Essentially, we (USMC) were put in a UN peacekeeping force and sent to Beirut. We did not wear the baby blue helmets or UN patch (in fact, we were told that our arm would be removed by fire axe if we sewed the patch on LOL) We did not know our mission until we got there. Within a few days there, we found out it was to protect the PLO, including Stinky Arafat, from the IDF. They had started crap in jerusalem and the IDF chased them out over the lebanese border. Then the PLO started mortaring Israel from there. The IDF then warned them and mobilized to end the situation. They then chased the PLO northwards. I watched a lone Captain with a .45 step into the main highway and face down an IDF tank. The column turned around and headed south. They did not know that we did not have ANY ammunition at that point. It was all out on the ships in the med.
WOW... Thanks for sharing. That is really interesting.
A close friend of mine from Lebanon was kidnapped by Arafat’s PLO when they also held the Anglican Envoy, Terry Waite.
He said they put the pistol to the head of the prisoner next to him and executed him. Then they put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger and the gun went click, on an empty chamber. That was their was of influencing him to talk.
He subsequently moved to the USA but still has family there.
The only thing I can figure is that Bush and the CIA wanted to keep on good terms with the Arab oil countries. Remember, in 1967 during the war, our spy ship was supposedly giving Israel troop movements to Egypt and Israel blew up our spy ship Liberty.