Twenty five years ago today - (links at the bottom)
241 American servicemen
58 French servicemen
6 civilians
Peacekeepers - Gone in an evil act for which, several Shia militant groups gleefully tried to claim responsibility, including the Free Islamic Revolutionary Movement.
In the attack on the American barracks 241 American servicemen were killed, 220 Marines, 18 Navy personnel and three Army soldiers. Sixty Americans were injured.
In the attack on the French barracks, 58 paratroopers were killed and 15 injured, in the single worst military loss for France since the end of the Algerian War.
In addition, the elderly Lebanese custodian of the Marines' building was killed in the first blast. The wife and four children of a Lebanese janitor at the French building were also killed.
The US government, after years of investigation has come to believe that Hezbollah, backed by Iran and Syria was responsible. Hezbollah, Iran and Syria have denied any involvement.
The man that a US grand jury secretly indicted, Imad Mughniyah, as the mastermind was never apprehended and was killed by a car bomb planted by unknown assailants in Syria on February 12, 2008. AMF!
We must never forget days such as this. It is a global war on terrorism, even if people want to soft soap it for you. Give it any name or none at all - it is what it is.
Go here and sign the petition for the Beirut Stamp Initiative. The bill currently languishes in committee. Incredibly, on that website you will read a quote from the United States Postal Service's Citizen Stamp Advisory Committee as a reason (among others) to deny this initiative.
"Beirut did not mean that much to American History and not enough people were killed."
I've never read anything so idiotic.
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Some links
The Armorer at The Castle of Argghhh!!!
One Marine's View
Gazing at the Flag
A Soldier's Perspective
Marine Corps Community for Marine Veterans
The USMC have a video tribute at their site.
Wikipedia
241.SavetheSoldiers.com
Arlington National Cemetery
My post in 2006
My post in 2007
Navy Times has "25 Years After Beirut"
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Never forget.
"Mickey Mouse Gets Greater Recognition Than U.S. Marines"? Of course I signed.
ReplyDeleteThe [Stamp] Committee cited its longstanding general policy of not honoring the victims of tragic situations, including natural disasters, acts of violence, and catastrophes. Based on this logic, the USPS should not have issued a 9/11 stamp as this issuance undermines stated policy. I am a progressive and support peace, but we must honor the troops that gave their lives in service to their country. Please issue this stamp to honor the Lebanon Peacekeepers' sacrifice.
An award for Maggie.
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