MARINE SPEAKS
Donna Long
around 4 pm(EST). Said he did not desert, was held captive 19 days
(think that was the number he said) and told Marines in Iraq to hold
their heads up high...saying, "Once a Marine, Always a Marine".
Donna Long
GrgLnsctt
Donna,
Great news!
Best Regards
Greg
Sharky
It's great to see he's being treated as an innocent by the Marines, while
the media has already convicted him.
His account of his captures treatment of him, when they realized he was a
muslim and after the news services reported it, will certainly be
interesting.
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aqbBk9knI89c&refer=us
July 19 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Marine Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun, who went
missing last month in Iraq before turning up in Beirut, denied he left his
post and said he was held against his will by kidnappers.
``I did not desert my post,'' Hassoun said in Quantico, Virginia, about 30
miles south of Washington in a televised statement cleared by the Marine
Corps. ``I was captured and held against my will by anti-coalition forces
for 19 days. This was a very difficult and challenging time for me.''
Hassoun, of Lebanese origin, arrived at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut two
weeks ago. The U.S. has said it is reviewing the circumstances of his
disappearance, which came amid the abductions of other foreigners in Iraq.
Hassoun was shown on what appeared to be a terrorist videotape blindfolded
and threatened with beheading.
Lieutenant Colonel David Lapan, a Marine Corps spokesman, told reporters
that the military is ``not in a position to make a judgment either way''
about the veracity of Hassoun's statement while investigations are under
way.
The Marines are supporting Hassoun, 24, through what was ``a very harrowing
ordeal,'' Lapan said.
Hassoun will eventually be taken to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to
continue the ``repatriation'' effort, according to Lapan.
Donna Long
was really suprised that none of the news I saw last night (even Fox)
gave his complete statement. The taped portion of his message to the
Marines still in Iraq (which the radio station here in DC aired) was
most significant. Either the significance of his message "hold your
head up high... Once a Marine, Always a Marine" went over most of the
media's head or they deliberately choose to cut out that part of his
statement.
I haven't gotten today's newspapers (my day to sleep past 4 am), but I
scanned front pages on 'puter and didn't see any references to an
article or brief about him. Will get papers today and go thru them to
see how they are reporting it.
Donna Long
Sharky <m...@privacy.net> wrote in message news:<5ulof0d9pcqa95sse...@4ax.com>...
J...@yahoo.com
"Sharky" <m...@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:5ulof0d9pcqa95sse...@4ax.com...
Doug Reese
>Sharky, you are right. The Marine Corps will treat him fairly. But I
>was really suprised that none of the news I saw last night (even Fox)
>gave his complete statement.
Why would they? It's not like this is the only news to report. The part where he stated
his innocence was enough.
And as another posted says, they (whoever I was watching) did air "Semper Fi".
I'd still like to know about his locker and bank account being cleared out, if in fact
either is true.
Doug
GrgLnsctt
>if in fact
>either is true.
>
Doug,
I don't know if we will ever know the whole truth about this episode. This
could have easily been staged (with Hassoun in cahoots) in an attempt to elicit
foolish comments from certain quarters. OR, he did desert, was regained, turned
around and exploited (for propaganda gain, morale, etc.). War, whatever it
takes to prevail.
Best Regards
Greg
Donna Long
Washington Times carried the AP story with Hassoun's quote in the 4th
paragraph:
"I would like to tell all of the Marines as well as all those others
serving in Iraq to keep their heads up and spirits high. Once a
Marine, always a Marine....Semper Fi", Cpl.Hassoun said, invoking the
Marine Corps motto, Latin for "Always Faithful".
USA TODAY wrote their own story, using part of the quote in the 3rd
and 4th paragrahs of their article:
Hassoun also said he wanted to tell his comrades in Iraq to keep their
heads up and spirits high.
"Once a Marine, always a Marine, Semper Fi," Cpl. Hassoun said. The
motto of the Marine Corps is Semper Fidelis, Latin for "always
faithful".
The Washington Compost(first one I have bought since May after they
ran the "prison" photos for the 4th time) had a large color photo of
Hassoun on the front page. Inside story was written by a Post
reporter. Hassoun's quote was in the very last paragraph (15)in the
story. Began with "I thank everyone who was looking for me and give
thanks to God for everything" and ended with the same AP quote in the
Times...but left out the explaination of what Semper Fi means.
Donna Long
lon...@earthlink.net (Donna Long) wrote in message news:<b55a4c1b.0407...@posting.google.com>...
Donna Long
was carried (in full and in part) by at least the 3 newspapers I read
today. And its good to know that someone reported yesterday that he
said "Semper Fi"....at least the Marines and most military men who
heard that knew what he was saying to the servicemen in Iraq.
A Marine is missing for 19 days...was shown blindfolded, reported
beheaded...then not beheaded....shows up at the US Embassy in
Beruit... is taken to Germany, then transfered to Quanico and finally
makes a public statement before he is sent back to his unit at Camp
Lejeune and you ask "Why would they" (the media) report the full
contents of the first statement he makes? Saying he was innocent was
enough? You gotta be kidding...right?
Donna Long
Doug Reese <dre...@erols.com> wrote in message news:<40fd54fd$0$5649$61fe...@news.rcn.com>...
Doug Reese
>As you can see from my previous post, AP reported his statement and it
>was carried (in full and in part) by at least the 3 newspapers I read
>today. And its good to know that someone reported yesterday that he
>said "Semper Fi"....at least the Marines and most military men who
>heard that knew what he was saying to the servicemen in Iraq.
>
>A Marine is missing for 19 days...was shown blindfolded, reported
>beheaded...then not beheaded....shows up at the US Embassy in
>Beruit... is taken to Germany, then transfered to Quanico and finally
>makes a public statement before he is sent back to his unit at Camp
>Lejeune and you ask "Why would they" (the media) report the full
>contents of the first statement he makes? Saying he was innocent was
>enough? You gotta be kidding...right?
No, I'm not kidding. I haven't any idea as to how long he spoke (his whole statement),
but you watch the evening news. Do you expect them to do a piece longer than a minute or
two? You hardly ever see ANYONE's entire statement/speech. Why should this guy be any
different?
It might be at the top of the list when it comes to being important to you and others,
but in the whole scheme of national/international news it isn't. Important, yes, and it
got a significant mention, but it just isn't going to get more than that.
Doug
Donna Long
his capture was staged unless you believe it was all an elaborate hoax
to send him back as a terrorist spy. If he deserted to join the
terrorists, he would be their poster-child...American Muslim Marine
joins the Jihad...a priceless propaganda tool for the terrorists. If
he deserted to join family members in Lebanon, he could have
disappeared in that country for months, even years and we may not have
ever found him. Hell, even with all our military in Iraq, we couldn't
find Maupin (and still haven't found him). Nor could we find Berg,
Williams, the South Korean, the Italian, the Phillipino, the Turks or
the Bulgarians...all shown on video. The only "hostages" we have ever
found were 4 (forgot their nationality) and that was in an area I
believe that was controlled by the Kurds. The Turk hostages were set
free, as was the Phillipino. The only American hostage (the
Mississippi truck driver) saved his own ass. And now, after 19 days,
Hassoun appears to have saved his own ass.
Yes, the question has not been answered as to how he ended up on that
video, was not beheaded and ended up in Lebanon. All we know for sure
is that he went to the US Embassy in Beruit seeking help as a US
Marine.
I would also note, that some references have been made to the fact
that Hassoun was not in an orange jump suit in the video and would
point out that neither was Maupin nor several other hostages who were
shown in their initial capture videos. To the best of my recollection,
those who were beheaded(and a man executed said to be Maupin) were the
ones who were shown dressed in the orange jump suits. I did not read
what the Italian who was executed was wearing...the video of that
execution was not widely broadcasted like the others because the
Italian reportedly was so belligerent that he ripped off his
blindfold, got in the terrorists' face and told them, "I'll show you
how an Italian dies"...pissed them off and they shot him.
Donna Long
grgl...@cs.com (GrgLnsctt) wrote in message news:<20040720134049...@mb-m02.news.cs.com>...
JASON A. KAATZ
really providing the facts. One pointed out that the are many Iraqis who
want the U.S. to stay on. The provided some interesting photographs as
well. Never go to war without your lap top.
"Donna Long" <lon...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:b55a4c1b.04071...@posting.google.com...
Sharky
>I received a number of e-mails from Marines in Iraq who say the media is not
>really providing the facts. One pointed out that the are many Iraqis who
>want the U.S. to stay on. The provided some interesting photographs as
>well. Never go to war without your lap top.
Jason, can you post the pics in news:alt.binaries.pictures.military ? I'm
sure everyone would like to see them...at least I know I would. Or post
them here (if your news admin allows) and I'll repost them in abpm.
Doug Reese
>Greg, we are all speculating, but I find it very hard to believe that
>his capture was staged unless you believe it was all an elaborate hoax
>to send him back as a terrorist spy.
Hmmm, I think you've been hanging around you-know-who for too long!
Doug
Donna Long
Donna
Doug Reese <dre...@erols.com> wrote in message news:<40fdcf5e$0$5627$61fe...@news.rcn.com>...
Horvath
wrote this crap:
>Now play nice or I'll tell everyone you have a Bush/Cheney sticker on your car.
And that's bad?
Hor...@Horvath.net
My T-shirt says, "This shirt is the
ultimate power in the universe."
Doug Reese
>On 21 Jul 2004 02:59:02 -0700, lon...@earthlink.net (Donna Long)
>wrote this crap:
>
>>Now play nice or I'll tell everyone you have a Bush/Cheney sticker on your car.
>
>
>And that's bad?
For me it would be.
Doug