A quarrel between a businessman and the head of a television station disrupts the birthday party…and a security alert evacuates the American ambassador.
A dinner party held on the occasion of the birthday of a well-known plastic surgeon, and attended by a group of political, media and social figures, witnessed a sharp argument and a clash of hands between a prominent northern businessman working in Africa and the chairman of the board of directors of a well-known television station.
In details, the tension goes back to a previous dispute centered around the close relationship between the northern businessman and an influential Lebanese international economic figure, who had previously been subjected to repeated media attacks on the station’s news bulletins. The accumulation of disagreements, and the accompanying pressures and unanswered demands, led to the confrontation erupting again during the social event.
As the problem got out of control, the security team accompanying the American ambassador who was present at the ceremony mobilized, and immediately took the initiative to remove the ambassador and leave the place in a hurry, to avoid any developments or potential dangers.
This incident placed the American ambassador in a critical protocol position, locally and diplomatically, and raised widespread question marks in political circles about the motives for his extensive attendance at evening parties and social events in a country that is experiencing severe security crises and challenges, and in which parties designated by Washington on terrorism lists are active and pose a direct threat to his safety.
In light of these developments, diplomatic circles are raising serious questions about whether the US Embassy will reconsider the nature of its ambassador’s contributions and field movements outside the official diplomatic framework.
