Formerly Missing Marine Says He Did Not Desert Post

[Rose Siding]

QUANTICO, Va. -- A U.S. Marine who disappeared in Iraq and resurfaced nearly three weeks later in Lebanon insists that he did not desert.

Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun told reporters at a Marine base in Virginia that he had been captured.

Hassoun spoke Monday afternoon and a Marine official then discussed Hassoun's repatriation process.

Hassoun vanished June 20 from his base near the troubled Iraqi city of Fallujah and reappeared earlier this month at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.

It is not clear how Hassoun made the journey, and during the three weeks he was missing various conflicting reports emerged about him -- first that he was beheaded, then that he was alive.

http://www.kirotv.com/news/3547318/detail.html

This article doesn't have his quotes but it's breaking on CNN with the footage.

[Rose Siding]

1. better link from CNN with quotes

"I did not desert my post," Hassoun told reporters Monday. "I was captured and held against my will by anticoalition forces for 19 days.

"This was a very difficult and challenging time for me," Hassoun said.

Hassoun made his brief statement at the Marine Corps base at Quantico, where he has been undergoing "repatriation" -- a series of examinations and debriefings given to former military captives.

"Since my release I have been fully participating in the repatriation process. I thank everyone who was looking for me and give thanks to God for everything," Hassoun said.

Hassoun asked to make the statement because he was "concerned with some of the information that has been out there," Marine Corps spokesman Lt. Col. Dave Lapan said.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/07/19/iraq.main/index.html

[rocktivity]

2. If he didn't leave his post

does that mean that the enemy can wander on and off U.S. military bases at will? Did the Marines list Hassoun as a deserter because the alternative was explaining how the enemy removed him from his post without anyone having a clue?

Also, he just happened to get captured, happened to get released instead of beheaded (those Iraqi terrorists are such girlie-men), and happened to end up in Lebanon where his brother just happened to be waiting?

The article says that's there's an investigation going on as to whether the abduction might have been a hoax. But it also also says he's being "repaitrated" in preparation of rejoining his unit. Shouldn't he be cleared of any hoax charges FIRST? Or are they skipping that step because THEY were in on it? Was he actually on some kind of undercover mission? The whole thing smells worse than an overturned outhouse!

:headbang:
rocknation

[bleedingheart]

3. the whole situation looks really bad...

sorry but I find it really hard to believe his story but I am sure more evidence will surface.