1985 Beirut car bombings: Difference between revisions

March 1985 Beirut car bombing
March 1985 Beirut car bombing
Part of Lebanese Civil War
Location	Bir al-Abed, Beirut
Coordinates	33°51′09″N 35°30′38″E / 33.8524°N 35.5105°E
Date	8 March 1985
Target	Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah
Attack type	Car bombing, attempted assassination
Deaths	80
Injured	~200
Perpetrator	CIA linked Lebanese counter-terrorism unit

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Latest revision as of 22:51, 2 October 2024

On 8 March 1985, a car bomb exploded between 9^[3] and 45 metres^[4] from the house of Shia cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah in Beirut, Lebanon, in a failed assassination attempt by a Lebanese counter-terrorism unit linked to the Central Intelligence Agency.^[2] The bombing killed 80 people and injured 200, almost all civilians.^[1]^[3]

Beirut experienced three other deadly car bombs in following months on 22 May, 14 August and 18 August 1985.^[5]

The blast

The bomb explosion, estimated to have been equivalent to 200 kg (440 lbs) of dynamite,^[3] occurred in the western Beirut suburb of Bir al-Abed, outside an apartment building. It killed worshippers, mostly women and girls, leaving Friday prayer services at an adjacent mosque, and destroyed two 7-story apartment buildings and a cinema.^[6]

While several of Fadlallah's bodyguards were killed in the attack, the cleric escaped injury as he was attending Friday prayers at a nearby mosque.^[6]

Locals fired guns in the air, following the blast, trying to clear the roads to allow ambulances to pass.^[7] A banner was strung across the blast site by locals, reading "Made in USA."^[8]

Historical context

In 1976, Gerald Ford became the first U.S. president to forbid political assassination, in the wake of the Church Commission,^[9] issuing Executive Order 11905.^[10] In 1981, President Ronald Reagan strengthened the policy with Executive Order 12333, which decreed that "No person employed by or acting on behalf of the United States Government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, assassination." This Executive Order remains in effect today.^[10]^[11]

The Beirut car bombing occurred "within the continuously evolving framework of an American 'preemption' counterterror program".^[9] Following the 1983 United States embassy bombing, 1983 Beirut barracks bombings, and the 1984 U.S. embassy annex bombing, the U.S. military considered a range of retaliatory options, but it was unclear that these would have any deterrent value. On 14 November 1983, Then-president Ronald Reagan authorized a retaliatory strike, but Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger did not authorize U.S. aircraft to take off for reasons that have not been disclosed.^[12] CIA director William Casey, along with CIA General Counsel Stanley Sporkin, favored the use of preemptive counter-terrorism practices in Lebanon; others, including Deputy Director of Central Intelligence John N. McMahon, did not approve of the strategy, concerned that it would violate Executive Order 12333.^[9]

Responsibility

In June 1985, the Washington Post reported that a CIA supported counter terrorism unit, made up of Lebanese Intelligence officers and others, was responsible for the bombing. They reported that the CIA did not authorize the bombing and had no direct links to the bombers. A Lebanese intelligence source said the CIA knew of plans for the bombing but did not want involvement because of the dangers to civilians.^[2] The CIA denied any complicity in the bombing. A House intelligence committee, in June 1985, said there was no evidence the CIA "encouraged or participated in any terrorist activity in Lebanon" or had knowledge of the bombing beforehand.^[1]

In the aftermath of the bombing, US officials cancelled its Beirut based counterterrorism operation, that trained Lebenese counterterrorism units, because of indirect links between the CIA and the bombing.^[1]^[2]

In 1987, reporter Bob Woodward wrote that CIA director William Casey, on his deathbed, had admitted personal culpability in the attack, which he suggests was carried out with funding from Saudi Arabia.^[13] Fadlallah would later suggest the amount $3,000,000 as the price that had been offered by the Saudis for Casey to arrange the bombing.^[14] Woodward suggests that Fadlallah accepted $2 million from the Saudis to stop attacks from Hezbollah.^[13] Asked about the allegations, President Reagan responded, "Never would I sign anything that would authorize an assassination... I never have, and I never will, and I didn't."^[13] William Casey's widow strongly denied that Woodward had spoken to Casey in hospital before his death.^[13]

The U.S. National Security Advisor, Robert McFarlane, stated that those responsible for the bomb may have had American training, but asserted that they were "rogue operative[s]," and the CIA in no way sanctioned or supported the attack.^[15] Woodward's own account of his conversation with Casey suggests that Casey's action was "off the books".^[13] ^[16]

Several Lebanese politicians, such as Selim Hoss, blamed Israel for the attack, saying: "there is no doubt that Israel is behind this ugly crime".^[17] Hezbollah claimed that it had found a network of cooperation between the CIA, the Mossad, the Lebanese Army and the Kataeb Party.^[18]

Aftermath

A car bomb on 22 May killed 48 people. Another on 14 August killed 15 people, and a bomb on 18 August exploded in a Christian suburb of East Beirut causing the death of 50 people. It was one of the worst explosions to take place in the city's east, which was relatively calm compared to the west.^[5]

A former CIA operative maintains that the failed 1985 attempt tarnished the CIA's reputation.^[19]

In Literature

The car bombing is described in Ken Follet's 2014 historical novel "Edge of Eternity".

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Babcock, Charles R.; Woodward, Bob (23 June 1985). "CIA Denies Part in Bombing". The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "C.I.A. Linked to Beirut Bomb". The New York Times. Associated Press. 12 May 1985. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c "60 Killed by Beirut Car Bomb". The Guardian. 9 March 1985. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
^ Davis, Mike (18 April 2006). "A History of the Car Bomb (Part 2): Car Bombs with Wings". Asia Times Online. Archived from the original on 19 April 2006.
^ ^a ^b "Car Bomb Kills 50 in Christian Area near East Beirut". The New York Times. Associated Press. 18 August 1985. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
^ ^a ^b Smith, William E. (27 May 1985). "Lebanon Blackmail in Beirut". Time. Retrieved 17 January 2007.
^ "1985: Beirut Car Bomb Kills Dozens". BBC News. n.d. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
^ Bovard, James (1 June 2004). "Terrorism Debacles in the Reagan Administration". The Future of Freedom Foundation. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c Chasdi, Richard J. (March 2012). "Counterterror Failure: The Fadlallah Assassination Attempt". In Weitz, Richard (ed.). Project on National Security Reform: Case Studies Working Group Report. Vol. 2. Strategic Studies Institute. pp. 303–374. ISBN 978-1-58487-512-3. JSTOR resrep11953.10. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
^ ^a ^b Hosmer, Stephen T. (2001). Operations Against Enemy Leaders. RAND. p. 10. doi:10.7249/MR1385. ISBN 0-8330-3028-0.
^ Addicott, Jeffrey F. (2004). Terrorism Law: The Rule of Law and the War on Terror (2nd ed.). Lawyers & Judges Publishing Company. p. 155. ISBN 978-0-913875-75-9.
^ Zenko, Micah (9 October 2012). "Don't Just 'Do Something'". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Zoglin, Richard (12 October 1987). "Did a Dead Man Tell No Tales?". Time. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
^ Cochrane, Paul (5 July 2004). "Will U.S. Foreign Policy Increase Terrorism?". Worldpress.org. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
^ "Terrorist Attacks on Americans, 1979–1988". PBS. n.d. Retrieved 23 January 2007.
^ Woodward, Bob (September 2001). "Interview: Bob Woodward". PBS (Interview). Retrieved 10 October 2012.
^ Hijazi, Ihsan A. (9 March 1985). "Car Bomb Kills 62 Outside Beirut near Home of a Top Shiite Cleric". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
^ Boustany, Nora (6 March 1988). "Beirut Bomb's Legacy Suspicion and Tears". The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
^ Entous, Adam; Osnos, Evan (3 February 2020). "Qassem Suleimani and How Nations Decide to Kill". The New Yorker. Retrieved 4 February 2020.

[Babcock-1] Babcock, Charles R.; Woodward, Bob (23 June 1985). "CIA Denies Part in Bombing". The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 May 2021.

[NYT-1985-05-2] "C.I.A. Linked to Beirut Bomb". The New York Times. Associated Press. 12 May 1985. Retrieved 8 January 2021.

[Guardian-3] "60 Killed by Beirut Car Bomb". The Guardian. 9 March 1985. Retrieved 20 April 2010.

[4] Davis, Mike (18 April 2006). "A History of the Car Bomb (Part 2): Car Bombs with Wings". Asia Times Online. Archived from the original on 19 April 2006.

[NYT-1985-08-5] "Car Bomb Kills 50 in Christian Area near East Beirut". The New York Times. Associated Press. 18 August 1985. Retrieved 9 July 2018.

[Smith-6] Smith, William E. (27 May 1985). "Lebanon Blackmail in Beirut". Time. Retrieved 17 January 2007.

[7] "1985: Beirut Car Bomb Kills Dozens". BBC News. n.d. Retrieved 20 April 2010.

[8] Bovard, James (1 June 2004). "Terrorism Debacles in the Reagan Administration". The Future of Freedom Foundation. Retrieved 29 March 2011.

[Chasdi-9] Chasdi, Richard J. (March 2012). "Counterterror Failure: The Fadlallah Assassination Attempt". In Weitz, Richard (ed.). Project on National Security Reform: Case Studies Working Group Report. Vol. 2. Strategic Studies Institute. pp. 303–374. ISBN 978-1-58487-512-3. JSTOR resrep11953.10. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)

[Hosmer-10] Hosmer, Stephen T. (2001). Operations Against Enemy Leaders. RAND. p. 10. doi:10.7249/MR1385. ISBN 0-8330-3028-0.

[11] Addicott, Jeffrey F. (2004). Terrorism Law: The Rule of Law and the War on Terror (2nd ed.). Lawyers & Judges Publishing Company. p. 155. ISBN 978-0-913875-75-9.

[12] Zenko, Micah (9 October 2012). "Don't Just 'Do Something'". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 10 October 2012.

[Zoglin-13] Zoglin, Richard (12 October 1987). "Did a Dead Man Tell No Tales?". Time. Retrieved 29 March 2011.

[14] Cochrane, Paul (5 July 2004). "Will U.S. Foreign Policy Increase Terrorism?". Worldpress.org. Retrieved 29 March 2011.

[15] "Terrorist Attacks on Americans, 1979–1988". PBS. n.d. Retrieved 23 January 2007.

[16] Woodward, Bob (September 2001). "Interview: Bob Woodward". PBS (Interview). Retrieved 10 October 2012.

[17] Hijazi, Ihsan A. (9 March 1985). "Car Bomb Kills 62 Outside Beirut near Home of a Top Shiite Cleric". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 April 2021.

[18] Boustany, Nora (6 March 1988). "Beirut Bomb's Legacy Suspicion and Tears". The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 April 2021.

[19] Entous, Adam; Osnos, Evan (3 February 2020). "Qassem Suleimani and How Nations Decide to Kill". The New Yorker. Retrieved 4 February 2020.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Failed assassination attempt in Beirut, Lebanon}}
 {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
 {{Synthesis|date=March 2011}}
@@ Line 6: / Line 7: @@
 | image            = Bir al-Abed massacre.PNG
 | caption          =
-| location         = [[Beirut]]
+| location         = Bir al-Abed, [[Beirut]]
 | target           = [[Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah]]
-| coordinates      =
+| coordinates      = {{Coord|33.8524|35.5105|region:LB_type:event|display=it}}
 | date             = 8 March 1985
 | time             =
 | timezone         =
 | type             = [[Car bomb]]ing, attempted assassination
-| fatalities       = 80<ref name="nyt2">{{Cite news|last=Ap|date=1985-05-23|title=CIA Denies Part in Bombing|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1985/07/23/cia-denies-part-in-bombing/49955967-2ce9-4b0b-bedc-540ba39f9026/|access-date=2021-05-03|issn=}}</ref>
+| fatalities       = 80<ref name="Babcock">{{cite news|last1=Babcock|first1=Charles R.|last2=Woodward|first2=Bob|date=23 June 1985|title=CIA Denies Part in Bombing|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1985/06/23/cia-denies-part-in-bombing/49955967-2ce9-4b0b-bedc-540ba39f9026/|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=3 May 2021}}</ref>
 | injuries         = ~200
 | perps            =
+| perp             = [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] linked Lebanese counter-terrorism unit<ref name="NYT-1985-05"/>
-| perp             =
 | weapons          =
 | numparts         =
@@ Line 24: / Line 25: @@
 }}
 {{Campaignbox Lebanese Civil War}}
+On 8 March 1985, a [[car bomb]] exploded between 9<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=9 March 1985|title=60 Killed by Beirut Car Bomb|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1985/mar/09/fromthearchive|work=The Guardian|access-date=20 April 2010}}</ref> and 45 metres<ref>{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Mike|date=18 April 2006|title=A History of the Car Bomb (Part 2): Car Bombs with Wings|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/HD18Aa01.html|work=Asia Times Online|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060419064109/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/HD18Aa01.html|archive-date=19 April 2006}}</ref> from the house of Shia cleric [[Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah|Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah]] in [[Beirut]], Lebanon, in a failed [[assassination]] attempt by a Lebanese counter-terrorism unit linked to the [[Central Intelligence Agency]].<ref name="NYT-1985-05">{{cite news|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=12 May 1985|title=C.I.A. Linked to Beirut Bomb|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/12/world/cia-linked-to-beirut-bomb.html|work=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|access-date=8 January 2021}}</ref> The bombing killed 80 people and injured 200, almost all civilians.<ref name="Babcock"/><ref name="Guardian"/>
-On 8 March 1985, a [[car bomb]] exploded between 9<ref name="guardian">{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/fromthearchive/story/0,,1432945,00.html|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|title=60 killed by Beirut car bomb|date=9 March 1985|access-date=20 April 2010}}</ref> and 45 metres<ref>
-{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Mike|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/HD18Aa01.html|newspaper=Asia Times Online|title=A history of the car bomb (Part 2): Car bombs with wings|date=18 April 2006|access-date=29 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522124156/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/HD18Aa01.html|archive-date=22 May 2011|url-status=unfit}}
-</ref> from the house of Islamic cleric [[Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah|Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah]] in [[Beirut]], Lebanon, in a failed assassination attempt by a Lebanese counter terrorism unit linked to the [[Central Intelligence Agency]].<ref name="nyt">{{Cite news|last=Ap|date=1985-05-12|title=C.I.A. LINKED TO BEIRUT BOMB (Published 1985)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/12/world/cia-linked-to-beirut-bomb.html|access-date=2021-01-08|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The bombing killed 80 people and injured 200, almost all civilians.<ref name="guardian"/><ref name="nyt2"/>
+Beirut experienced three other deadly car bombs in following months on 22 May, 14 August and 18 August 1985.<ref name="NYT-1985-08">{{cite news|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=18 August 1985|title=Car Bomb Kills 50 in Christian Area near East Beirut|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/18/world/car-bomb-kills-50-in-christian-area-near-east-beirut.html|work=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|access-date=9 July 2018}}</ref>
-The bombing was followed by three similar incidents which occurred in Beirut also on 22 May, 14 August and 18 August 1985.<ref name=NYT/>
 ==The blast==
-The bomb explosion, estimated to have been equivalent to 200&nbsp;kg (440&nbsp;lbs) of [[dynamite]],<ref name="guardian"/> occurred in the western [[Dahieh|Beirut suburb]] of Bir al-Abed, outside an [[apartment building]]. It killed worshippers, mostly women and girls, leaving Friday prayer services at an adjacent mosque, and destroyed two 7-story apartment buildings and a cinema.<ref name="Lebanon Blackmail in Beirut - TIME">
+The bomb explosion, estimated to have been equivalent to 200&nbsp;kg (440&nbsp;lbs) of [[dynamite]],<ref name="Guardian"/> occurred in the western [[Dahieh|Beirut suburb]] of Bir al-Abed, outside an [[apartment building]]. It killed worshippers, mostly women and girls, leaving Friday prayer services at an adjacent mosque, and destroyed two 7-story apartment buildings and a cinema.<ref name="Smith">{{cite magazine|last=Smith|first=William E.|date=27 May 1985|title=Lebanon Blackmail in Beirut|url=https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,957011,00.html|magazine=Time|access-date=17 January 2007}}</ref>
-{{cite news|last=Smith|first=William E.|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,957011-1,00.html|title=Lebanon Blackmail in Beirut|newspaper=Time|date=27 May 1985|access-date=17 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521010607/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,957011-1,00.html|archive-date=21 May 2008|url-status=live}}
-</ref>
-While several of Fadlallah's bodyguards were killed in the attack, the cleric escaped injury as he was attending Friday prayers at a nearby mosque.<ref name="Lebanon Blackmail in Beirut - TIME"/>
+While several of Fadlallah's bodyguards were killed in the attack, the cleric escaped injury as he was attending Friday prayers at a nearby mosque.<ref name="Smith"/>
+Locals fired guns in the air, following the blast, trying to clear the roads to allow ambulances to pass.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=n.d.|title=1985: Beirut Car Bomb Kills Dozens|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/8/newsid_2516000/2516407.stm|work=BBC News|access-date=20 April 2010}}</ref> A banner was strung across the blast site by locals, reading "Made in USA."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fff.org/explore-freedom/article/terrorism-debacles-reagan-administration/|title=Terrorism Debacles in the Reagan Administration|last=Bovard|first=James|date=1 June 2004|website=The Future of Freedom Foundation|access-date=29 March 2011}}</ref>
-Locals fired guns in the air, following the blast, trying to clear the roads to allow ambulances to pass.<ref>
-{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/8/newsid_2516000/2516407.stm|newspaper=BBC News|title=1985: Beirut car bomb kills dozens|date=8 March 1985|access-date=20 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223192414/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/8/newsid_2516000/2516407.stm|archive-date=23 December 2010|url-status=live}}
-</ref> A banner was strung across the blast site by locals, reading "Made in USA."<ref>{{cite web|last=Bovard |first=James |url=http://www.fff.org/freedom/fd0406c.asp |title=Terrorism Debacles in the Reagan Administration |date=9 June 2004 |publisher=The Future of Freedom Foundation |access-date=29 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821215232/http://www.fff.org/freedom/fd0406c.asp |archive-date=21 August 2006 }}</ref>
 ==Historical context==
+In 1976, [[Gerald Ford]] became the first U.S. president to forbid political assassination, in the wake of the [[Church Commission]],<ref name="Chasdi">{{cite book|last=Chasdi|first=Richard J.|date=March 2012|chapter=Counterterror Failure: The Fadlallah Assassination Attempt|editor-last=Weitz|editor-first=Richard|title=Project on National Security Reform: Case Studies Working Group Report|journal=Case Studies Working Group Report |url=https://ssi.armywarcollege.edu/2012/pubs/project-on-national-security-reform-vol-2-case-studies-working-group-report/|volume=2|publisher=Strategic Studies Institute|pages=303–374|isbn=978-1-58487-512-3|jstor=resrep11953.10|jstor-access=free}}</ref> issuing [[Executive Order 11905]].<ref name="Hosmer">{{cite book|last=Hosmer|first=Stephen T.|date=2001|title=Operations Against Enemy Leaders|url=https://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1385.html|publisher=RAND|page=10|doi=10.7249/MR1385|doi-access=free|isbn=0-8330-3028-0}}</ref> In 1981, President [[Ronald Reagan]] strengthened the policy with [[Executive Order 12333]], which decreed that "No person employed by or acting on behalf of the United States Government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, assassination." This Executive Order remains in effect today.<ref name="Hosmer"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Addicott|first=Jeffrey F.|date=2004|title=Terrorism Law: The Rule of Law and the War on Terror|edition=2nd|publisher=Lawyers & Judges Publishing Company|page=155|isbn=978-0-913875-75-9}}</ref>
-In 1976, [[Gerald Ford]] became the first U.S. president to forbid political assassination, in the wake of the [[Church Commission]],<ref name=Chasdi>
-Chasdi, Richard J. [http://www.pnsr.org/data/images/chasdi%20-%20case%20of%20the%20fadlallah%20assassination%20attempt.pdf "An Analysis of Counterterror Practice Failure: The Case of the Fadlallah Assassination Attempt"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921044608/http://www.pnsr.org/data/images/chasdi%20-%20case%20of%20the%20fadlallah%20assassination%20attempt.pdf |date=21 September 2011 }} . Project on National Security Reform. Accessed 31 March 2011.
-</ref> issuing [[Executive Order 11905]].<ref name=hosmer>Hosmer, Stephen T. ''Operations Against Enemy Leaders''. 2001, page 10.</ref> In 1981, President [[Ronald Reagan]] strengthened the policy with [[Executive Order 12333]], which decreed that "No person employed by or acting on behalf of the United States Government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, assassination." This Executive Order remains in effect today.<ref name=hosmer/><ref name=add>Addicott, Jeffrey F. ''Terrorism Law: The Rule of Law and the War on Terror''. 2004, page 155.</ref>
-The Beirut car bombing occurred "within the continuously evolving framework of an American 'preemption' counterterror program".<ref name=Chasdi/> Following the [[1983 United States embassy bombing]] and the [[1984 United States embassy annex bombing|1984 U.S. embassy annex bombing]], the [[United States Armed Forces|U.S. military]] considered a range of retaliatory options, but it was unclear that these would have any deterrent value. On 14 November 1983, Then-president [[Ronald Reagan]] authorized a [[Military strike|retaliatory strike]], but [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] [[Caspar Weinberger]] did not authorize [[List of active United States military aircraft|U.S. aircraft]] to take off for reasons that have not been disclosed.<ref>
+The Beirut car bombing occurred "within the continuously evolving framework of an American 'preemption' counterterror program".<ref name="Chasdi"/> Following the [[1983 United States embassy bombing]], [[1983 Beirut barracks bombings]], and the [[1984 United States embassy annex bombing|1984 U.S. embassy annex bombing]], the [[United States Armed Forces|U.S. military]] considered a range of retaliatory options, but it was unclear that these would have any deterrent value. On 14 November 1983, Then-president [[Ronald Reagan]] authorized a [[Military strike|retaliatory strike]], but [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] [[Caspar Weinberger]] did not authorize [[List of active United States military aircraft|U.S. aircraft]] to take off for reasons that have not been disclosed.<ref>{{cite news|last=Zenko|first=Micah|date=9 October 2012|title=Don't Just 'Do Something'|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2012/10/09/dont-just-do-something/|work=Foreign Policy|access-date=10 October 2012}}</ref> CIA director [[William Casey]], along with CIA General Counsel [[Stanley Sporkin]], favored the use of preemptive counter-terrorism practices in Lebanon; others, including Deputy Director of Central Intelligence [[John N. McMahon]], did not approve of the strategy, concerned that it would violate Executive Order 12333.<ref name="Chasdi"/>
-{{cite news|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/10/09/dont_just_do_something|title=Don't Just 'Do Something'|author=Micah Zenko|author-link=Micah Zenko|newspaper=Foreign Policy|date=9 October 2012|access-date=10 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011235135/http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/10/09/dont_just_do_something|archive-date=11 October 2012|url-status=live}}
-</ref> CIA director [[William Casey]], along with CIA General Counsel [[Stanley Sporkin]], favored the use of preemptive counter-terrorism practices in Lebanon; others, including Deputy Director of Central Intelligence [[John N. McMahon]], did not approve of the strategy, concerned that it would violate Executive Order 12333.<ref name=Chasdi/>
 ==Responsibility==
-In June 1985, the [[Washington Post]] reported that a CIA supported counter terrorism unit, made up of Lebanese Intelligence officers and others, was responsible for the bombing. They reported that the CIA did not authorize the bombing and had no direct links to the bombers. A Lebanese intelligence source said the CIA knew of plans for the bombing but did not want involvement because of the dangers to civilians.<ref name="nyt"/> The CIA denied any involvement in the bombing. A House intelligence committee in June 1985, said there was no evidence the CIA "encouraged or participated in any terrorist activity in Lebanon" or had knowledge of the bombing beforehand.<ref name="nyt2"/>
+In June 1985, the ''[[Washington Post]]'' reported that a CIA supported counter terrorism unit, made up of Lebanese Intelligence officers and others, was responsible for the bombing. They reported that the CIA did not authorize the bombing and had no direct links to the bombers. A Lebanese intelligence source said the CIA knew of plans for the bombing but did not want involvement because of the dangers to civilians.<ref name="NYT-1985-05"/> The CIA denied any complicity in the bombing. A House intelligence committee, in June 1985, said there was no evidence the CIA "encouraged or participated in any terrorist activity in Lebanon" or had knowledge of the bombing beforehand.<ref name="Babcock"/>
+In the aftermath of the bombing, US officials cancelled its Beirut based counterterrorism operation, that trained Lebenese counterterrorism units, because of indirect links between the CIA and the bombing.<ref name="Babcock"/><ref name="NYT-1985-05"/>
-Reporter [[Bob Woodward]] wrote that CIA director [[William Casey]], on his deathbed, had admitted personal culpability in the attack, which he suggests was carried out with funding from [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref name=time>{{cite news|author=Richard Zoglin; Jay Peterzell and Bruce van Voorst|url=http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,965712,00.html|newspaper=Time|title=Did A Dead Man Tell No Tales?|date=12 October 1987|accessdate=29 March 2011}}</ref> Fadlallah would later suggest the amount $3,000,000 as the price that had been offered by the Saudis for Casey to arrange the bombing.<ref>
-{{cite news|last=Cochrane|first=Paul|url=http://www.worldpress.org/Mideast/1891.cfm|title=Will U.S. Foreign Policy Increase Terrorism?|publisher=World Press|date=5 July 2004|accessdate=29 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605003229/http://www.worldpress.org/Mideast/1891.cfm|archive-date=5 June 2011|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
-</ref> Woodward suggests that Fadlallah accepted $2 million from the Saudis to stop attacks from Hezbollah.<ref name=time/> Asked about the allegations, President Reagan responded, "Never would I sign anything that would authorize an assassination... I never have, and I never will, and I didn't."<ref name=time/> William Casey's widow strongly denied that Woodward had spoken to Casey in hospital before his death.<ref name=time/>
+In 1987, reporter [[Bob Woodward]] wrote that CIA director [[William Casey]], on his deathbed, had admitted personal culpability in the attack, which he suggests was carried out with funding from [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref name="Zoglin">{{cite magazine|last=Zoglin|first=Richard|date=12 October 1987|title=Did a Dead Man Tell No Tales?|url=https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,965712,00.html|magazine=Time|access-date=29 March 2011}}</ref> Fadlallah would later suggest the amount $3,000,000 as the price that had been offered by the Saudis for Casey to arrange the bombing.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cochrane|first=Paul|date=5 July 2004|title=Will U.S. Foreign Policy Increase Terrorism?|url=https://www.worldpress.org/Mideast/1891.cfm|work=Worldpress.org|access-date=29 March 2011}}</ref> Woodward suggests that Fadlallah accepted $2 million from the Saudis to stop attacks from Hezbollah.<ref name="Zoglin"/> Asked about the allegations, President Reagan responded, "Never would I sign anything that would authorize an assassination... I never have, and I never will, and I didn't."<ref name="Zoglin"/> William Casey's widow strongly denied that Woodward had spoken to Casey in hospital before his death.<ref name="Zoglin"/>
-The U.S. [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]], [[Robert McFarlane]], stated that those responsible for the bomb may have had American training, but asserted that they were "rogue operative[s]," and the CIA in no way sanctioned or supported the attack.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/target/etc/cron.html |title=target america: terrorist attacks on americans, 1979–1988 |newspaper=PBS |access-date=23 January 2007  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070124072452/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/target/etc/cron.html |archive-date=24 January 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> Woodward's own account of his conversation with Casey suggests that Casey's action was "off the books".<ref name=time/>
-<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/target/interviews/woodward.html|title=Target America: Interview: Bob Woodward|newspaper=PBS|date=September 2001|access-date=10 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126194038/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/target/interviews/woodward.html|archive-date=26 November 2012|url-status=live}}
-</ref>
+The U.S. [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]], [[Robert McFarlane (American politician)|Robert McFarlane]], stated that those responsible for the bomb may have had American training, but asserted that they were "rogue operative[s]," and the CIA in no way sanctioned or supported the attack.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/target/etc/cron.html|title=Terrorist Attacks on Americans, 1979–1988|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=n.d.|website=PBS|access-date=23 January 2007}}</ref> Woodward's own account of his conversation with Casey suggests that Casey's action was "off the books".<ref name="Zoglin"/>
-Several Lebanese politicians, such as [[Selim Hoss]], blamed Israel for the attack, saying: "there is no doubt that Israel is behind this ugly crime".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hijazi|first=Ihsan A.|last2=Times|first2=Special To the New York|date=1985-03-09|title=CAR BOMB KILLS 62 OUTSIDE BEIRUT NEAR HOME OF A TOP SHIITE CLERIC|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/03/09/world/car-bomb-kills-62-outside-beirut-near-home-of-a-top-shiite-cleric.html|access-date=2021-04-17|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Hezbollah claimed that it had found a network of cooperation between the CIA, the [[Mossad]], the [[Lebanese Armed Forces|Lebanese Army]] and the [[Kataeb Party]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Boustany|first=Nora|date=1988-03-06|title=BEIRUT BOMB'S LEGACY SUSPICION AND TEARS|language=en-US|work=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1988/03/06/beirut-bombs-legacy-suspicion-and-tears/28371cdd-e9ac-4792-89df-88bf0c0c64c7/|access-date=2021-04-17|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
+<ref>{{cite interview|last=Woodward|first=Bob|title=Interview: Bob Woodward|work=PBS|date=September 2001|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/target/interviews/woodward.html|access-date=10 October 2012}}</ref>
+Several Lebanese politicians, such as [[Selim Hoss]], blamed Israel for the attack, saying: "there is no doubt that Israel is behind this ugly crime".<ref>{{cite news|last=Hijazi|first=Ihsan A.|date=9 March 1985|title=Car Bomb Kills 62 Outside Beirut near Home of a Top Shiite Cleric|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/03/09/world/car-bomb-kills-62-outside-beirut-near-home-of-a-top-shiite-cleric.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=17 April 2021}}</ref> Hezbollah claimed that it had found a network of cooperation between the CIA, the [[Mossad]], the [[Lebanese Armed Forces|Lebanese Army]] and the [[Kataeb Party]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Boustany|first=Nora|date=6 March 1988|title=Beirut Bomb's Legacy Suspicion and Tears|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1988/03/06/beirut-bombs-legacy-suspicion-and-tears/28371cdd-e9ac-4792-89df-88bf0c0c64c7/|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=17 April 2021}}</ref>
 ==Aftermath==
-A car bomb on 22 May killed 48 people. Another on 14 August killed 15 people. Another on 18 August went off in a Christian suburb of East Beirut and caused the death of fifty people. It was one of the worst explosions to take place in the city's east, which was relatively calm compared to the west.<ref name=NYT>
+A car bomb on 22 May killed 48 people. Another on 14 August killed 15 people, and a bomb on 18 August exploded in a Christian suburb of East Beirut causing the death of 50 people. It was one of the worst explosions to take place in the city's east, which was relatively calm compared to the west.<ref name="NYT-1985-08"/>
-{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/18/world/car-bomb-kills-50-in-christian-area-near-east-beirut.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=9 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709194108/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/18/world/car-bomb-kills-50-in-christian-area-near-east-beirut.html |archive-date=9 July 2018 |url-status=live}}
-</ref>
-A former CIA operative maintains that the failed 1985 attempt tarnished the CIA's reputation.<ref>https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/02/10/qassem-suleimani-and-how-nations-decide-to-kill</ref>
+A former CIA operative maintains that the failed 1985 attempt tarnished the CIA's reputation.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Entous|first1=Adam|last2=Osnos|first2=Evan|date=3 February 2020|title=Qassem Suleimani and How Nations Decide to Kill|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/02/10/qassem-suleimani-and-how-nations-decide-to-kill|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=4 February 2020}}</ref>
 ==In Literature==
-The car bombing is described in Ken Follet's 2014 historical novel "Edge of Eternity"  (Chapter 57).
+The car bombing is described in [[Ken Follett|Ken Follet]]'s 2014 historical novel "[[Edge of Eternity (novel)|Edge of Eternity]]".
 ==See also==
+* [[CIA activities in Lebanon]]
 * [[Hezbollah]]
 * [[Internal Security Forces]]
@@ Line 87: / Line 76: @@
 {{Reflist}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Beirut car bombings, 1985}}
-{{Coord missing|Lebanon}}
+[[Category:1980s crimes in Beirut|Car bombings]]
+[[Category:1985 murders in Lebanon]]
-{{DEFAULTSORT:Beirut Car Bombings, 1985}}
-[[Category:1985 crimes in Lebanon]]
-[[Category:1985 murders in Asia]]
-[[Category:1980s crimes in Beirut|1985 car bombings]]
-[[Category:1980s murders in Lebanon]]
 [[Category:20th-century mass murder in Lebanon]]
-[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in Beirut]]
 [[Category:Attacks on cinemas]]
-[[Category:August 1985 crimes]]
+[[Category:1985 building bombings]]
+[[Category:Building bombings in Beirut]]
 [[Category:August 1985 events in Asia]]
 [[Category:Car and truck bombings in Lebanon]]
 [[Category:CIA activities in the Middle East]]
 [[Category:Failed assassination attempts in Asia]]
-[[Category:Improvised explosive device bombings in 1985]]
 [[Category:Improvised explosive device bombings in Beirut|1985 car bombings]]
 [[Category:Lebanon–United States relations]]
-[[Category:March 1985 crimes]]
 [[Category:March 1985 events in Asia]]
-[[Category:May 1985 crimes]]
 [[Category:May 1985 events in Asia]]
 [[Category:Mass murder in 1985]]
@@ Line 113: / Line 95: @@
 [[Category:Massacres of the Lebanese Civil War]]
 [[Category:Terrorism committed by the United States]]
-[[Category:Terrorism committed by the United Kingdom]]
+[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Lebanon in 1985]]
-[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Asia in 1985]]
+[[Category:Beirut in the Lebanese Civil War]]
-[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Lebanon in the 1980s]]
+[[Category:State-sponsored terrorism]]
+[[Category:Car and truck bombings in the 1980s]]