of the Israelis. And the fact that they pulled it off so effortlessly. My dad use to say we needed to take a lesson on Israel’s covert operations. I do love a good thriller.
Mornin’ JA.
For people who have the time, the surveillance video is remarkable, as is the UK Times’ full account.
I’m going to watch it when the kid goes to nap. Is this life imitating fiction? Talk about thrilling. It’s downright scary.
Bravo, Mossad! Bravo!
I remember when they took Eichmann out of Brazil(?). That was pretty unreal.
Spielberg is in pre-production as we speak.
LOL. I’m a big Ludlum fan and the truth is in his heyday, this operation is much too complicated and way too many people involved. One “scratch” with an “umbrella” in the casbah and that would have done it.
I disagree, Ramsgate. I think this operation is 21st century Ludlum made to order.
Anyone remember the movie “Munich”?
JaneAustin, a friend today reminded me of the book “The House on Garibaldi Street.”
Yes to “Munich” and I read “The House on Garibaldi Street.” I couldn’t remember the title. It’s in the “library” downstairs.
I have bad vibes from this little misadventure. Like all hell breaking lose if something isn’t done to rein in Mossad. Someone is playing with fire.
The Israelis euphemistically call these assassination operations “preventive defense.” It’s interesting to note that there is no international law that prevents assassinations. The 1973 Convention on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Protected Persons, Including Diplomatic Agents does speak to the assassination of diplomats. But does so only in a way that tries to prevent a free-for-all of assassinations against diplomats that would disrupt the normal course of doing business, especially in a time of war. The Hague Convention of 1907 says that assassinations are considered to be an act of war. Then goes on to explain what an “enemy combatant” is. The Convention says that in order to be considered an enemy combatant one must either be in the “uniform of the country, organization or group” which they represent or they must “clearly display an emblem of that country, organization or group that can be seen from a distance.” Otherwise they will be defined as a “common criminal.” I guess bush/Cheney and the rest of their criminal gang never read the 1907 Hague Convention rules of engagement as those they called enemy combatants never met any of the internationally recognized criterion. Israel’s assassination of this Hamas member was murder plain and simple. Those who committed this murder should be arrested, tried in a court of law and hanged if found to be guilty. Nobody is above the law. Not even Israel. Peace
” Those who committed this murder should be arrested, tried in a court of law and hanged if found to be guilty. Nobody is above the law. Not even Israel. Peace”
A pretty clear example of just how disconnected from reality some of the cyberflotsom that washes up on the shores of our lil Marsh is.
Some of it stinks worse then others, but basically it’s all just mental garbage stinking up tha joint.
When the Mossad get’s it WRONG and kills some innocent schnook I say nail them. They better be MORE then certain they are taking out the right killer/enemy/whatever.
When they get it RIGHT I say BRAVO! WAR is a full contact sport. If yer gonna play, and if you do you play for keeps, ya better not bring no weak shit. When you get right down to it Hamas, AlQaeda, basically ALL the terrorist organizations, and I include the pshycochristians/militias/antiabortionists here, have VERY weak shit. They can only strick at civilians and “soft” targets.
Well sometimes the piper must be paid.
secularhuman, Cheney has nothing on you. Your world-view is steeped in blood as is his. You’ve decide, using your own twisted logic, who the enemy is and they better watch out because they’re going to wind up dead at all costs. There is no such thing as civility or the rule of law for you. There is only dog-eat-dog and the law of the jungle. The killing is all very personal to you. Even enjoyable. But you know what, there is always somebody just a little sicker than you are running around loose. So sleep tight my friend. Peace
Frankly this is nothing new – Mossad has been killing folks for years with total and complete impunity. They have tended to follow the line of just knocking off Israel’s military enemies or folks that work for their enemies.
One has to wonder if they are also involved in all the spying that Isreal does in the US. This is a big business for Israel and they often rate #2 (behind China) in their efforts to gather intelligence in the US. (Before any body screams that I hate Israel please see the FBI’s “Foreign Economic Collection and Industrial Espionage” report sent to Congress.)