Intestinal Fortitude
A New York Times story suggests that Cpl. Hassoun’s capture came about as a result of him deserting his unit after seeing one of his sergeants die in a mortar attack.
If this is true, then it should serve two purposes:
- Give Cpl. Hassoun a chance (no matter how small) to regain some of the honor lost by fleeing from the face of the enemy.
- Serve as an object lesson.
If the report is true (and I really hate unsubstantiated reports from anonymous sources), then Cpl. Hassoun did not just desert the Marine Corps, he deserted the men who depended on him to communicate with the Iraqis they were serving amongst. His desertion could cost other men their lives. Now, he has been forced into a situation where he is forced to live like a Marine and possibly die like one, or die like a coward. How much intestinal fortitude can he muster to acquit himself like “an American, fighting for freedom” now that it is his own literal freedom that he’s fighting for? That’s the question which will make or break him at this point.
But, it should also serve as an object lesson. Cpl. Hassoun is a Muslim. He is of Lebanese descent. That background did not make any difference to those who would capture him. They are terrorists. They had an opportunity to perhaps escort him publically to the border, thus giving the Administration a black eye and perhaps even garnering some positive publicity for themselves. Instead they have chosen to hold him and will probably behead him unless he can find both the guts and the opportunity to escape them.
The lesson: there are no free passes in Iraq — even for those who get scared and just want to leave.
MickC @ June 29, 2004