To read the tribute to SFC Marcus Muralles, please click here
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Why Did He Even Bother Coming Back?
Many of us remember the story of the US Marine who claimed he had been lured away from his base in Iraq, kidnapped, etc. Ended up he faked the whole thing, and he was located in Lebanon.
So, he came back to the States to face charges. On Dec. 9, he was officially charged with desertion. And he was supposed to report back to the base on the 4th of January from holiday leave.
Guess what! He didn't show up! Go figure! ATM records have traced him through Toronto back to Lebanon.
First, he took Christmas leave. The guy is a Muslim. They don't celebrate Christmas. It would have made more sense for him to ask for leave over Ramadan or some other Muslim Holy Day. I would have been watching him just because of that.
Next, his American passport was found in Iraq, but not his Lebanese passport. Why was that not flagged? (Although, looking at a calendar, he could have driven to Toronto, then hopped a plane to Lebanon.) Or, better yet, why was it not confiscated?
Finally, why did he come back to the US to begin with? I mean, his wife's visa was due to expire, so she was on her way back to Lebanon, anyway. Why not stay with his (supposedly rich and influential) family in Beruit? This smells fishier than a poorly ventilated fish market.
So, he came back to the States to face charges. On Dec. 9, he was officially charged with desertion. And he was supposed to report back to the base on the 4th of January from holiday leave.
Guess what! He didn't show up! Go figure! ATM records have traced him through Toronto back to Lebanon.
First, he took Christmas leave. The guy is a Muslim. They don't celebrate Christmas. It would have made more sense for him to ask for leave over Ramadan or some other Muslim Holy Day. I would have been watching him just because of that.
Next, his American passport was found in Iraq, but not his Lebanese passport. Why was that not flagged? (Although, looking at a calendar, he could have driven to Toronto, then hopped a plane to Lebanon.) Or, better yet, why was it not confiscated?
Finally, why did he come back to the US to begin with? I mean, his wife's visa was due to expire, so she was on her way back to Lebanon, anyway. Why not stay with his (supposedly rich and influential) family in Beruit? This smells fishier than a poorly ventilated fish market.
