Topic: Missing Marine Now at U.S. Embassy in Beirut  (Read 1030 times)

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Offline Gambler

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Missing Marine Now at U.S. Embassy in Beirut
« on: July 08, 2004, 12:41:23 pm »
Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Lebanese-born U.S. marine who went missing in Iraq and was thought to be have been held hostage has arrived safe and in good health at the American Embassy in Beirut, a U.S. defense official said Thursday.
Wassef Ali Hassoun has been absent from his unit since June 21, and at one point was reported on a Web site to have been killed.

"He is at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. He is safe. He appears to be healthy. We're working through the details of what the next steps are," said a U.S. defense official at the Pentagon, speaking on condition of anonymity


It will be interesting to see what his story is.
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Offline Sirgod

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Re: Missing Marine Now at U.S. Embassy in Beirut
« Reply #1 on: July 08, 2004, 12:50:04 pm »
That's the Best news I've heard all day Gambler.

Stephen
"You cannot exaggerate about the Marines. They are convinced to the point of arrogance, that they are the most ferocious fighters on earth - and the amusing thing about it is that they are."- Father Kevin Keaney, Chaplain, Korean War

Offline S'Raek

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Re: Missing Marine Now at U.S. Embassy in Beirut
« Reply #2 on: July 08, 2004, 01:35:05 pm »
Good news, but kind of suspicious.  What was he doing walking around in Iraq alone?  How did he get all the way from Iraq, probably through Syria, and to Lebanon?  Why didn't he just report to a unit already in Iraq?  Does he intend on returning to the US? 

Call me stupid, but something is weird in this situation.

Veritas vos Liberabit -- Semper Vigilo, Fortis, Paratus, et Fidelis

Offline Gambler

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Re: Missing Marine Now at U.S. Embassy in Beirut
« Reply #3 on: July 08, 2004, 01:57:51 pm »
Agreed SRaek.  Lots of questions.  But alive beats dead any day.
I'm a Man
But I can change
If I have to
I guess


WWJKD - What Would Jim Kirk Do

I thank God I grew up in an age when a kid could still play with things that could put his eye out.


Offline J. Carney

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Re: Missing Marine Now at U.S. Embassy in Beirut
« Reply #4 on: July 08, 2004, 02:22:54 pm »
SReak

If he was going to come back to the US... I think that he wouldhave found his way back to a unit in Iraq.

I really don't see him coming back.

I'm glad he is alive, but now it is time to start asking some pretty hard questions, the hardest of them being does he disserve to be called a Marine anymore?'
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Offline Sten

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Re: Missing Marine Now at U.S. Embassy in Beirut
« Reply #5 on: July 08, 2004, 02:31:39 pm »
While I find the entire episode strange to follow.

Consider he is a young E-4 Marine. Recently 3 Americans have been Beheaded as well as an Italian and Korean.

Regardless of how he came into the terrorist pocession for a moment.

He is blindfolded, He is paraded in front of cameras, He is an Arabic Interpetor, and he hears someone in back of him saying in 72 hours off with his head.

How many people here in the same situation are not going to say anything the terrorist want to hear in order to live. The terrorist have released several Muslim hostages already.

He already has 2 strikes against him in the terrorist minds. He is an American, and He is an American Marine.

So I want to hear how he got into this mess first.

How he got out comes later. If he lied to them to secure his freedom and life so what.

Offline J. Carney

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Re: Missing Marine Now at U.S. Embassy in Beirut
« Reply #6 on: July 08, 2004, 04:39:28 pm »
That is precisely what I would like to know, Sten.

I have 1853 combat missions (convoy escorts, building raids... anything an MP can do, I've done it) in 11 months under my belt. I would like to know how this man was taken away from the rest of his unit.

I would hold very little  he coiuld have done in captivity against him- unless it resulted directly in the death of other Americans or our Allies.

I mearly would like to have any doubts of complicity in his 'abduction' and 'safe release' cleared up.

What he did when he was in captivity is between him and God as he believes in Him.

The rest is a matter for a courts martial.
Everything I did in my life that was worthwhile I caught hell for. - Earl Warron

The advantages of living in the Heart of Dixie- low cost of living, peace and quiet and a conservative majority. For some reason I think that the first two items have a lot to do with the presence of the last one.

"Flag of Alabama I salute thee. To thee I pledge my allegiance, my service, and my life."
   

Offline S'Raek

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Re: Missing Marine Now at U.S. Embassy in Beirut
« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2004, 05:28:43 pm »
Now it seems his family is apologizing for the fact that he is a Marine!  Sorry, but I even though I've heard the phrase "Once a Marine, always a Marine" I really think this guy is working on loosing that honor. 

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=6&u=/ap/20040710/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_us_marine_2

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Offline J. Carney

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Re: Missing Marine Now at U.S. Embassy in Beirut
« Reply #8 on: July 10, 2004, 05:37:38 pm »
Now it seems his family is apologizing for the fact that he is a Marine!  Sorry, but I even though I've heard the phrase "Once a Marine, always a Marine" I really think this guy is working on loosing that honor. 

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=6&u=/ap/20040710/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_us_marine_2


Well, I'm just waiting on the official story right now. Like I said, it's between him, God and a Courts Martial right now as to whether or not he should be in the Corps
Everything I did in my life that was worthwhile I caught hell for. - Earl Warron

The advantages of living in the Heart of Dixie- low cost of living, peace and quiet and a conservative majority. For some reason I think that the first two items have a lot to do with the presence of the last one.

"Flag of Alabama I salute thee. To thee I pledge my allegiance, my service, and my life."