No 162 km/h but 150 km/h with Audi A8 in Beirut

Crap, am having difficulties to upload the video of me trying to drive 162 km/h in my Audi A8 in east-Beirut (see post below). Anway...it was pretty crowded, so only managed to do 150 km/h. Still, not bad for a busy afternoon in hot Beirut. Inshallah - this video will load today.

max 162 km/h....not here!

Poor Europeans. Soon the Need for Speed can only be played on computers, not in real life anymore. Because Holland (and Germany and others) are up in arms - European politicians want to limit the speed of cars to 162 km/h.....

Luckily here in Lebanon they have more important things to care about. So if you want to go out for a spin - let me know. 200 km/h...no problem here. Last night took my Audi out for a spin and got to 170 on a 6 km stretch of highway in east Beirut. And its beautiful weather here.

So dear all...pack your bags and buy a single ticket Amsterdam-Beirut. Only problem here is the very tiny seize of the country. Before you know it, you either crash into the border with Syria or a minefield with Israel (not to mention the potholes in the roads, the blown up bridges, the loonies walking on highways...anyway..look at it as some kind of adventure)

DONT FORGET: Come back to this site later today. Because I'll post a little VIDEO ON IT OF ME DRIVING 162 KM/H THROUGH BEIRUT. There are is no traffic police here - so might be fun. Expect video early afternoon or so.

Harald Doornbos

My advice: Use CS gas to end Nahr al Bared mini-war

I am not a military specialist. But since day one I have been on and off in and around Tripoli / Nahr al Bared camp. So I kind of know a little bit of what is going on there.

How to root out Fatah al Islam militants from the camp? My solution: Use CS-gas.

CS gas, better known as tear-gas, is a pretty terrible substance. It effects your lungs, your eyes and your nerve system. It will disorientate you, make you vomit and - especially - cry. As a student in the Netherlands, many years ago, I have frequently tasted CS-gas during anti-government demonstrations. And man, its just not nice stuff. Doesn’t matter how much you try to resist it, you just can’t. It will make you run away. At least that is what I did.

In the Nahr al Bared case, my motto is: Crying is better than dying.

So here is what the Lebanese army should do: Wait until there is an absolute wind-free morning. A strong wind will blow the gas away or spread it, thus making it much less effective.

Then, fire canister after canister of CS gas into the camp. Better: Since most of the fighting is pretty much close combat, fire it directly into the buildings. There must be a total overkill of CS gas. No person can resist CS gas. It is just impossible (according to research, the only creatures that can ignore CS gas are most animals (because of their fur) and drunken people; rather small chance with these Fatah al Islam guys).

After the gas is being fired into buildings, there is an almost certain chance the Fatah al Islam militants will be paralyzed as combatants. They might even abandon their positions. Every human wants to escape the effects of tear gas – committed militant or not.

Then, the Lebanese army should immediately go on the offensive. CS gas works best right after it has been used. To wait a couple of hours would be stupid. Lebanese army units must be fully prepared for such an operation. Which means they need to be equipped with the latest model of gas masks and enough clean-air filters to be able to stay for a couple of hours in the middle of it. This will give the Lebanese army an overwhelming advantage in the area of operation.

Until now the main problems have been Fatah al Islam snipers, RPG’s and suicide operations. Honestly, pound a certain area with CS gas and no sniper will be able to hit any target, RPG’s will be fired in every direction (except for the right one) and suicide operations will be seriously disrupted.

The use of CS gas is not so much to save the lives of Fatah al Islam militants (CS gas is non-lethal). Because anyway, these guys want a one way ticket to paradise (which makes them such extremely dangerous and difficult opponents to fight). The use of CS gas will safe lives of Lebanese army personnel. 86 soldiers killed in a battle with a couple of hundred militants in a rather secluded area is just a tragedy for a small army like the Lebanese. And let’s not even mention the amount of wounded soldiers, which, according my own information, numbers now several hundreds.

Although the Lebanese army is making steady progress in the mini-war in Nahr al Bared, the toughest times are still ahead. The militants are now hiding in the civilian part of the camp.

Houses here are build so close to one another, that most windows only open inwards. This because you would hit your neighbours’ house in case it would open the normal way. This makes it perfect terrain for the militants. They can hide everywhere and – being prepared to die – will be able to take many more soldiers into the grave. Although Lebanese soldiers and officers are a bunch of brave warriors, the way the fight has been fought can not continue.

In 1993, US forces too massively used CS gas during the storming of the compound of the Branch Dravidian's, another sect, in Waco, Texas. After a 51 day long standoff, the sect was wiped out in a matter of hours. So CS gas works. But be ware: Make sure there is absolutely no wind and use the latest models gas masks. Otherwise everybody will be vomiting and crying.

Harald Doornbos

Video/audio of Tripoli shooting on Sunday morning

Ok, this is how the shooting sounded, on Sunday morning in Tripoli (click on the arrow in the frame below). It's only 30 seconds and the images are rather crappy and shaky. But hey, the sound is alright. And i really had something better to do than keeping my phone perfectly horizontal. Last 10 seconds I put my phone in my pants - had to carry something else...The fighting lasted for several hours. 10 people were killed (see also post below)



So there is now constant fighting (mini war) in the Nahr al Bared camp in the north, shootings and killings in Tripoli (north too), continuing Hezbollah protest in and around Beirut (center of the country), bombs go off left, right and center in christian Arab area's, and late afternoon, on Sunday too, a roadside bomb killed 5 UNIFIL soldiers in the south of Lebanon.

This is getting seriously ridiculous. Lebanon covers 10.000 square kilometers (four times smaller then the Netherlands and 70 times smaller than the state of Texas). It is not scientifically, but Lebanon seems to have the most problems a square kilometer. (I mean, Iraq being 44 times bigger than Lebanon, has loads of problems too. But a square kilometer, I think Lebanon will still win).

Harald Doornbos

Smoke, explosions and machinegunfire in Tripoli - again

Tripoli is a city of traditions. It is Sunday and - just like on Sunday May 20th - fighting erupts in the city.

I arrived in Tripoli at around 06.15 this morning and left the area at 09.30.

This is the situation:

One third floor apartment in the eastern part of Tripoli (in a residential area) has been surrounded by the Lebanese army. There's a ring of soldiers in nearby buildings and on the streets. At around 200 meters you can see a five floor apartment block. Smoke is coming from the third floor. From 06.15 until 07.00 it all seemed quiet. Couple of ambulances evacuate local residents, caught up in the fire between army and possible Fatah al Islam militants in the third floor apartment. Then, very heavy machine gunfire and very loud explosions. More smoke, more bangs, civilians trying to escape. It seems that special units of the Lebanese army are going from floor to floor, apparently trying to snatch Fatah al Islam militants. According to local people, the apartment belongs to the Sayyet family, who own a nearby flower shop.

For people familiar with Tripoli; the area where the fighting takes place is in the eastern part of town. Close to the Al Bayan school and around 800 meters away from the Al Manar university.

According to reports, one soldier died, seven wounded. I haven't seen this though. I only could see how civilians left the area in cars or on foot. From a certain spot, I could clearly see the apartment on the third floor being pounded by the Lebanese army. Lots of smoke and extremely loud explosions. Lots of machine gun fire. As I left the place around 09.30 the fighting was still raging.

It all started around 23.00 last night. Army attacked the apartment after being told by others that Fatah al Islam militants were using the place to store weapons. As we've seen before, the militants started shooting back.

Just to make it clear: the fighting in Tripoli is very localized - basically only around this block of apartments. Still, very surreal. Local people looked pretty shocked and scared. Another weird Sunday morning in Tripoli....

Latest news: 6 militants dead, one soldier, one policeman and two civilians. Several people wounded.

Made these three pictures this morning: The building during the fighting, Army seals of area, civilians leave nearby buildings.

Harald Doornbos

Fighting over? - yeah right!

According to Lebanon's Minister of Defense, Elias Murr, the battle in the Naher al Bared refugee camp is over. The Lebanese army has won, the islamists from Fatah al Islam have finally lost.

Well...I literally just came back from the camp (having camped the whole afternoon 700 meters outside, sitting on a rooftop, overlooking the camp) and the fighting was very heavy. Constant machine gunfire. Lot's of shelling. Mortars were fired from a hill over our heads into the camp. Very loud explosions. Smoke everywhere. Close to the main road - the smell of rotting bodies. Not pleasant.

I understand that many Lebanese are kind of used to war. But to call the fighting in Naher al bared camp over? Just not true.

Nonetheless, it is very clear that Fatah al Islam is loosing. Compared to a week ago, the camp is much more destroyed. Large apartment blocks - pretty deep into the camp - have apparently been taken over by the Lebanese army because on some of these buildings I spotted the Lebanese flag. Also on the South-east side of the camp, the army has taken over an important Fatah al Islam bunker/building. From it, the islamists would regularly fire mortars or RPG's at nearby army positions. Here now as well a Lebanese flag on top of the bunker/building.

Since Fatah al Islam is fully encircled by the Lebanese army, it is only a matter of time before the islamists inside will be defeated. But believe me...the Lebanese Army victory did not occur today. Maybe tomorrow - who knows.

I made picture above today (late afternoon on Thursday) from nearby the Naher al Bared camp. You can see the smoke form very recent shelling and the Lebanese flags inside the camp. In the back; a war ship.

Harald Doornbos

Dutch soldier forgets gun, and ammo, in Afghanistan field - Taliban happy

This little exclusive story I wrote yesterday and was published, today, in the GPD newspapers. Since it is very much a "Dutch topic", there is no need to translate it into English. Bottomline: Dutch soldier in Afghanistan forgets his semi-automatic machinegun and six clips of ammo in a field in Afghanistan's province of Uruzgan. Happy taliban later retrieve the gun. Pretty clumsy.

SOLDAAT LAAT WAPEN LIGGEN IN URUZGAN, TALIBAN BLIJ

Van onze correspondent Harald Doornbos

BEIROET (GPD) – Een Nederlandse soldaat heeft begin april per ongeluk zijn wapen in het gras laten liggen nabij een taliban dorp in Uruzgan. Hierdoor beschikt de taliban nu over een uiterst moderne Diemaco C7 semi-automatisch machinegeweer, inclusief een telescoop, zes magazijnen met munitie en een helm.

Dit zegt een zeer betrouwbare bron, die anoniem wil blijven, tegenover deze krant.

Het incident speelde zich af nabij het dorp Surkh-Murghab, waar op 4 april van dit jaar Nederlandse soldaten en hun partners van het Afghaanse Nationale Leger in een hinderlaag werden gelokt door de taliban.

Tijdens de gevechten, aan het einde van de middag, raakte een Nederlandse militair gewond als gevolg van splinters die uit een machinegeweer vlogen dat werd afgevuurd door een andere Nederlandse soldaat. In een poging de gewonde soldaat in veiligheid te brengen, probeerden Nederlandse collega’s hem richting een gepantserd voertuig te slepen. Ondertussen vuurden talibanstrijders in de richting van de Nederlanders.

Een van de Nederlandse soldaten, een ziekenverzorger, deed daarop zijn wapen af in een poging om de gewonde collega beter te kunnen helpen. In de chaos van de strijd sprongen de soldaten samen met de gewonde militair in de pantserwagen. Kort daarop kwam de ziekenverzorger erachter dat hij zijn wapen in het gras had laten liggen. Het was toen echter te laat en te gevaarlijk om terug te keren.

Het gaat om een nieuwe Diemaco C7, een semi-automatisch machinegeweer. Op het wapen zat een standaard telescoop gemonteerd, waardoor het tevens te gebruiken is als een sluipschuttergeweer. Afgezien van het wapen, vergat de soldaat ook zes magazijnen met munitie (180 kogels) en een kevlar helm.

De Diemaco C7 is van Canadese makelij en wordt gebruikt door het Nederlandse leger. Het is een nieuwe, verkorte versie van de M16. Met de telescoop er op is het, volgens de website van het ministerie van Defensie, effectief tot op 550 meter. Het kan, op automatische stand, drie kogels afvuren. Op handmatige stand en met de extra telescoop wordt het wapen ook gebruikt als sluipschuttergeweer. In het magazijn zitten dertig kogels.

Nadat de Nederlandse soldaten de veiligheid van hun basis, genaamd Poentjak, bereikt hadden, kon een Nederlandse sluipschutter de plek zien waar het achtergelaten wapentuig lag. Later liep een Afghaans kind uit het dorp naar die plek. Vervolgens pakte het kind het wapen en de rest van de spullen op. Daarna liep hij terug naar het dorp, waarvandaan de Nederlanders eerder die dag waren beschoten.

Het incident werd in april niet bekend gemaakt door het Ministerie van Defensie. Defensie woordvoerder Robin Middel echter bevestigt het bericht. “Een wapen kwijt raken is natuurlijk altijd vervelend,” aldus Middel in een reactie op dinsdag. “Maar er was geen sprake van opzet en het gebeurde tijdens een zeer hectisch incident,” meent Middel. Volgens de woordvoerder is er daarna een nieuw wapen voor de ziekenverzorger besteld.

Zeker het feit dat de taliban nu beschikt over een uiterst modern wapen, lijkt een zorgelijk aspect. “De taliban zal er niet de oorlog mee gaan winnen,” meent een militair specialist, “Maar het is knap vervelend dat een taliban sluipschutter nu tussen de 100 en 200 keer kan schieten op Nederlandse of Amerikaanse soldaten.”

Harald Doornbos

Poor Muslim Woman

The tragic consequence of war. A poor Muslim woman escapes the fighting around the Nahr al Bared camp in northern Lebanon.

Ain't it a great caption for the first picture? But not true at all. Because the old woman walked straight to a nearby field to work on potatoes or whatever crop she is into. So the second picture is much closer to the truth than the first.

I made both pictures, and I just want to show how easy it is to manipulate stuff.

This too explains why there is such an enormous amount of crap being written about Fatah al Islam, the group that is currently surrounded by the Lebanese army inside the Nahr al Bared camp.

Bloggers from all around the world seem to have a true passion for either blaming Syria, or the Lebanese government (and US president Bush of course) for creating Fatah al Islam / Al Qaeda in Lebanon.

My point is this: We have no clue, no evidence for either of theories.

And if you don't live in Lebanon nor visit northern Lebanon or don't have a deep knowledge of radical Islam in the Levant - please don't bore the rest of the world with your second hand theories.

Because like it or not - If I would have published only the first picture, you would have believed that a poor old Muslim woman was escaping the fighting.

Harald Doornbos