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Chants of 'revolution' in Beirut as France's Macron is mobbed by angry crowds
Large crowds mobbed French President Emmanuel Macron in Beirut as he toured a neighborhood of the Lebanese capital devastated by Tuesday's massive explosion.
"Revolution, revolution!" people chanted, as shock at the devastation in the city gave way to anger on Thursday. New information reveals that Beirut officials had ignored repeated warnings about a stockpile of dangerous chemicals linked to the blast that has killed 137 people and injured 5,000.
Macron told a crowd of reporters and angry people that he would propose a "new political pact" to Lebanon's embattled political class during his visit to a predominantly Christian quarter of the city.
"The people want the fall of the regime," the protesters shouted, echoing calls for the downfall of Lebanon's long-time political elite that were popularized during a nationwide uprising late last year. "Michel Aoun is a terrorist! Help us," one man pleaded, referring to the Lebanese president. One woman screamed inaudible words inches away from Macron's face. "They are terrorists," came the repeated cries.
Most people were masked, including the French president, who removed his face covering to speak to the press. There was no social distancing.
Previously: Beirut Explosion Kills Over 100, Linked to 2,700 Tons of Ammonium Nitrate in Port Warehouse
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 08 2020, @03:51AM
"loses its useful properties in six months"
What I think he means is that it begins decomposing. IOW, it becomes unstable, and more likely to go boom over time. So yeah, national scale darwin award. But hey, no nation is immune. Beurocracies breed stupidity. Three mile island, Chyrnoble.. Donald Trump. What comes around goes around. Government is like playing hot potato with a flaming bag of shit. Eventually the bag is going to break.
Does France really want to usher in an era of neo-colonialism? If they start that trend, they aren't going to be the last one to come up with the idea that fratricide-by-proxy, is a good way to deal with the unemployed. Which is really what we are talking about here. Starting a war to redirect angst into jingoism and nationalistic violence.