Post New Article

What the videos of the Beirut blast tell us
about the explosion

Original Article

Posted By: earlybird, 8/5/2020 10:54:47 AM

The massive explosions in a Beirut port on Tuesday provoked fear, then speculation after an eerie, white cloud enveloped the lenses of bystander videos, with many suggesting online that it looked something like a nuclear blast. But the building consensus among arms experts and Lebanese officials is that the explosion, which killed at least 100 people and injured thousands more, may have been ignited by burning chemicals stored at a warehouse.(Snip)A few things can be concluded from the videos, including some filmed before the bigger of the blasts, which Lewis said may have begun when munitions in storage caught fire.

Comments:

Shipwreckedcrew at RedState does some interesting dot-connecting and finds a ship loaded with 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate was abandoned in Beirut in 2013 because of mechanical problems. Its cargo was moved off the ship and into a warehouse, awaiting another disposition that never happened, and so it stayed there. The rest is here:

https://www.redstate.com/shipwreckedcrew/2020/08/04/abandoned-shipment-of-ammonium-nitrate-behind-the-explosion-in-beirut-today/

Post Reply

Reply 1 - Posted by: hershey 8/5/2020 11:02:54 AM (No. 500683)
Do stupid things, get stupid rewards...
4 people like this.

Reply 2 - Posted by: rosefenn 8/5/2020 11:09:49 AM (No. 500696)
Welp, sounds to me like what happened at the beginning of Pat Frank's 1959 novel "Alas, Babylon!" And we all know how THAT ended!
5 people like this.

Reply 3 - Posted by: bamboozle 8/5/2020 11:27:50 AM (No. 500714)
Wonder if there's a connection to the mysterious explosions happening recently in Iran?
4 people like this.

Reply 4 - Posted by: MindMadeUp 8/5/2020 11:50:42 AM (No. 500741)
The question for the curious is why the massive amount of ammonium nitrate was abandoned by its owners simply because the ship carrying it broke down. You would think they would just sell it out of the warehouse.
11 people like this.

Reply 5 - Posted by: Italiano 8/5/2020 11:54:53 AM (No. 500746)
Wow, #2, I read that book in high school. Except it was Latakia, Syria, IIRC, from a U.S. missile that went wild.
3 people like this.

Reply 6 - Posted by: Ruhn 8/5/2020 12:12:50 PM (No. 500771)
Sounds similar to the 1947 Texas City disaster. 2300 tons of ammonium nitrate detonated onboard a docked ship. The explosion started a chain reaction of fires and other explosions that ultimately killed almost 600 people.
8 people like this.

Reply 7 - Posted by: NorCaliInfidel 8/5/2020 12:35:30 PM (No. 500801)
My high school chemistry teacher taught me that nitrates are cheaper than day-rates!
14 people like this.

Reply 8 - Posted by: jenkinshill 8/5/2020 12:47:41 PM (No. 500829)
FTA: "A rising cloud of white smoke featured crackling and bright pops consistent with when small munitions — rockets, for instance — begin cooking off, he said." So it seems that a fire (of unknown cause) set off some explosives (officials are saying "fireworks," but a Hezbollah munitions cache is more likely), which then set off the ammonium nitrate stored nearby.
11 people like this.

Reply 9 - Posted by: Thos Weatherby 8/5/2020 12:47:58 PM (No. 500830)
#3 Think Trump and Israel. And maybe the storms in China too. HAARP
3 people like this.

Reply 10 - Posted by: LC Chihuahua 8/5/2020 12:59:58 PM (No. 500841)
Was this a terrorist act or not? Nobody owned the ammonium nitrate? It had an owner. They just don't want it tied to them. Black market sales? Somebody's explosive stockpile just went boom. Was it accidental or deliberate?
9 people like this.

Reply 11 - Posted by: stablemoney 8/5/2020 1:29:22 PM (No. 500872)
I watched a video of the building before the explosion, then the explosion, which was a tremendous outward force from inside the building. The building and everything around was reduced to rubble. My speculation: I think it probably was ammonia nitrate in storage, because a terrorist could have accomplished their goal with only a small proportion of the force in that explosion.
2 people like this.

Reply 12 - Posted by: Dodge Boy 8/5/2020 1:32:38 PM (No. 500875)
I buy the experts opinion that small munitions were popping thus creating the initial appearance of fireworks blowing up. I agree with their opinion that ammonium nitrate was indeed being stored given the reddish smoke that emerged right after the main explosion. But, I strongly disagree with their opinion that a preceding fire caused the ammonium nitrate to detonate. I worked around this material during my mining career and it doesn't work this way. As I have opined already, the ammonium nitrate that was in storage there was brought to Beirut for the purpose of making large explosive devices. Fuel oil had to have been already added before the material was impounded there to make it explosive. Detonator and initiator caps and associated blasting cords had to have been placed inside the stockpile. Was the material stored in bags that would identify it as ANFO, Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil? The government should look for remains of these items. Then they will have their answer.
13 people like this.

Reply 13 - Posted by: Proud Texan 8/5/2020 3:26:23 PM (No. 500947)
Wow #2 and #5. I read that book my senior year in high school too. Was recommended to me by librarian when I ran out of good books to read. It sure makes a person think about the very serious ramifications that can happen from unintentional actions.
1 person likes this.

Reply 14 - Posted by: earlybird 8/5/2020 3:45:35 PM (No. 500965)
Re #12, the RedState article linked in OP comment tells us how the ammonium nitrate ended up in Beirut. That was not its original destination: As explained in the “notice” or story — seemingly from a Beirut law firm involved in the matter — the events started in Beirut maritime circles in 2013. Yes, that’s seven years ago, but there are many reasons — most of which involve some form of the word “Boom” in the description — for why this circumstance might have persisted for such a length of time. As set forth in the document, on September 23, 2013, the merchant vessel (“m/v”) “Rhosus”, flying a Moldovian flag, departed Batumi Port, Georgia Republic, headed for Biera, Mozambique, with a cargo of 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate. Batumi is a coastal city on the Black Sea, and the Rhosus would have made its way to Mozambique by passing through the Bosporus Straight in Istanbul, Turkey, and into the Mediterranean Sea. The report states that while in transit the Rhosus experienced technical problems and was forced to divert to the port in Beirut. Upon inspection by Port State Control in Beirut, the vessel was declared unseaworthy and forbidden from departing. The rest of that article, which includes considerable detail, tells us that efforts to sell the cargo from the warehouse failed. Recommend a read of that article if truly interested.
2 people like this.

Reply 15 - Posted by: Norway 8/5/2020 4:01:21 PM (No. 500977)
Aloha Snackbar!
2 people like this.

Reply 16 - Posted by: Dodge Boy 8/5/2020 5:16:53 PM (No. 501033)
Thank you much, #14, for clarifying. But, the fact remains that the material had to be stored as ANFO not as just ammonium nitrate in order to exhibit explosive characteristics.
3 people like this.

Reply 17 - Posted by: bighambone 8/5/2020 5:34:01 PM (No. 501047)
At this point it is safe to say that a whole bunch of smaller explosions, probably consisting of bombs or rockets, set off one great big explosion. Clearly the government there was totally incompetent in allowing that much explosive material to be stored unprotected in their Capitol city.
1 person likes this.

Reply 18 - Posted by: Omen55 8/5/2020 5:37:54 PM (No. 501052)
They haven't blame Trump. How can this be WaPo?
3 people like this.

Reply 19 - Posted by: Gallo3 8/5/2020 6:39:36 PM (No. 501131)
If I recall correctly, in the 9147 Texas City disaster, a ship carrying oil drilling pipe was docked next to the ship carrying ammonium nitrate. When the explosion took place, drilling pipe debris was found up to 60 miles distant.
3 people like this.

Reply 20 - Posted by: watashiyo 8/5/2020 9:01:49 PM (No. 501248)
Do these things go off on their own?
0 people like this.

Below, you will find ...
Most Recent Articles posted by "earlybird"
and
Most Active Articles (last 48 hours)
Most Recent Articles posted by earlybird"
Reparation H 6 replies
Posted by earlybird 3/9/2021 2:40:45 PM Post Reply
Get ready, black America! You’re about to get forty acres from a fool. President Biden has announced the formation of a commission to study the feasibility of giving reparations to every black American as a way to make up for that slavery thing that The New York Times tells us America couldn’t have existed without. But even as Biden christened the exploratory committee, one of his own senior advisers declared that black America ain’t gonna wait on no “committee” or “study.”“(Snip)We’re going to start acting now,” White House senior adviser Cedric Richmond told Axios last week. Are you sitting down? Richmond is…black! Ha! What a twist! Didn’t see that coming, huh?
DHS Pleads for Volunteers to Assist With
‘Overwhelming’ Surge at Southern Border
9 replies
Posted by earlybird 3/9/2021 2:05:59 PM Post Reply
he Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday requested that its staff volunteer to assist in dealing with an “overwhelming” migrant surge at the U.S.-Mexico border, as the Biden administration continues to deny that there’s a crisis. “Today I activated the Volunteer Force to support Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as they face a surge in migration along the Southwest Border,” DHS Secretary Mayorkas said in an email to staff Monday, obtained by several news outlets. “You have likely seen the news about the overwhelming numbers of migrants seeking access to this country along the Southwest Border,” Mayorkas said.
DHS Alejandro Mayorkas Admits:
‘Overwhelming Numbers of Migrants’
Rushing Southern Border
4 replies
Posted by earlybird 3/9/2021 2:01:08 PM Post Reply
With the relaxed border policies of President Joe Biden, “overwhelming numbers of migrants” are rushing the U.S. border, according to Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). (Snip) “Today, I activated the Volunteer Force to support Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as they face a surge in migration along the Southwest Border,” Mayorkas said in an email to staff, (Snip) “You have likely seen the news about the overwhelming numbers of migrants seeking access to this country along the Southwest Border,” he said. “President Biden and I are committed to ensuring our Nation has a safe, orderly, and humane immigration system while continuing to balance all of the other
Exclusive: Biden Admin Restricts Senior
DHS Officials from Sharing Border Crisis
Info with Reporters
4 replies
Posted by earlybird 3/9/2021 1:54:52 PM Post Reply
A senior-level law enforcement source in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Breitbart Texas they received verbal orders from within the agency limiting their ability to speak freely about the growing crisis along the border. The official with knowledge of the restrictions spoke under the condition of anonymity (Snip) “The situation with media relations now is night and day compared to the last administration,(Snip) “We have been advised not to speak on immigration issues at the border and to rely on DHS’s Office of Public Affairs and the Whitehouse Press Office to handle messaging.” The verbal order applies to senior law enforcement leaders within DHS and has no formal expiration date.
Obama’s Wingmen Set to Take Over Justice
Department Again
2 replies
Posted by earlybird 3/9/2021 1:24:48 PM Post Reply
In his first public remarks, Joe Biden’s acting deputy attorney general promised he would spare no resource in the nationwide manhunt for anyone involved in the Capitol breach on January 6. (Snip) Carlin referred to the Capitol melee as an example of “violent extremism.” If Carlin’s name rings a bell, here’s why. Carlin headed Barack Obama’s National Security Division at the Justice Department for more than two years; his office handled all the evidence presented to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) seeking permission to spy on suspected enemies of America.
‘Blue Anon’ Strikes a Nerve—Naturally,
Big Tech Is Trying to Censor It
3 replies
Posted by earlybird 3/9/2021 1:07:32 PM Post Reply
A new term has entered the political lexicon in recent months, and it appears to have left-wing activists sputtering with rage. Conservatives on social media have been using “Blue Anon” to describe Democrats who believe in various government-sanctioned conspiracy theories, leading some on the Left to attempt to censor the potent term. The very first sighting of “Blue Anon” on Twitter was in August 2018, (Tweet)Aaron Maté, a left-wing investigative journalist, and the Federalist’s Mollie Hemingway helped popularize the term two years later.(Tweets) last month, Nordau used the term “Blue Anon” to frame the left as the most prolific conspiracy theorists.
The Current Balance Sheet of American
Democracy
0 replies
Posted by earlybird 3/9/2021 1:01:08 PM Post Reply
With any reservations about the integrity of the 2020 presidential election being willfully suppressed by most of the national political media and social media, and the Democrats as the governing party in the White House, and the Capitol torquing up to try to secure the adoption of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s bill H.R. 1, it is time to examine the condition of American democracy. (Snip) The roles of the United States and even to some degree, France, were more prominent in inspiring the masses of the world with the vision of democratic rule, (Snip)France proclaimed its faith in liberty, equality, and fraternity
Biden Admin Officials Had Roles in Probes,
Surveillance of Trump Campaign
3 replies
Posted by earlybird 3/9/2021 12:26:03 PM Post Reply
As Joe Biden constructs his new administration, individuals from the Obama administration are quietly resurfacing in positions of power. Some of these people are well known, others lesser so. But they all played critical roles at various times during the Obama administration. Susan Rice, Obama’s national security adviser and now the “top adviser to the president on domestic policy and related decisions,” has admitted to participating in the unmasking of members of the Trump transition team. Unmasking is the process whereby a U.S. citizen’s identity is revealed from collected surveillance. Initially, Rice publicly denied the allegations, claiming that “I know nothing about this.
Biden's German Shepherd has aggressive
incident and is sent back to Delaware
11 replies
Posted by earlybird 3/9/2021 11:08:21 AM Post Reply
The two German Shepherds belonging to President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were returned to the Biden family home in Delaware last week after aggressive behavior at the White House involving Major Biden, two sources with knowledge tell CNN. Major, who was adopted by Biden in November 2018 from a Delaware animal shelter, had what one of the people described as a “biting incident” with a member of White House security. The exact condition of the victim is unknown, however, the episode was serious enough that the dogs were subsequently moved to Wilmington (Snip) CNN reached out to the White House for comment and did not immediately receive a reply.
Biden Signs Election Executive Order to
Increase Voting by Criminals
16 replies
Posted by earlybird 3/8/2021 10:49:28 AM Post Reply
President Joe Biden signed an executive order on March 7 altering the way the federal government handles elections, including by increasing voting and voter registration access for criminals in prison and on probation. “The order will direct the Attorney General to establish procedures to provide educational materials related to voter registration and voting, and to the extent practicable, to facilitate voter registration, for all eligible individuals in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons,” a fact sheet distributed by the White House states. The order also directs the attorney general to help former prisoners obtain appropriate identification to satisfy state voting requirements.
REVEALED: DC Mayor Bowser & Cabinet
Picks Met With Top ‘Influence’ Arm Of
Chinese Communist Party.
24 replies
Posted by earlybird 3/7/2021 8:52:26 PM Post Reply
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and her appointees have repeatedly met with and hosted leaders from a leading organization in the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front. The United Front functions as China’s premier influence and propaganda organization, raising flags with the U.S. government’s Economic and Security Review Commission. It seeks to “co-opt and neutralize sources of potential opposition to the policies and authority of its ruling Chinese Communist Party” and coerce American leaders “to take actions or adopt positions supportive of Beijing’s preferred policies.”What’s more, the State Department has described the group as seeking to “directly and malignly influence” U.S. state and local leaders.
Rep. Lee Zeldin Has an Announcement
for Gov. Cuomo
2 replies
Posted by earlybird 3/7/2021 4:57:30 PM Post Reply
"Cuomo's Gotta Go," said Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) on Twitter on Tuesday. And he wants to be the guy to kick him out. Fielding a nursing home scandal had already weakened Gov. Andrew Cuomo politically, but with a new trio of sexual harassment accusations against him, Cuomo finds even his own party starting to turn against him. Zeldin sees an opening and he is "actively exploring" a run against Gov. Cuomo in 2022. (Tweets)"After a lot of people reached out to me in recent days and weeks(Snip) I am now actively exploring a run for governor of New York against Andrew Cuomo is 2022,”
Most Active Articles (last 48 hours)
Biden's Incoherence Just Hit Critical Mass,
This Is Scary Awful
48 replies
Posted by Dreadnought 3/8/2021 11:45:49 PM Post Reply
As we reported two days ago, Joe Biden completely made no sense when he was trying to explain the Wuhan coronavirus relief bill. It was really bad and it explains why they’re afraid to have him deliver an address to Congress or do any kind of a real solo press conference, because at this point they have to be afraid this is all going to fall apart if he does anything live and this all becomes too obvious to the American people. But there’s only so long that they can hold this off. And it’s getting worse, as video today revealed. Biden was holding an event to announce the nomination
‘Huge Development’: Democrat Sen. Joe
Manchin Starts To Crack On Filibuster,
Signals Openness To Change
41 replies
Posted by Imright 3/8/2021 12:32:41 AM Post Reply
Democrat Senator Joe Manchin (WV) appears to have started to shift his views on the filibuster with remarks that he made on two news shows on Sunday morning.The shift from Manchin comes after he has repeatedly stated that he would not vote to end the filibuster, despite pressure from the far-Left. During the interviews on Sunday, Manchin repeatedly claimed that he was not open to ending the filibuster because he did not want to strip the minority party of their power in the Senate, but signaled that he was open to changing it.Fox News host Chris Wallace asked Manchin if he would consider “reforming the filibuster” if “Republicans
Evangelicals For Biden ‘Feel Used And Betrayed’
By Biden Fulfilling His Radical Abortion Promises
37 replies
Posted by Calvinesq 3/8/2021 10:37:51 AM Post Reply
In an open letter released Sunday, Pro-Life Evangelicals for Biden urged him to “honor his commitment” and include the Hyde Amendment in Democrats’ $1.9 trillion COVID-19 spending package, writing “we feel used and betrayed.” The letter states: We are very disappointed about the COVID-19 relief package’s exclusion of the Hyde Amendment, a longstanding bipartisan policy that prevents taxpayer funding for abortion. [snip] As pro-life leaders in the evangelical community, we publicly supported President Biden’s candidacy with the understanding that there would be engagement [with] us on the issue of abortion and particularly the Hyde Amendment
Meghan Markle reveals her true
self in Oprah interview
32 replies
Posted by Imright 3/8/2021 9:11:10 AM Post Reply
If you had any doubts that Meghan Markle is a manipulative piece of work, her bombshell Oprah interview Sunday night dumping on the British monarchy would set you straight. Prince Harry’s American wife accused his family of hateful racism against her baby, claimed they refused to protect her and drove her to the point of suicide.She made the incendiary and implausible charge that when she was pregnant with Archie, the royal family decreed that her unborn son would be denied the title of “prince” because her mixed race meant he might have dark skin.
Biden’s German Shepherds Shipped Back
to Delaware After ‘Biting Incident’
Involving White House Security
31 replies
Posted by Imright 3/8/2021 11:38:50 PM Post Reply
Joe and Jill Biden’s German Shepherds were shipped back to Delaware after a “biting incident” involving White House security, CNN reported.Major was adopted by Joe Biden and his handler wife Jill in 2018 from an animal shelter.Major and Champ moved into the White House in January and they’re already gone. The condition of the victim was not disclosed but it was serious enough to remove both dogs from the White House.CNN reported: The two German Shepherds belonging to President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were returned to the Biden family home in Delaware last week
Pelosi’s HR1 bill a blatant power grab for Democrats 30 replies
Posted by FlyRight 3/8/2021 5:28:52 AM Post Reply
Nancy Pelosi’s top priority is to turn America into a one-party nation ruled by Democrats. Her bill HR 1 trashes the U.S. Constitution in an attempt to rig the system and make it virtually impossible to elect a Republican president or Congress again. It’s a power grab. The bill eviscerates state voting laws and forces all the states to conform to a set of rules that includes automatic voter registration. Anyone who goes to a DMV or applies for food stamps, Medicaid or other social services, or attends a public college will be automatically enrolled to vote. Noncitizens are obligated to identify themselves and opt out,
Biden seems to forget defense
secretary’s name, calls him
'the guy who runs that outfit'
29 replies
Posted by Ribicon 3/8/2021 8:37:17 PM Post Reply
President Biden on Monday seemed to forget Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s name at a White House event—calling the Pentagon chief “the guy who runs that outfit over there.” Biden was announcing the nomination of two female generals to lead US military combatant commands. “And I want to thank the sec—the, the, ah former general. I keep calling him general, but my, my—the guy who runs that outfit over there,” Biden said.(Snip) Earlier at the event, Biden mentioned the Defense Department leader by his name, “Secretary Austin,” while appearing to read from a teleprompter.
Oprah interview bombshells: Meghan claims
she was suicidal when she was five months
pregnant, Kate made HER cry and Royals
refused to make Archie a prince because
they were worried how 'dark' he would be
27 replies
Posted by Imright 3/8/2021 8:21:02 AM Post Reply
The Royal Family was left reeling this morning after Meghan Markle tearfully revealed that the stress of royal life made her suicidal when she was five months pregnant, claimed Archie was denied the title of prince because he is mixed-race and said Kate Middleton made her cry before she married Harry in a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.The couple also chose to reveal that they are having a baby girl to the tens of millions of people watching the CBS show broadcast in the US before accusing the Royal Family of racism and revealing the deep rift 'Megxit' has caused with Prince Charles and Prince William.
Meghan Markle openly
accuses the Royals
of racism
26 replies
Posted by Magnante 3/8/2021 5:26:07 AM Post Reply
I’m probably second to none in my dislike for Meghan Markle. There’s something unattractive about a mature woman marrying into the British Royal family with one of the world’s most expensive weddings, hanging out with the Queen, living in insane luxury…and then whining non-stop about the horror of her life. There’s something even less appealing when that woman accuses the Royal family of race hatred. And the problem is that, when it comes to that left-wing diva, Meghan Markle, it’s hard to believe most of what she says. After weeks of hype, CBS finally televised Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah.
Watch: John Solomon Gives Stunning Update
in Durham’s ‘Russiagate’ Investigation
24 replies
Posted by Imright 3/8/2021 4:56:55 PM Post Reply
Without question, the vast majority of Americans who support former President Donald Trump were angry and frustrated throughout 2020 passed with barely a mention of then-U.S. Attorney John Durham’s criminal investigation into the FBI’s fraudulent “Russiagate” counterterrorism operation directed at his 2016 campaign.In the weeks before the November election, word got out that then-Attorney General William Barr wasn’t going to announce any indictments or even a report on Durham’s investigation because he did not want to influence the outcome.So far, in fact, the only indictment to come out of the Durham probe is that of former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith, who essentially got a slap on the wrist
Democrats renew calls to remove
J. Edgar Hoover's name from FBI building
24 replies
Posted by Ribicon 3/8/2021 2:56:29 PM Post Reply
Rep. Steve Cohen vowed to renew the push to remove former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover’s name from the bureau’s downtown Washington headquarters, according to an interview released Monday. Appearing on Yahoo! News’ Skullduggery podcast, the Tennessee Democrat said the effort is getting a fresh look after the release of a new movie highlighting the FBI’s secret program to discredit civil rights activists. The Washington Times in 2019 first reported Democrats’ bid to strip the longtime FBI director’s name from the bureau’s headquarters. Mr. Cohen said the impetus to revive the bid is the new movie, “Judas and the Black Messiah.” The movie details
Jill Biden, the Meghan Markle
in the WH, is egregiously
guilty of elder abuse
23 replies
Posted by Magnante 3/9/2021 4:40:38 AM Post Reply
“There must have been a moment, at the beginning, when we could have said –-no. But somehow we missed it.” Tom Stoppard The millions of Americans who were paying attention throughout the 2020 election campaign all became painfully aware of the fact that Joe Biden’s cognitive abilities were slipping and slipping fast. His wife, as the person closest to him, should have been the one to call the campaign quits in order to reduce stress on the man. Instead, apparently so anxious to become the First Lady by any means necessary, Mrs. Biden continued to push her failing husband’s campaign forward as if he were mentally qualified.
Post New Article