Posted on 04/18/2002 1:31:31 PM PDT by LarryLied
received via email:
Hello Everyone,
Just to let you know the Embassy in Bahrain was attacked yesterday at 4:00 p.m. The five Marine Security Guards and the two Regional Security Officers were the only ones protecting the Embassy. The Embassy was closed so luckily we only had to protect ourselves and the Embassy compound from destruction. The protest was a pro-Palestinian rally that started a few miles from the embassy and became fueled for violence as radical Muslim groups took charge and led the march on the embassy at 3:30 p.m.
The march was between 2600 and 3000 protestors, but we do not have an exact count because it just happened several hours ago. The protestors were throwing rocks, sticks and fire bombs at the embassy. Between 20 and 30 protestors climbed the wall and started setting the cars, trucks and embassy on fire. When the protestors climbed the walls, the 5 Marines were authorized to use necessary force.
We shot tear gas into the crowd of over 2600 people to try and turn them away from the compound and then continued destruction of our pov's and satellite communication equipment, which was outside the embassy but inside the compound wall. At 4:10 p.m. no firefighters had arrived, so three Marines had to leave the embassy under covering fire of the Marines with gas on the third floor to go to the back of the compound to put out the fires themselves.
We sustained minor injuries from the protestors attacking us with rocks and sticks as we chased them out of the compound and back over the walls using force, while the remaining Marine put out the fires to the best of his ability. After the fires were secured the Marines pulled back into the embassy and continued to force the protestors back onto the highway behind the embassy. The protests were mainly secured by 7:00 p.m. and the investigation was in full swing by this time as well. The Marines stayed at the embassy for security throughout the night and will continue to do so today.
The host government was embarassed that they could not control its own people and that their riot control police were no match for the number of protestors.
The King of Bahrain instructed the Ministry of Interior to fix the problem before dawn, so that minimal damage would be seen this morning. When the Marines were told at 6:00 a.m. this morning we could leave to go get some sleep, we drove past the outside of the embassy and were amazed. The grafitti had been painted over, the guard shacks that had been burned were replaced, the fire bomb burns on the wall had been painted over, the thousand's of rocks that had been thrown were swept away, and the barbed wire that surround the embassy the previous day was gone. Other than the total destruction of all government property inside the compound it looked to anyone passing by, that nothing had really happened.
The host government represenatives called the Ambassador last night and told him they would replace everything that was destroyed and that cost was not an issue. The Kingdom of Bahrain is so scared of pissing off the U.S. that it will do anything in its power to preserve its relationship with us even in the shadow of ignorance from it's own people. The entire fight was caught on video because we saw the Al Jazerra News choppers over our heads. The video may or may not be released because it will be handled the same way the Daniel Pearl murder was handled, since the government will try and pressure what is released and given the fact that the news agency that filmed the riot yesterday is the same one that had the Daniel Pearl murder on tape.
This is the story of what took place on April 5th 2002 in Manama, Bahrain at 3:30 p.m., regardless of what you see or hear. Before I leave and go treat my scrapes and cuts and then go to bed for about 12 hours, I would like to say that the two RSO's and five Marines kept the Embassy from burning to an embarassing pile of United States image, and successfully held off and injured any one that intended to come take our pride from us.
Did I mention the riot was at least 2600 people? Just wanted to make sure anyone out there who thought the Marines who guard the embassies were NOT bad ass boys with guns, does not have that in their heads anymore.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, I am off to bed because I am dead tired, but it was worth it because I had the time of my life yesterday, by far the most fun I have ever had. And one more thing, the American flag is still flying as high and bright as it was before the riot and the protestors' flags are lying on the ground covered in mud.
FR posts on the attack:
Bahrain Protesters Smash Windows at U.S. Embassy
Thousands protest Zionist atrocities(Bahrain:site of US Air and Naval base)
Protester Dies of Injuries Suffered in Demonstration Outside US Embassy in Bahrain
He linked back to a press article about the incident. Why do you have a problem with that? Unless he could somehow link to my "inbox", it's the only other logical place to go....
Why did you add a link that's completely off topic here?
He linked to an article about an incident. We are still not sure if it's the incident in the not-as-of-yet authenticated email.
Why did you add a link that's completely off topic here?
I don't think it's unrelated. But don't worry. Mr. Lied posts unrelated links all the time. :) But you don't have to read the other story if it is of no interest to you.
Not wanting Israel running American foreign policy and meddling in American domestic affairs does not mean I am against Israel.
I post these threads about Bahrain because it is important to know America is fighting a war on terror and what goes on in Israel is a side-show. A side-show which may help America but one which also has the real potential of messing up our war on terror big time.
I see Israel as just another ally. I have no emotional attachment to the country what-so-ever. I sure don't want the Israeli model of government (theocratic, socialist, nationalistic and paranoid) exported to America. Israel ranks #43 on the Heritage scale of economic freedom, far below countries such as Canada, Germany and Great Britain which are considered repressive by conservative standards. Israel practices affirmative action with a vengence and that is distasteful also. But it is their country and they can do what they want. They just have no business telling America what to do.
If Israelis would get over the paranoia and frenzy to get America into the war now they would see what they are doing is not in their best interest. America needs time to build up. Clinton, who about 80% of Jews voted for, gutted our military. We don't have enough pilots. Those accidents which seem to happen every week and kill Americans are a result of the neglect of the Clinton years. America should fight when we want to fight and where we want to fight. Israel will benefit greatly when we take out Saddam and fix Iran. Israel pushes us into the war too soon and more Americans will die than would have.
Attached to the email were phone and fax numbers...send me your email address and I'll forward them to you, since you seem to think the email is bogus.
And would you please explain your rationalization concerning your link? IMHO, a thread about a marine's letter and one about rallies are unrelated.
OK. Mr. Lied claims all the support for Israel all over the world is somehow a bad thing, and that here in America, we need to appease Bahrain and the Arab 'street'. He says Americans should not go to rallies like that. I maintain Americans do and should freely express their views in the public square, because that is the American way. And the link proves that Americans agree with me, and in large numbers. Plus I like spreading good news.
I maintain Americans do and should freely express their views in the public square,
....unless, of course, it's LarryLied?
Nor have you replied to my offer for the telephone or fax numbers attached the marine's email, and yet you insist the email is bogus. Why?
5.56mm
It was posted as an answer to a question by another freeper, I believe one of you friends.
No, I'm not LL's agent...lol...I'm the one who received the email of the marine's letter and I'll believe it's authentic until proved otherwise. I'm annoyed that for days my email has been attacked by a small angry group of Freepers who seem to have only one agenda...
to ridicule and discredit LL.
Memorandum on Designation of Bahrain as a Major
Non-NATO Ally
March 14, 2002
Presidential Determination No. 2002-10
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
Subject: Designation of Bahrain as a Major Non-Nato AllyPursuant to the authority vested in me, by section 517 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (the ``Act''), I hereby designate the Kingdom of Bahrain as a major non-NATO ally of the United States for the purposes of the Act and the Arms Export Control Act.
You are authorized and directed to publish this determination in the Federal Register.
George W. Bush
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/651971/posts?page=24
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