Missing Marine Hassoun a hoax?

[Sparrowhawk]

July 7: Pentagon officials say the Navy has launched a criminal investigation into whether the disappearance of a Marine in Iraq is a kidnapping hoax. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.





Missing Marine mystery deepens
Pentagon investigates whether kidnapping
in Iraq is a hoax

By Jim Miklaszewski
Correspondent
NBC News
Updated: 7:52 p.m. ET July 07, 2004The strange disappearance of Marine Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun, reportedly kidnapped in Iraq nearly three weeks ago, grows even more mysterious.


Senior Pentagon officials tell NBC News, a man claiming to be Hassoun, called his family in Lebanon and the U.S. embassy in Beirut, saying he was — "released by his kidnappers somewhere in Lebanon" and that he was "waiting to be picked up."

But in Washington, Secretary of State Colin Powell said U.S. officials remain in the dark. "We have received reports that he may be in contact with various individuals and there are other reports that he might be in Lebanon. But we cannot confirm any of these at this time," said Powell.

Late Wednesday, FBI agents showed up at the Hassoun family home in West Jordan, Utah. And Pentagon officials tell NBC News that the Navy has now launched a criminal investigation into Hassoun's disappearance, and the possibility that his kidnapping may be part of an elaborate hoax.

Few clues since disappearance in June
Hassoun disappeared from his Marine unit on June 20. He showed up a week later in a hostage-style video, with a sword held over his head and his alleged captors threatening to kill him. Terrorist experts say, however, the group said to have held Hassoun is unknown.

"We don't know whether this group is simply an Internet address. ... We don't know if they were simply fabricated. We have no idea what's going on here," says terrorism expert Steve Emerson.

A second group later claimed Hassoun was beheaded — then retracted that claim. Pending the investigation, military officials refuse to say Hassoun's kidnapping was a hoax, but they point out he had reportedly talked openly about leaving his Marine unit to join his family in Lebanon. Whether he was kidnapped and then released along the way remains a mystery.

© 2004 MSNBC Interactive

[CMyr]

Could be that he set this all up with his contacts. If he really wanted to disappear in Lebanon, that would be the way. Don't think the Lebanese would turn him over. Will have to wait until all the government red tape unravels. Either way, he's chucked his eagle, globe, and anchor, fer sure.

[thedrifter]

Utah family disputes claims that missing Marine corporal has been released

By: PAUL FOY - Associated Press

WEST JORDAN, Utah -- The brother of a Marine who was reported captured in Iraq denied reports Wednesday that he had been released and contacted family members, but a U.S. official said there was reason to believe the corporal was in his native Lebanon.

"I hope we hear from him, but so far, nothing," his brother, Mohamad Hassoun, told The Associated Press.

CNN reported Wednesday that Wassef Ali Hassoun, 24, had been in touch with his family in Utah and Lebanon, telling them he had contacted the U.S. Embassy in Beirut and asked to be picked up at an undisclosed location in Lebanon.


When asked about the supposed call from Hassoun, his brother in Lebanon, Sami Hassoun, said: "We have nothing to say."

A U.S. official, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity, refused to confirm the CNN report, saying only that there was reason to believe Hassoun was in Lebanon. The official did not elaborate.

Another senior U.S. official said the embassy in Beirut has received a report that Hassoun is safe in Lebanon, but officials have not been able to confirm it.

"We haven't been able to determine his whereabouts or get in touch with him," the official said.

Asked about an NBC report that the Navy is investigating whether Hassoun's disappearance may be part of a kidnapping hoax, a Marine spokesman said the Navy investigation remains open.

"I don't think they're ruling that out. It would be fair to say they're not ruling that out," said Maj. Nat Fahy.

The Marines said Hassoun disappeared June 20 from Iraq on "unauthorized leave," but changed his status to "captured" after he turned up June 27 on television blindfolded with a sword hanging over his head.

A militant group claiming to be the Ansar al-Sunna Army said on a Web site Saturday that it had beheaded the Marine. But the group said Sunday it did not issue the statement, and a posting on another Internet site said Hassoun was alive.

An Iraqi militant group said Monday it was holding the Muslim in a safe place but had not killed him. Al-Jazeera television broadcast the statement from "Islamic Response," which claimed responsibility June 27 for Hassoun's kidnapping.

Two FBI agents met with the Hassoun family for about 20 minutes Wednesday. The agents were not there to deliver any news to the family, but instead were sent to determine where the family was getting its information about Hassoun's whereabouts, Agent Kelly Kleinvachter said.

Secretary of State Colin Powell was asked at a news conference earlier Wednesday whether the missing Marine had been in contact with the embassy.

"We have received reports he may be in contact with various individuals," Powell said. "There are other reports he may be in Lebanon. I can't confirm any of these."

State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said Wednesday he could not confirm reports that the Marine had been in touch with the embassy.

"There are reports that say he is safe and healthy. I would not deny that," Ereli said.

Associated Press Diplomatic Writer Barry Schweid contributed to this report.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004...0_407_7_04.txt


Ellie

[enviro]

If this turns out to be the case, remember who predicted it first right here on Leatherneck.com.

http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=3

[Sparrowhawk]

Originally posted by enviro

There is one exception that I might agree with you on this subject. It's a scenario that will have to see it played out before we ever believe it. Goes like this:

Cpl Houssan did desert with the aid of his muslim homo brothers and they have faked this huge kidnapping scheme to make him disappear.

This scenario is possible since we haven't ever heard of the terrorist group that has him and we haven't heard from them since.

Good one, should have placed a bet down...

It seems like the guy wanted to disappear but then changed his mind.
Too many kinfolks and too much money to have to give up. Besides he figured we would find out. either way, this guy, it seems is a no. 1 scumbag.

Something wasn't right, right from the beginning. Here is a guy who could have used his talents to the greatest benefit of himself, his family, the Corps and our country, but self was more important, now, self is worthless to himself and everyone else. No one will ever trust him again.

He is capable of anything to save his own skin. Where is he now?

This calling the U.S. embassy in Beirut and telling them, here I am come and get me, is bull****.

---

What now?

What should be done about him?

[Sparrowhawk]

---

Recap of the events leading to where we are today.


A Lebanese Foreign Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Hassoun "is with his parents" in northern Lebanon.

---

U.S.: Missing Marine May Be in Lebanon
Jul 8, 9:04 AM (ET)

By BASSEM MROUE
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TRIPOLI, Lebanon (AP) - The U.S. Embassy said Thursday it has "credible information" that a missing U.S. Marine is in his native Lebanon, and the military said it was investigating the possibility his disappearance was a hoax.

There have been several contradictory reports about the fate of Marine Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun since he disappeared in Iraq on June 20.

An Iraqi militant group said Monday it was holding the 24-year-old Muslim in a safe place but hadn't killed him. Al-Jazeera television broadcast the statement from "Islamic Response," which claimed responsibility June 27 for Hassoun's kidnapping.

Elizabeth Wharton, public affairs officer at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, said the embassy had "credible information" that Hassoun was in the country and safe, but she could not confirm it.

"We're working on confirmation of that," Wharton told The Associated Press.

Meanwhile, NBC reported the Navy was investigating whether Hassoun's disappearance may be part of a kidnapping hoax. A Marine spokesman confirmed the Navy investigation remains open.

"I don't think they're ruling that out. It would be fair to say they're not ruling that out," Maj. Nat Fahy said.

The inquiry by Navy Criminal Investigative Service was still being treated as missing person investigation, he said.

On Saturday, a statement posted on a Web site known for extremist Muslim comment said Hassoun had been beheaded. A day later, another Web statement declared he had not been killed.

Reports emerged he might have been freed after his family in West Jordan, Utah, said Tuesday they had word that he had been released and was safe, but they didn't know where.

A Lebanese Foreign Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Hassoun "is with his parents" in northern Lebanon.

But journalists gathered outside the family's Tripoli home saw no sign of Hassoun's reunion with his relatives.

Hassoun's brother, Sami, refused to confirm or deny the information when reached by the AP for comment.

On Tuesday, he said someone had visited the family in northern Lebanon and told them his brother was free and well. A Lebanese government official said Wednesday the kidnappers released Hassoun after he pledged he would not return to the U.S. military.

Two FBI agents met with the Hassoun family in Utah for about 20 minutes Wednesday. The agents were not there to deliver any news to the family, but instead were sent to determine where the family was getting its information about Hassoun's whereabouts, agent Kelly Kleinvachter said.

Secretary of State Colin Powell was asked whether the Hassoun had been in contact with the embassy.

"We have received reports he may be in contact with various individuals," Powell said. "There are other reports he may be in Lebanon. I can't confirm any of these."

The Marines said Hassoun disappeared on "unauthorized leave," but changed his status to "captured" after he turned up June 27 on television blindfolded with a sword hanging over his head.

Some of those claiming to be the captors have said he was romantically involved with an Arab woman and was lured away from his Marine base and captured. There also were reports that Hassoun, who was educated at American schools in Lebanon before moving to Utah and joining the Marines, might have been trying to get to Lebanon when he was captured.

Some reports also have said Hassoun fled his camp near the restive Iraqi city of Fallujah after seeing one of his colleagues killed by a mortar shell; others indicated he was lured out and captured.

Wharton denied reports that Hassoun has been staying at the U.S. Embassy since returning to Lebanon, telling the AP: "We have no confirmation of his location whatsoever. ... We do not have any confirmation at this point of his location or whether he is in fact in Lebanon."

No overt signs of joy or preparations to welcome Hassoun could be seen at the family residence, an apartment on the second floor of a six-story building in the low-income Abu Samra district of Lebanon's second-largest city.

For Hassoun to make his way to Lebanon from Iraq, about 500 miles away, he would have to travel through Syria, which borders Iraq's western Anbar province, where his unit, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, is based. Hassoun worked as a translator.

The United States has accused Syria of not doing enough to prevent militants from infiltrating its border to Iraq to fight U.S. and allied forces.

Syria is the main power broker in Lebanon, where it keeps thousands of troops. There are no direct flights from Iraq, and another possible route, through U.S.-allied Jordan, is unlikely because he could end up with the Americans.

A senior U.S. military officer has said the media has been a major source of information about Hassoun, adding that he hasn't contacted the military since he was announced released.

[Namvet67]

He has to pay the price...He "was" a Marine and he left his brothers and he can not just walk away from this. We have to believe the Corps will not let us down and do the right thing. They have to!!!! I knew something wasn't right on my orginal post...Just looking at the picture of him did not set right with me. In the mean time I'm just gonna stay ****ed off. Semper Fi

[enviro]

I gotta say if there was ever a time when a Marine has lost his title (or basically just given it up willingly) this is the case.

And everyone around here knows I'm not one for stripping the title "Marine" from anyone. This guy just may be my one exception.

[USMC-FO]

I have to say this is a very puzzeling event....It is easy to speculate lots of different senarios, all of which have an easy ring of truth or possibility attached to them. Bottom line, until all of this unravels we're all dealing in lots of guess work.

If, however, this turns out to be a set up and a deseration then I would certainly support a very strong Corp response to this Cpl's actions.

Also, if this is all planned set up and "bug out" then from my point of view just further supports my feeling that we, as a nationand a people, clearly have a huge problem with the Muslim religion both inside and outside the US that we, in my mind, still seem reluctant to deal with.

[Sparrowhawk]

Originally posted by USMC-FO

Also, if this is all planned set up and "bug out" then from my point of view just further supports my feeling that we, as a nation and a people, clearly have a huge problem with the Muslim religion both inside and outside the US that we, in my mind, still seem reluctant to deal with.

One thing for sure, we can not seek to be politically correct in dealing with this problem.

It used to be that people came to America to be Americans, now they come here become citizens and still want America, but want America o conform to their way of life, their religion, customs and laws.

[cjwright90]

So if he is "picked up" by the US Embasy, he is goverment property once again, right? BIG Chicken Dinner, reducetion in rank, fines out eh wazoo and some hard time. Thinking about some of my earlier posts on him, dessertion in time of war is a capital offense, but since Congress did not declare war, he might not be eligable.

[Sparrowhawk]

drum him out of the Corps...

Did the Corps ever do that?

[USMC-FO]

"Why can't we just
drum him out of the Corps...

Did the Corps ever do that"......

Hell, Cook you know they did !!....I once participated--in formation and taking it all in--- in the process. Again I say if this IS a deseration then I'd want some hard time done first and then the boot.

Further your comment about being "politically correct" and dealing with the Muslim problem in the US and the World I agree you absolutely CAN NOT deal with the problem AND be PC too.

The number one problem in the world today is this whacko group of fanatics--SUPPORTED--by a religous belief structure which supports and encourages murder and mayhem for anyone who thinks even slightly different than themselves. And frankly the collective thinking, as I see it, of that religion pretty much hit the year 1000 and felt that was about as far as anyone needed to go.

Primitive is the adjective I always liked !!

[Namvet67]

Drum him out...I've seen it. Ain't pretty !

[thedrifter]

Missing Marine at U.S. Embassy in Beirut

TRIPOLI, Lebanon — The U.S. Marine who was feared kidnapped by terrorists in Iraq has turned up safe and in good health at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, the Pentagon said Thursday.

Marine Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun (search), a native of Lebanon, has been missing for more than two weeks and officials are now investigating whether his alleged abduction was a hoax.

An Iraqi militant group said Monday it was holding the 24-year-old Muslim in a safe place but hadn't killed him. Al-Jazeera television broadcast the statement from "Islamic Response," which claimed responsibility June 27 for Hassoun's kidnapping.

Before he showed up safe and alive, a Marine spokesman said that the Navy investigation into Hassoun remains open.

"I don't think they're ruling that out. It would be fair to say they're not ruling that out," Maj. Nat Fahy said.

The investigation by the Navy Criminal Investigative Service (search) was still being treated as missing person investigation, he said.

The investigation by the Navy Criminal Investigative Service (search) was still being treated as missing person investigation, he said.

On Saturday, a statement posted on a Web site known for extremist Muslim commentary said Hassoun, a Lebanese-born Muslim, had been beheaded. A day later, another Web statement declared the Marine had not been killed.

Reports emerged that he might have been freed after his family in West Jordan, Utah, said Tuesday that they had had word that he had been released and was safe, but they didn't know where.

A Lebanese Foreign Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Hassoun "is with his parents" in northern Lebanon.

But journalists gathered outside the family's Tripoli home saw no sign of Hassoun's reunion with his relatives.

Hassoun's brother, Sami, refused to confirm or deny the information when reached by the AP for comment. "I have no time. I have no time," he said before hanging up the phone.

On Tuesday, Sami Hassoun said someone had visited the family in northern Lebanon and told them his brother was free and well. A Lebanese government official on Wednesday said the kidnappers released Hassoun after he pledged he would not return to the U.S. military.

Two FBI agents met with the Hassoun family in the United States for about 20 minutes Wednesday afternoon. The agents were not there to deliver any news to the family, but instead were sent to determine where the family was getting its information about Hassoun's whereabouts, agent Kelly Kleinvachter said.

Secretary of State Colin Powell was asked at a news conference earlier Wednesday whether the missing Marine had been in contact with the embassy.

"We have received reports he may be in contact with various individuals," Powell said. "There are other reports he may be in Lebanon. I can't confirm any of these."

The Marines said Hassoun disappeared June 20 on "unauthorized leave," but changed his status to "captured" after he turned up June 27 on television blindfolded with a sword hanging over his head.

On Tuesday a Lebanese government official said Hassoun had been released, but his whereabouts were unknown. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the kidnappers freed Hassoun after he pledged not to return to the U.S. military.

Some of those claiming to be the captors have said he was romantically involved with an Arab woman and was lured away from his Marine base and captured. There also were reports that he might have been trying to get to Lebanon when he was captured.

Denying media reports that Hassoun has been staying at the American Embassy since returning to Lebanon, Wharton told the AP: "We have no confirmation of his location whatsoever ... We do not have any confirmation at this point of his location or whether he is in fact in Lebanon."

There were no overt signs of joy or preparations to welcome the Marine at the family residence, an apartment on the second floor of a six-story building in the low-income Abu Samra district of Lebanon's second-largest city.

On Tuesday, Sami Hassoun told AP that someone visited the family in northern Lebanon and told them his brother was free and well. A Lebanese government official on Wednesday said the kidnappers released Hassoun after he pledged he would not return to the U.S. military.

For Hassoun to make his way to Lebanon from Iraq, about 500 miles away, he would have to travel by land through Syria, which borders Iraq's western Anbar province, where Hassoun's unit, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, is based. Hassoun worked as a translator.

The United States has accused Syria of not doing enough to prevent militants from infiltrating its border to Iraq to fight U.S. and allied forces.

Syria is the main power broker in Lebanon, where it keeps thousands of troops. There are no direct flights from Lebanon to Iraq and another possible route, through U.S.-allied Jordan, is unlikely because he could end up with the Americans.

A senior U.S. military officer has said the media has been a major source of information for the Americans about the missing Marine, adding that Hassoun hasn't contacted the military since he was announced released.

Some media reports have said Hassoun, who was educated at American schools in Lebanon before joining the Marines after moving to Utah, fled his military camp near the restive Iraqi city of Fallujah after seeing one of his colleagues killed by a mortar shell, while others indicated he was lured out and captured.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,125084,00.html


Ellie