A new investigation by The New York Times has shed more light on the corruption in Beirut that set the stage for the fatal blast last month that killed nearly 200 people.There have been numerous reports about how officials ignored warnings regarding the 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a port hangar for years. But the Times reveals that even the Russian businessman who chartered the ship that originally carried the explosive material in 2013 sent a cautionary email about the cargo, and a law firm seeking to repatriate the ship’s crew to Russia and Ukraine flagged an ominous Wikipedia entry for the port’s general manager.> Warnings about the cargo’s danger began soon after it arrived. The Russian who had chartered the ship sent an email warning of “EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CARGO” and a law firm added a 15-page Wikipedia entry cataloging “ammonium nitrate disasters” in history.> > Still, no one acted. pic.twitter.com/HDzwDiv3WT> > — Ben Hubbard (@NYTBen) September 9, 2020But the “entrenched culture culture of corruption at the port,” where Lebanon’s competing political factions all have a stake proved too powerful to overcome. Multiple port employees, customs officials, and shipping agents told the Times that little moves into the port without bribes being paid to multiple parties, including customs inspectors, port security, and even the Ministry of Social Affairs, which Lebanon’s politically connected class reportedly bribes to allow explicitly fraudulent claims. For example, a 3-month old child with Down Syndrome was granted a disability exemption so someone could import a luxury car tax free.In short, the blast was a symptom of a longstanding problem. Read more at The New York Times. > There is no shortage of blame to go around for the blast, with corruption rampant at the port and every government body that could have taken care of the chemicals now accusing others of failing to do so.> > Meanwhile, Beirut is deeply wounded, with no clear path to rebuilding. pic.twitter.com/CNxw7pUZIF> > — Ben Hubbard (@NYTBen) September 9, 2020More stories from theweek.com Trump knew it all along The true Election Day nightmare scenario The staggering consequences of Trump’s coronavirus lies
