You May Have Missed The Real Marine Barracks Story

Sunday morning, October 23, 1983, 6:20 AM - The deadliest single-day death toll for the United States Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. The attack remains the deadliest post-World War II attack on Americans overseas. The death toll was 220 Marines, 18 Navy personnel, and 3 Army soldiers. Scores of Americans were also injured.

A suicide bomber had detonated his truck, containing 12,000 pounds of TNT at the Beirut barracks, where the United States Marines had their local headquarters. The explosion collapsed the four-story cinder-block barracks to rubble, crushing many inside. The FBI later concluded that the blast was the largest non-nuclear explosion they had ever seen.

From Leatherneck.com (November 01 2005) DOD Lawyers and Politicians Are At It Again! (emphasis added):

"When the suicide truck with its massive IED approached the Marine facility, the ROE (ed. Rules of Engagement) prevented the Marine guards from having rounds "locked and loaded" in their weapons. Unlike the Army guard whose quick reaction and superb aim killed the driver of the cement truck IED in Baghdad this week, the Marine sentries at the barracks were unable to respond in time."

"Grunts are being disciplined for exercising their "inherent right of self-defense" because it doesn't fit some E-ring lawyer's view of "reasonable use of lethal force."

"Two Marine officers recently returned from Iraq have lifted the Wizard's curtain, revealing that DOD lawyers and politicians (military and civilian) are a major contributing factor in the increased casualties being experienced by US forces (particularly in the Sunni areas)."

Readers are urged to read the full posting by Ellie, from which above have been excerpted.

Related: What Should We Have Expected from a Lawyer?