The Washington Free Beacon reports that the US Marines guarding the United States Embassy in Cairo were not permitted to have live ammunition. Security decisions are made by the Ambassadors. I can see, perhaps, not needing live ammo in Switzerland, but in Egypt?!?! This is insanity.
Ambassador to Egypt Anne Patterson “did not permit U.S. Marine guards to carry live ammunition,” according to multiple reports on U.S. Marine Corps blogs spotted by Nightwatch. “She neutralized any U.S. military capability that was dedicated to preserve her life and protect the US Embassy.”
U.S. officials have yet to confirm or comment on the reports. Time magazine’s Battleland blog reported Thursday “Senior U.S. officials late Wednesday declined to discuss in detail the security at either Cairo or Benghazi, so answers may be slow in coming.”
If true, the reports indicate that Patterson shirked her obligation to protect U.S. interests, Nightwatch states.
“She did not defend U.S. sovereign territory and betrayed her oath of office,” the report states. “She neutered the Marines posted to defend the embassy, trusting the Egyptians over the Marines.”
While Marines are typically relied on to defend U.S. territory abroad, such as embassies, these reports indicate that the Obama administration was relying on Egypt’s new Muslim Brotherhood-backed government to ensure American security, a move observers are questioning as violence in Cairo continues to rage. (Read More)
It was reported that the consulate in Libya wasn’t even a secure building – the windows weren’t bulletproof, and the place was only secured by regular locks similar to what we’d have in our homes. There isn’t much left of it now. So much for sovereign territory.
You’d think President Obama would have shown some concern over the security of our embassies. Maybe if he weren’t so arrogant, thinking he only needs to read intelligence briefings as opposed to having conversations with intelligence officials, some lives would have been spared.
What a mess.
Update: The Marines say this report is not accurate, via the Time article linked in the block quote above.
Nice detail…Makes Romney’s comments even more valid!
The MSNBC Obama lynch mob has been hurling pure hatred at the Romney campaign since he dared to criticize the most perfect foreign affairs president ever! I’m sure the narrow minded bigots at MSNBC will spin this as Romney’s gaffe as well!
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“Maybe we can use foul language”
PFC Frost
United States Colonial Marines
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Since when have we allowed another country the right to dictate what our marines are allowed to protect,Our marines are there to protect US Sovereign soil and anybody on it even you Ambassador Patterson!what are you thinking you swore an oath-We as Americans need to stop and analyze who we have in office.
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No Live Ammo for Marines???
Seems that denying Americans the ability to protect themselves is a mission statement of this administration with strong support from the UN.
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Excuse me, but would someone please tell me where the voices are on our side demanding something be done about this atrocity. Where are our Senators, Our Congressman. Are they all afraid to speak up because Mitt got taken to the woodshed. Have they noticed that he was proven right. He should be out there every day demanding answers. They did it to Bush, now it’s Obama’s turn. To Hell with the news media. The State Dept knew in advance this was going to happen and never warned our people to take cover. Do you know how many people are going to die because the papers containing the names of the Libyans who helped us have gone missing. Folks, we need to get mad and stay mad. Other than our ambassador, who will pay for this. Who will lose there job? Hillary, Obama? This is insane folks. We can’t take four more years of this.
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I saw your headline and thought Madeline Albright was back.
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This rumor has been proven to be false. You should do the right thing and post an update stating this rumor to be false instead of spreading disinformation.
“The Ambassador did not impose restrictions on weapons or weapons status on the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group (MCESG) detachment. The MCESG Marines in Cairo were allowed to have live ammunition in their weapons. The Ambassador and Regional Security Officer have been completely and appropriately engaged with the security situation. Reports of Marines not being able to have their weapons loaded per direction from the Ambassador are not accurate.” – Marine Corps congressional liaison, Major Alex Cross
Semper Fidelis
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[...] Cairo comes word that no lessons have been learned Ambassador to Egypt Anne Patterson “did not permit U.S. Marine guards to carry live [...]
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