The Washington Post is reporting that CIA operatives on the ground directed a 2009 car-bomb attack that killed a Hezbollah leader who had been implicated in the Beirut embassy bombing over 20 years earlier. The attack on Imad Mughniyah has always been blamed on Israel alone. Although the report notes that the Israeli Mossad did do the deed in that they pressed the trigger from inside Israel, the report emphasizes the intensive role that the CIA played in this unprecedented attack that seems more suited to Showtime's "Homeland" than real-world operations by the CIA. In addition to providing the "spotters" for the attack, the report claims the CIA designed, tested and delivered the explosive for the attack.
I imagine there will be substantial blowback from this story. First, given Hezbollah's track record, the Lebanese militia may want to take some revenge against the US. More significantly and definitely more likely is the political dynamite in this story -- and the damage it might do to US credibility on the terrorism question. After all, it's the terrorist enemy that uses car bombs, not the USA, right? Although the attack was expertly carried out, taking out the target vehicle only, the method of this assassination will be highly controversial -- perhaps even more controversial than drone strikes.
As the Washington Post story notes, the attack employed
"a technique that some legal scholars see as a violation of international laws that proscribe “killing by perfidy” — using treacherous means to kill or wound an enemy."
Although the attack was conducted in the George W. Bush years, it will be Barack Obama who now may have to deal with a volatile international reaction. This may even impact the negotiations with Iran, which is Hezbollah's main sponsor. Perhaps, that might even be the reason this story is now reaching the public -- though, that is only rank speculation on my part.
The story is just breaking, but I suspect it will be a huge story worldwide. Please offer your thoughts. Was this merely an amazingly effective, successful operation to provide a measure of much-deserved 'rough justice' to an entirely appropriate target? Or, will this revelation seriously undermine remaining US credibility in the wars on terror?