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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Marine's kin ask Arabs for sympathy |
| 2004-07-11 |
| BEIRUT -- Relatives of a U.S. Marine who surfaced in Beirut nearly three weeks after an apparent kidnapping in Iraq appealed for understanding from fellow Arabs on Saturday, saying the Lebanese-born man emigrated and joined the Marines for financial reasons. Sympathy...anyone...anyone...going once...going twice... In Hassoun's native city of Tripoli, Are you Lebanse or Libyan? Make up your mind? his family issued a statement saying he was forced to go to the United States and join the Marines because of the deteriorating economic situation caused by Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war. Yep, held a gun to his head did those recruiters. I didn't realize the Marines had brought back the Royal Navy practice of pressing people into service from the streets of third world countries. Those sneaky leathernecks. The statement appeared aimed at countering criticism by some fundamentalist Sunni Muslims in Tripoli, who accused Hassoun's family of being "American agents and collaborators." No that would make him CIA. It stressed the family's Arab and Islamic ties and its loyalty to Lebanon. "We are a family of Lebanese Arab Muslims. We are not seeking to defend ourselves," the Hassoun family's statement said. "But we would like to thank the Lebanese for sympathizing with one of their sons [Hassoun] who was pushed by the difficult living conditions in their home country to emigrate and forced to work in a position that they may not like." The statement said Hassoun, 24, was "driven by the lure of a good life to emigrate, [but he] might have made a mistake by choosing to sign a four-year contract with the U.S. Navy, which expires by the end of 2005." Yep, shoulda opted for three. "I gotta support and defend what?" The Marines are part of the Navy. Uh-oh, those are fightin' words. On Thursday, two people were killed and three others wounded in a Tripoli gun battle between members of the Hassoun clan and business rivals who called them American collaborators. Well at least some of the Hassouns can fight. |
| Posted by:Zpaz |
| #7 It is going to take a very long time and a lot of hardship for Americans to realize that a muslim cannot be loyal to anything but Islam. Everywhere they go, they are muslim first and a very distant second whatever nationality they are born under. The only reason for the Army to let this as***le in, would have been to use him as a agent. But, if that was the case, he would not have his head attached to his shoulders now. |
| Posted by: Anonymous4617 2004-07-12 12:32:46 AM |
| #6 F*ck this asshole and his family. Deport the family now. They talk like it's such an embarrasing hardship to reside in America. |
| Posted by: Les Nessman 2004-07-11 11:48:32 PM |
| #5 Has anyone seen the ticker running along the bottom of CNN yesterday saying Hassoun had been granted immunity for his statements during debriefing and actions prior to the debriefing? I am not sure, but at one point it appeared this Marine deserted his post. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that a capitol offense during a time of war? Why is this lowly truck driver turned interpretor being given such special treatment? Anyone have any ideas, please post them. If you can provide evidence, please provide your source. |
| Posted by: Anonymous5700 2004-07-11 10:47:07 PM |
| #4 The NY Daily News article, June 28, 2004, said this guy Hassoun came to America right before 9/11 and was supposedly so affected by it that he joined the Marines...kind of doesn't jive with the above... Also, his father said "he, (Hassoun), isn't a fighter", (why would he join the Marines then? Surely, with his language skills he could have found suitable employment somewhere other than the Corps). The family doesn't make any claims as to their being Arab-Americans, (hmmmmmmmmmm). Does anyone wonder why a US Marine would be released unharmed by the beheading-crazed muslim terrorist enemy? I wonder how much of the real story the world will be privvy to. |
| Posted by: jawa 2004-07-11 4:08:34 PM |
| #3 Maybe they could rebrief him with a pair of frilly panties. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-07-11 1:00:07 PM |
| #2 Correction: debrief should read debriefs. |
| Posted by: Anonymous4617 2004-07-11 12:52:09 PM |
| #1 If this is true, I hope the army debrief this asshole to death (literally). |
| Posted by: Anonymous4617 2004-07-11 12:50:30 PM |