Posted on 07/11/2004 6:10:21 AM PDT by milford421
Contrast the statements concerning Marine Hassoun's reasons for enlistment in the U.S. Marines.
Then:
NY Daily News article, June 28, 2004 "Hassoun, 24, is a devout Muslim who joined his family in the suburbs of Salt Lake City shortly before 9/11. His neighbors in Utah said he was so affected by the terror attacks that he enlisted in the Marines."
And now...
Associated Press, July 11,2004
BEIRUT, Lebanon - 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at story.news.yahoo.com ...
Associated Press, July 2004
"Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun was doing well and recovering at a U.S. military hospital in Germany after being flown out of Lebanon on Friday, a Marine spokesman said. He is expected to return to his home unit in Camp Lejeune, N.C., next week.
In Hassoun's native city of Tripoli, 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.
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." 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."
With this statement by Hassoun's family, Associated Press, In Hassoun's native city of Tripoli, 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. "
Good catch. There is a lot more going on here than meets the eye, both with the missing Marine and his family. I wonder if we'll ever hear the entire truth of it?
Nobody, but nobody, is "forced" to join the Marines. They're full of... well, hooey.
Gimme a break--the civil war ended 14 years ago! Nothing forced him to join or do anything.
All I can say is this guy will be behind bars soon.
The Marines do not take desertion in a war zone lightly.
Even if he WAS captured in Iraq and held hostage there how did he surface in Lebanon???
Jack
You have to take into account the fact that his family was just attacked with guns by Islamists in Lebanon for being US collaborators. It puts them in a tough situation.
Everybody's got an excuse, as if there were no other employment options available to Mr. Hassoun. This spin is ludicrous, but who knows, maybe it will sell to the Lebanese.
As far as his financial situation, did you see the relatives home in Utah? Looks pretty good to me, funny how people come over here from the Middle East and seem to be doing very well. I don't trust Hassoon. I could be wrong but I doubt it.
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