If you have any information to contradict the Marine Corps commandant Robert Barrow's complaint to the Joint Chiefs that IDF troops in Lebanon under Ariel Sharon "harassed, endangered and degraded" American marines, you should post it now.
I may be mistaken, but my understanding is that our most recent military "foray" into the Mid East at the time was Carter's attempt to rescue the hostages at the Iranian Embassy in Tehran. I would not be surprised if the Israelis thought we were weak. What does a commander do to ascertain an opponent's strength? I suppose "harrass" is close enough.
The fact of the matter is, this is an editorial (directed to a specific audience) disguised as an article. So we and the Israelis got into a dust-up 20 years ago. Is it time to forgive yet, or are we still waiting to forgive Gen. Montgomery for his differences with Gen. Patton?
A minor consideration in view of the Marine barracks that got blown up by the Muslims. With 247 or so US Marines killed. While Barrow was squawking about the Israelis the Muslims were plotting to blow up his Marine barracks.
http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/040483/830404006.html
March 17, 1983
The Pentagon made public a letter from General Robert Barrow, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, to Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, in which General Barrow said that Israeli troops had involved U.S. marines and army personnel in "life -threatening situations" and that he could "no longer remain silent on this continual problem of provocation from the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces).- (For a complete text of the letter, see below.)Terrorist Bombing Of The Marine Barracks, Beirut, Lebanon
... hours of 23 October 1983, a truck loaded with explosives crashed through the security
perimeter of the United States Marine Corps Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. ...
www.arlingtoncemetery.com/terror.htm - 8k - Cached - Similar pages