Syria has mobilized some 3,000 troops and heavy equipment near its border with eastern Lebanon, Beirut’s As-Safir newspaper reported over the weekend.

The troop movement is being carried out under the banner of a bid to stop illegal smuggling and cross-border criminal movement, but Middle East analysts are viewing it as a signal from Syria that it intends to return Lebanon to its sphere of influence.

The troop movement could also form part of a response by Syria to the threat posed by Lebanon-based jihadis, although this seems less likely in light of the widespread view that Syria has backed a number of jihadi groups in Lebanon.

October 23, 1983.

On that day, 241 U.S. Marines, soldiers, and sailors were murdered as they slept by truck bomb jihadists — who were waging a war on us long before we woke up and started fighting the war on them.

Barack Obama thinks they need more “compassion” and education. He wants to pull out and “end” the war, not win it.

A recipe, in other words, for more Beirut bombings.

Must-read: Commanding officer Col. Tim Geraghty’s remembrance of the Beirut bombings in the NYPost.

From Sgt. Melvin Lopez, Jr. at ArlingtonNationalCemetery.net:

On October 23, 1983 at 6:22 a.m., a large delivery truck drove to the Beirut International Airport where the Marine Barracks was located.

After turning onto an access road leading to the compound, the driver rushed through a barbed-wire fence, passed between two sentry posts, crashed through the gate, and slammed into the lobby of the barracks.

The driver detonated explosives with the power equal to more than 12,000 pounds of TNT. The explosion crumbled the four-story building, crushing service members to death while they were sleeping.

The terrorist attack killed 220 Marines and 21 other U.S. service members who were stationed there to help keep the peace in a nation torn by war.

It was the bloodiest day in the Corps’ history since World War II, when Marines fought to secure Iwo Jima.

Not forgotten:

Carlson, Randall A. ……. USA …. MAJ …. 09/25/1982 .. CT .. Trumbull, CT
Reagan, David L. ………. USMC … CPL …. 09/30/1982 .. VA .. Virginia Beach, VA
Maxwell, Ben H. ……….. USA …. SSGT … 04/18/1983 .. VA .. Appomattox, VA
McMaugh, Robert V. …….. USMC … CPL …. 04/18/1983 .. VA .. Manassas, VA
Salazar, Mark E. ………. USA …. SSGT … 04/18/1983 .. CA .. Pasadena, CA
Twine, Richard ………… USA …. SFC …. 04/18/1983 .. UK .. Salop, UK
Losey, Donald George …… USMC … 2LT …. 08/29/1983 .. NC .. Winston Salem, NC
Ortega, Alexander M. …… USMC … SSGT … 08/29/1983 .. NY .. Rochester, NY
Clark, Randy W. ……….. USMC … LCPL … 09/06/1983 .. WI .. Minong, WI
Valle, Pedro J. ……….. USMC … CPL …. 09/06/1983 .. RP .. San Juan, RP
Soifert, Alan H. ………. USMC … SGT …. 10/14/1983 .. NH .. Nashua, NH
Ohler, Michael J. ……… USMC … CAPT … 10/16/1983 .. NY .. Huntington, NY
Abbott, Terry W. ………. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. OH .. New Richmond, OH
Alexander, Clemon S. …… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Monticello, FL
Allman, John R. ……….. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. NM .. Carlsbad … NM
Arnold, Moses J. Jr. …… USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. PA .. Philadelphia, PA
Bailey, Charles K. …….. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. MD .. Berlin, MD
Baker, Nicholas ……….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. VA .. Alexandria, VA
Banks, Johansen ……….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. MI .. Detroit, MI
Barrett, Richard E. ……. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. VA .. Tappahanock, VA
Bates, Ronny K. ……….. USN …. HM1 …. 10/23/1983 .. SC .. Aiken, SC
Battle, David L. ………. USMC … 1stSGT . 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Hubert, NC
Baynard, James R. ……… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. VA .. Richmond, VA
Beamon, Jesse W. ………. USN …. HN ….. 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Haines City, FL
Belmer, Alvin. ………… USMC … GYSGT .. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Bland, Stephen ………… USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Midway Park, NC
Blankenship, Richard L. … USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Hubert, NC
Blocker, John W. ………. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Yulee, FL
Boccia, Joseph J. Jr. ….. USMC … CAPT … 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Northport, NY
Bohannon, Leon Jr. …….. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Bohnet, John R. Jr. ……. USMC … SSGT … 10/23/1983 .. TN .. Memphis, TN
Bonk, John J. Jr. ……… USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. PA .. Philadelphia, PA
Boulos, Jeffrey L. …….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Islip, NY
Bousum, David R. ………. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. MI .. Fife Lake, MI
Boyett, John N. ……….. USMC … 1stLT .. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Camp Lejeune, NC
Brown, Anthony ………… USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. MI .. Detroit, MI
Brown, David W. ……….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. TX .. Conroe, TX
Buchanan, Bobby S. Jr. …. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Midway Park, NC
Buckmaster, John B. ……. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. OH .. Vandalia, OH
Burley, William F. …….. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. NJ .. Linden, NJ
Cain, Jimmy R. ………… USN …. HN ….. 10/23/1983 .. AL .. Birmington, AL
Callahan, Paul L. ……… USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. OH .. Lorain, OH
Camara, Mecot E. ………. USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Campus, Bradley J. …….. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. MA .. Lynn, MA
Ceasar, Johnnie D. …….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. TX .. El Campo, TX
Cole, Marc L. …………. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. OH .. Ludlow Falls, OH
Coleman, Marcus A. …….. USA …. SP4 …. 10/23/1983 .. TX .. Dallas, TX
Comas, Juan M. ………… USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Hialeah, FL
Conley, Robert A ………. USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Orlando, FL
Cook, Charles D. ………. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Advance, NC
Cooper, Curtis J. ……… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. PA .. North Wales, PA
Copeland, Johnny L. ……. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Burlington, NC
Corcoran, Bert D. ……… USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Katonah, NY
Cosner, David L. ………. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. WV .. Elkins, WV
Coulman, Kevin P. ……… USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Seminary, NY
Croft, Brett A. ……….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Lakeland, FL
Crudale, Rick R. ………. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. RI .. Warwick, RI
Custard, Kevin P. ……… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. MN .. Virginia, MN
Cyzick, Russell E. …….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. WV .. Star City, WV
Davis, Andrew L. ………. USMC … MAJ …. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Decker, Sidney James …… USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. KY .. Clarkson, KY
Devlin, Michael J. …….. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. MA .. Westwood, MA
Dibenedetto, Thomas A. …. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. CT .. Mansfield Center, CT
Dorsey, Nathaniel G. …… USMC … PVT …. 10/23/1983 .. MD .. Baltimore, MD
Douglass, Frederick B. …. USMC … SGTMAJ . 10/23/1983 .. MA .. Cataumet, MA
Dunnigan, Timothy J. …… USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. WV .. Princeton, WV
Earle, Bryan L. ……….. USN …. HN ….. 10/23/1983 .. OH .. Painsville, OH
Edwards, Roy L. ……….. USMC … MSGT … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Camp Lejeune, NC
Elliot, William D. Jr. …. USN …. HM3 …. 10/23/1983 .. PA .. Lancaster, PA
Ellison, Jesse ………… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. WI .. Soldiers Grove, WI
Estes, Danny R. ……….. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. IN .. Gary, IN
Estler, Sean F. ……….. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. NJ .. Kenall Park, NJ
Faulk, James E. ……….. USN …. HM3 …. 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Panama City, FL
Fluegel, Richard A. ……. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. PA .. Erie, PA
Forrester, Steven M. …… USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Foster, William B. Jr. …. USN …. HM3 …. 10/23/1983 .. VA .. Richmond, VA
Fulcher, Michael D …….. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. VA .. Madison Heights, VA
Fuller, Benjamin E …….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. GA .. Duluth, GA
Fulton, Michael S. …….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. TX .. Ft. Worth, TX
Gaines, William Jr. ……. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Port Charlotte, FL
Gallagher, Sean R. …….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. MA .. N. Andover, MA
Gander, David B. ………. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. WI .. Milwaulkee, WI
Gangur, George M. ……… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. OH .. Cleveland, OH
Gann, Leland E. ……….. USMC … SSGT … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Camp Lejeune, NC
Garcia, Randall J. …….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. CA .. Modesto, CA
Garcia, Ronald J. ……… USMC … SSGT … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Gay, David D. …………. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Harrisburg, IL
Ghumm, Harold D. ………. USMC … SSGT … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Gibbs, Warner Jr. ……… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. VA .. Portsmouth, VA
Giblin, Timothy R. …….. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. RI .. N. Providence, RI
Gorchinski, Michael W. …. USN …. ETC …. 10/23/1983 .. IN .. Evansville, IN
Gordon, Richard J. …….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. MA .. Somerville, MA
Gratton, Harold F. …….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Conoes, NY
Greaser, Robert B. …….. USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. PA .. Lansdale, PA
Green, Davin M. ……….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. MD .. Baltimore, MD
Hairston, Thomas A. ……. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. PA .. Philadelphia, PA
Haltiwanger, Freddie Jr. .. USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. SC .. Little Mountain, SC
Hamilton, Virgil D. ……. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. KY .. Dayton, OH
Hanton, Gilbert ……….. USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. DC .. Washington, DC
Hart, William …………. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Haskell, Michael S. ……. USMC … CAPT … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Camp Lejeune, NC
Hastings, Michael A. …… USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. DE .. Seaford, DE
Hein, Paul A. …………. USMC … CAPT … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Camp Lejeune, NC
Held, Douglas E. ………. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Helms, Mark A. ………… USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. NE .. Dwight, NE
Henderson, Ferrandy D. …. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Tampa, FL
Hernandez, Matilde Jr. …. USMC … MSGT … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Midway Park, NC
Hester, Stanley G. …….. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Raleigh, NC
Hildreth, Donald W. ……. USMC … GYSGT .. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Sneads Ferry, NC
Holberton, Richard H. ….. USMC … SSGT … 10/23/1983 .. SC .. Beaufort, SC
Holland, Robert S. …….. USN …. HM3 …. 10/23/1983 .. KY .. Gilbertsville, KY
Hollingshead, Bruce A. …. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. OH .. Fairborn, OH
Holmes, Melvin D. ……… USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. IL .. Chicago, IL
Howard, Bruce L. ………. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. ME .. Strong, ME
Hudson, John R. ……….. USN …. LT ….. 10/23/1983 .. GA .. Riverdale, GA
Hudson, Terry L. ………. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. AL .. Prichard, AL
Hue, Lyndon J. ………… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. LA .. Des Allemands, LA
Hukill, Maurice E. …….. USMC … 2ndLT .. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Iacovino, Edward F. Jr. … USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. RI .. Warwick, RI
Ingalls, John J. ………. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Interlaken, NY
Innocenzi, Paul G. III …. USMC … WO1 …. 10/23/1983 .. NJ .. Trenton, NJ
Jackowski, James J. ……. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. NY .. S. Salem, NY
James, Jeffrey W. ……… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. MD .. Baltimore, MD
Jenkins, Nathaniel W. ….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Daytona Beach, FL
Johnson, Michael H. ……. USN …. HM2 …. 10/23/1983 .. MI .. Detroit, MI
Johnston, Edward A. ……. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. OH .. Struthers, OH
Jones, Steven …………. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Brooklyn, NY
Julian, Thomas A. ……… USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. RI .. Middleton, RI
Kees, Marion E. ……….. USN …. HM2 …. 10/23/1983 .. WV .. Martinsburg, WV
Keown, Thomas C. ………. USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. KY .. Louisville, KY
Kimm, Edward E. ……….. USMC … GYSGT .. 10/23/1983 .. IA .. Atlantic, IA
Kingsley, Walter V. ……. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. WI .. Wisconsin Dells, WI
Kluck, Daniel S. ………. USA …. SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. KY .. Owensboro, KY
Knipple, James C. ……… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. VA .. Alexandria, VA
Kreischer, Freas H. III … USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Indiatlantic, FL
Laise, Keith J. ……….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. PA .. Stroudsburgh, PA
Lamb, Thomas G. ……….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. MN .. Coon Rapids, MN
Langon, James J. IV ……. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. NJ .. Lakehurst, NJ
Lariviere, Michael S. ….. USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Perry, FL
Lariviere, Steven B. …… USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. MA .. Chicopee, MA
Lemnah, Richard L. …….. USMC … MSGT … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Camp Lejeune, NC
Lewis, David A. ……….. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. OH .. Garfield Heights, OH
Lewis, Val S. …………. USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. GA .. Atlanta, GA
Livingston, Joseph R. ….. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. IL .. Champaign, IL
Lyon, Paul D. Jr. ……… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Milton, FL
Macroglou, John W. …….. USMC … MAJ …. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Maitland, Samuel ………. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Martin, Charlie R. …….. USMC … SSGT … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Camp Lejeune, NC
Martin, Jack L. ……….. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Oveido, FL
Massa, David S. ……….. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. RI .. Warren, RI
Massman, Michael R. ……. USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. MI .. Port Huron, MI
Mattacchione, Joseph J. … USMC … PVT …. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Sanford, NC
McCall, John ………….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Rochester, NY
McDonough, James E. ……. USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. PA .. New castle, PA
McMahon, Timothy R. ……. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. TX .. Austin, TX
McNeely, Timothy D. ……. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Mooresville, NC
McVicker, George N. II …. USN …. HM2 …. 10/23/1983 .. IN .. Wabash, IN
Melendez, Louis ……….. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. PR .. Puerto Rico
Menkins, Richard H. II …. USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Tully, NY
Mercer, Michael D. …….. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Vale, NC
Meurer, Ronald W. ……… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Milano, Joseph P. ……… USN …. HM3 …. 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Farmingville, NY
Moore, Joseph P. ………. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. MO .. St. Louis, MO
Morrow, Richard A. …….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. PA .. Clairton, PA
Muffler, John F. ………. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. PA .. Philadelphia, PA
Munoz, Alex …………… USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. NM .. Bloomfield, NM
Myers, Harry D. ……….. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Whittler, NC
Nairn, David J. ……….. USMC … 1stLT .. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Nava, Luis A. …………. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. CA .. Gardena, CA
Olson, John A. ………… USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. MN .. Sabin, MN
Olson, Robert P. ………. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Lawtons, NY
Ortiz, Richard C. ……… USMC … CWO3 … 10/23/1983 .. OK .. Ft. Sill, OK
Owen, Jeffrey B. ………. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. VA .. Virginia Beach, VA
Owens, Joseph A. ………. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. VA .. Chesterfield, VA
Page, Connie Ray ………. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Erwin, NC
Parker, Ulysses ……….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. MD .. Baltimore, MD
Payne, Mark W. ………… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Binghamton, NY
Pearson, John L. ………. USMC … GYSGT .. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Perron, Thomas S. ……… USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. MA .. Whitinsville, MA
Phillips, John A. Jr. ….. USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. IL .. Wilmette, IL
Piercy, George W. ……… USN …. HMC …. 10/23/1983 .. MD .. Mt. Savage, MD
Plymel, Clyde W. ………. USMC … 1stLT .. 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Merritt, FL
Pollard, William H. ……. USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Pomalestorres, Rafael I. .. USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. PA .. Philadelphia, PA
Prevatt, Victor M. …….. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. GA .. Columbus, GA
Price, James C. ……….. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. AL .. Attala, AL
Prindeville, Patrick K. … USMC … SSGT … 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Gainesville, FL
Pulliam, Eric A. ………. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. IL .. E. St. Louis, IL
Quirante, Diomedes J. ….. USN …. HM3 …. 10/23/1983 .. RP .. Calcoocan City, RP
Randolph, David M. …….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. AZ .. Siloam Springs, AZ
Ray, Charles R. ……….. USMC … GYSGT .. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Relvas, Rui A. ………… USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. PA .. Philadelphia, PA
Rich, Terrence L. ……… USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Brooklyn, NY
Richardson, Warren …….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Brooklyn, NY
Rodriguez, Juan C. …….. USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Miami, FL
Rotondo, Louis J. ……… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. PA .. Philadelphia, PA
Sanpedro, Guillermo Jr. … USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Hialeah, FL
Sauls, Michael C. ……… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. SC .. Waterboro, SC
Schnorf, Charles J. ……. USMC … 1stLT .. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Camp Lejeune, NC
Schultz, Scott L. ……… USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Keeseville, NY
Scialabba, Peter J. ……. USMC … CAPT … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Moorehead City, NC
Scott, Gary R. ………… USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. IL .. Rankin, IL
Shallo, Ronald L. ……… USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Hudson, NY
Shipp, Thomas A. ………. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Shropshire, Jerryl D. ….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. GA .. Macon, GA
Silvia, James F. ………. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. RI .. Portsmouth, RI
Sliwinski, Stanley J. ….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. OH .. Niles, OH
Smith, Kirk H. ………… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Miami, FL
Smith, Thomas G. ………. USMC … SSGT … 10/23/1983 .. CT .. Middletown, CT
Smith, Vincent L. ……… USMC … CAPT … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Soares, Edward ………… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. RI .. Tiverton, RI
Sommerhof, William S. ….. USMC … 1stLT .. 10/23/1983 .. IL .. Springfield, IL
Spaulding, Michael C. ….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. OH .. Akron, OH
Spearing, John W. ……… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. PA .. Lancaster, PA
Spencer, Stephen E. ……. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. RI .. Portsmouth, RI
Stelpflug, Bill J. …….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. AL .. Auburn, AL
Stephens, Horace R. ……. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. MD .. Capitol Heights, MD
Stockton, Craig S. …….. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Rochester, NY
Stokes, Jeffrey G. …….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. GA .. Waynesboro, GA
Stowe, Thomas D. ………. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Sturghill, Eric D. …….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. IL .. Chicago, IL
Sundar, Devon L. ………. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. CT .. Standford, CT
Surch, James F. Jr. ……. USN …. LT ….. 10/23/1983 .. CA .. Lompoc, CA
Thompson, Dennis A. ……. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Bronx, NY
Thorstad, Thomas P. ……. USMC … SSGT … 10/23/1983 .. IN .. Chesterton, IN
Tingley, Stephen D. ……. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. CT .. Ellington, CT
Tishmack, John J. ……… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. MN .. Minneapolis, MN
Trahan, Lex D. ………… USMC … PVT …. 10/23/1983 .. LA .. Lafayette, LA
Vallone, Donald H. Jr. …. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. CA .. Palmdale, CA
Walker, Eric R. ……….. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. IL .. Chicago, IL
Walker, Leonard W. …….. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. AL .. Dothan, AL
Washington, Eric G. ……. USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. VA .. Alexandria, VA
Weekes, Obrian ………… USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Brooklyn, NY
Wells, Tandy W. ……….. USMC … 1stSGT . 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Wentworth, Steven B. …… USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. PA .. Reading, PA
Wesley, Allen D. ………. USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. PA .. Philadelphia, PA
West, Lloyd D. ………… USMC … GYSGT .. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Weyl, John R. …………. USMC … SSGT … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Wherland, Burton D. Jr. … USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Jacksonville, NC
Wigglesworth, Dwayne W. … USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. CT .. Naugatuck, CT
Williams, Rodney J. ……. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. FL .. Opa Locka, FL
Williams, Scipio Jr. …… USMC … GYSGT .. 10/23/1983 .. SC .. Charleston, SC
Williamson, Johnny A. ….. USMC … LCPL … 10/23/1983 .. NC .. Asheboro, NC
Wint, Walter E. Jr. ……. USMC … CAPT … 10/23/1983 .. PA .. Wilkes-Barre, PA
Winter, William E. …….. USMC … CAPT … 10/23/1983 .. SC .. Fripp Island, SC
Wolfe, John E. ………… USMC … CPL …. 10/23/1983 .. AZ .. Phoenix, AZ
Woollett, Donald E. ……. USMC … 1stLT .. 10/23/1983 .. OK .. Barthesville, OK
Worley, David E. ………. USN …. HM3 …. 10/23/1983 .. MD .. Baltimore, MD
Wyche, Craig L. ……….. USMC … PFC …. 10/23/1983 .. NY .. Jamaica, NY
Yarber, James G. ………. USA …. SFC …. 10/23/1983 .. CA .. Vacaville, CA
Young, Jeffrey D. ……… USMC … SGT …. 10/23/1983 .. NJ .. Moorestown, NJ
Zimmerman, William A. ….. USMC … 1stLT .. 10/23/1983 .. MI .. Grand Haven, MI
Townsend, Henry Jr. ……. USMC … CPL …. 12/02/1983 .. AL .. Montgomery, AL
Biddle, Shannon D. …….. USMC … CPL …. 12/04/1983 .. AL .. Valley Head, AL
Cherman, Sam ………….. USMC … CPL …. 12/04/1983 .. NY .. Queens, NY
Cox, Manuel A. ………… USMC … SGT …. 12/04/1983 .. NJ .. Union City, NJ
Daugherty, David L. ……. USMC … CPL …. 12/04/1983 .. OH .. Eastlake,OH
Evans, Thomas A. ………. USMC … CPL …. 12/04/1983 .. MT .. Conrad, MT
Hattaway, Jeffrey T. …… USMC … PFC …. 12/04/1983 .. FL .. Pensacola, FL
Kraft, Todd A. ………… USMC … CPL …. 12/04/1983 .. ND .. Devilslake, ND
Lange, Mark A. ………… USN …. LT …. 12/04/1983 .. MI .. Fraser, MI
Perkins, Marvin H. …….. USMC … CPL …. 12/04/1983 .. TN .. Franklin, TN
Gargano, Edward J. …….. USMC … CPL …. 01/08/1984 .. MA .. Quincy, MA
Dramis, George L. ……… USMC … LCPL … 01/30/1984 .. NJ .. Cape May Court House, NJ
*Hernandez, Rodolfo ……. USMC … – …… 01/30/1984 .. TX ..El Paso, TX
Butler, Alfred III …….. USMC … CAPT … 02/09/1984 .. FL .. Cocoa Beach, FL
Wagner, Michael ……….. USN …. IS1 …. 09/20/1984 .. NC .. Zebulon,, NC
Welch, Kenneth ………… USA …. WO2 …. 09/20/1984 .. MI .. Grand Rapids, MI
*Hendrickson, John …….. USMC … – …… 04/13/1990 .. – ..
*Simpson, Larry H. Jr. …. USMC … – …… 08/31/1992 .. – ..
Hasenfus, Michael ……… USA …. CPL …. 10/20/1984 .. MA .. Dedham, MA
Stethem, Robert D. …….. USN …. SW2 …. 06/15/1985 .. MD .. Waldorf, MD
Higgins, William R. ……. USMC … COL …. 07/06/1990 .. KY .. Louisville, KY

***

Flashback: The American victims of Hezbollah

It’s baaaaack. Loyal readers will recall the summer of jihadi propaganda and the blogosphere backlash against MSM fauxtography in 2006 and beyond. Slublog’s Passion of the Toys spotlighted the uncanny Middle Eastern photo stringers’ penchant for finding pristine stuffed animals and dolls amid the rubble of war. LGF and others caught numerous examples of magically-appearing Korans.

With things heating up in the fauxtographic oasis of Gaza, the jihadi sympathizers are back to playing hide and seek again.

The Jawa Report has the latest.

Meanwhile, there are new developments in the father of all fauxtography scandals–the al Dura case in France. See PJM and Backspin for fresh reports.

Wire report:

A bomb rocked a Christian suburb east of the Lebanese capital Wednesday, killing an anti-Syrian lawmaker and six other people, security officials said.

Antoine Ghanem is the eighth prominent anti-Syrian figure assassinated since 2005.

Ghanem, 64, a member of the right-wing Christian Phalange Party, was targeted by the bomb, said the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

The Voice of Lebanon radio station, which is owned by the Phalange party, confirmed Ghanem’s death. The identities of the others killed were not immediately known.

The attack came six days before parliament was scheduled to meet to elect a new president in a vote expected to be deeply divisive.

Three of the slain lawmakers have been from the U.S.-backed majority coalition, reducing its margin in parliament.

The U.N. Security Council voted on Wednesday to establish a special court to prosecute the murder two years ago of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri.

Ten council members voted for the Western-sponsored resolution and five — Russia, China, Qatar, Indonesia and South Africa — abstained, with no votes against. The resolution will go into effect on June 10.

Background at the Jurist website. Allah’s got breaking reaction and analysis.

This is the big news of the day. Or rather, in a non-O.J., non-Hollyweird-drenched, non-trivialized world, it would be the big news of the day.

The Lebanese Daily Star reports another assassination of an anti-Syrian Lebanese government official. Pierre Gamayel was a prominent Christian politician. He was shot in his car in Jdeideh on Tuesday.

Pierre Gamayel, R.I.P.

Gemayel is the fifth figure to be assassinated in the past two years in Lebanon. Former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed in a massive car bombing in February 2005. The journalist and activist Samir Kassir and former Communist Party leader George Hawi were killed in separate car bombings in June last year in addition to lawmaker and newspaper manager Gibran Tueni was killed in a car bombing in December.

Allah has a massive news round-up and commentary. More at PJM. AP coverage here. Yahoo! News is covering.

***

Related–Michael Young in the WSJ today urges: “Don’t let Syria get away with killing Rafik Hariri:”

The Syrian regime is discovering what a nuisance Rafik Hariri, the late Lebanese prime minister, can be. Last Friday, the U.N. Security Council approved a draft plan for a mixed Lebanese-international court to try those responsible for Hariri’s assassination on Feb. 14, 2005. Damascus, the main suspect in the crime, is palpably anxious. That anxiety played out in Lebanon 10 days ago, when six ministers named by pro-Syrian politicians resigned rather than take part in Beirut’s formal endorsement of the tribunal proposal. The plan was subsequently passed by a reduced Lebanese government, but the full approval process is not over.

Five of the six ministers who resigned were appointed by or affiliated with the two main Shiite parties, Hezbollah and the Amal movement, while the sixth is Lebanese President Emile Lahoud’s man. Their resignations came amid a struggle for power between pro-Syrian groups and the anti-Syrian parliamentary and cabinet majority–dating back to the summer war between Israel and Hezbollah. While some saw the outcome of the conflict as a victory for the militant Shiite group, that was hardly the case. Israel displayed incompetence, but Hezbollah found itself militarily neutralized in its vital space of south Lebanon, at least for now. The Lebanese army and international peacekeepers are deployed in the border area, and Hezbollah cannot impose a new war on its battered Shiite community, which continues to suffer the consequences of Israel’s terrible retribution.

With little room to maneuver in the south, Hezbollah has tried to compensate in Beirut by demanding greater representation in the cabinet. The anti-Syrian majority has resisted this, arguing that the government performed well last summer, making change unnecessary. The real issue, however, is the return of Syrian hegemony. Hezbollah and its allies want enough ministerial seats so they can veto decisions they dislike that go to a cabinet vote. By so doing, they can continue to protect Syria in the Hariri investigation, and also block the majority’s policies that they don’t like. A final U.N. report is due out on Hariri’s killing in the coming months (the chief investigator, Serge Brammertz, has until mid-2007 to publish his findings), and Hezbollah fears that any accusation against Syria might also be turned against itself…

…Wherever one stands in the spectrum of U.S. foreign-policy thinking, the Hariri tribunal is a mechanism that should satisfy all. Democracy defenders see in it an institutional means of buttressing Lebanon’s independence from Syria–presuming that U.N. investigators demonstrate Syrian involvement in Hariri’s elimination. Realists will gain a splendid stick with which to force Syrian compliance with American priorities elsewhere in the Middle East, including Iraq. The court’s mandate does not oblige presidents to put in an appearance (though there is no immunity from crime, meaning they can be sentenced in absentia), so Mr. Assad can be destabilized if his involvement is proven, but not necessarily forced from office. It would make him conveniently vulnerable to outside coercion.

That’s why events in Lebanon are so important. Syria’s Lebanese allies are trying to undermine the Hariri investigation from within, and are expected to escalate their efforts very soon, maybe even this week. It makes no sense for the U.S. to hand them more ammunition by prematurely transacting with Mr. Assad before the U.N. completes its task and assigns responsibility for the assassination.

Free Cedar: God help Lebanon.

The Beirut Beltway has eyewitness reports on protests amassing in the streets:

Update. Angry crowds are gathering outside the St Joseph hospital and chanting anti-Aoun and anti-Hizbullah slogans. As Anton Effendi said, this assassination guarantees that any street protest now will devolve into clashes. The Kataeb party, of which Gemayel is a member, is calling on people to excercise self restraint.

With this assassination, March 14 has lost a member of parliament and a cabinet minister. For the Assad regime, one less March 14 vote means one less vote to ratify the international tribunal.

The eyes now are on the UN Security council, which must endorse the international tribunal as soon as possible

Update 2. Syrian-installed president Emile Lahoud has canceled the November 22nd independence day celebrations to mourn the loss of what he now referred to as a minister. Not long ago, he considered Gemayel and the rest of cabinet illegitimate following the resignation of the Shia ministers and the pro-Lahoud minister.

Meanwhile, Interior minister Ahmad Fatfat has accused Syria of standing behind Gemayel’s assassination.

Update 3. Geagea has called on Lahoud to resign immediately, accusing him of acting as a cover for the terrorist attacks. He also called on the Amal and Hizbullah ministers to return to the cabinet.

Update 4 (11am EST). The crowds outside the hospital are calling on people and March 14 to take to the streets.

Meanwhile, gunmen have fired shots at the office of another March 14 minister, Michel Faraoun in Ashrafieh.

It looks like March 14 is under attack.

March 14 leaders will meet tonight to decide on a course of action.

Update 5. A distraught Amin Gemayel (Pierre’s father) addressed the crowds. He asked all those who loved Pierre to preserve the cause he died for. He called for self-restraint so not to desecrate what he said is the cause for freedom. He asked everyone to use this night to pray and think about the meaning of martyrdom, and how to protect this country, away from revenge and irresponsible actions.

” We want the Lebanese cause to triumph. I hope all those who loved Pierre to safeguard the cause”, he said.

Update 6. Jumblatt visited the hospital and have a short statement. He affirmed that the international tribunal is coming. “We will not let them drag us to sedition.”

Rick Moran: “I have a feeling that things are going to go south very soon in Lebanon.”

Assad and Hizbollah, professing shock and denouncing the murder, do their best O.J. Simpson impersonations.

Escalation:

Israeli aircraft attacked Beirut airport and killed 22 civilians in strikes on south Lebanon on Thursday, dramatically widening its reprisals after Hizbollah captured two Israeli soldiers and killed eight.

Hizbollah retaliated for “Israeli massacres” by firing 60 rockets at Nahariya. The Israeli army said Katyusha rockets had hit the northern Israeli city and that one civilian was killed.

The violence was the worst between Israel and Lebanon since 1996 when Israeli troops still occupied part of the south. It coincided with an major Israeli offensive into the Gaza Strip to retrieve a captured soldier and halt Palestinian rocket fire.

Lebanese security sources said Israeli aircraft fired at least six rockets at runways of Rafik al-Hariri International Airport and a nearby road, forcing flights to divert.

The airport terminal and planes were not hit. It was not immediately clear how badly the raid had damaged the runways.

An Israeli army spokesman confirmed the attack.

Dan Riehl notes Beirut’s TV station has been hit. The full rundown here.

Kesher Talk rounds up reaction from the Arab side of the blogosphere. Pajamas coverage. Austin Bay: Re-setting the chess table?

ShrinkWrapped: “Who is Samir Kuntar?”

Today marks the first anniversary of the assassination of Rafik Hariri and the birth of Lebanon’s Cedar Revolution.

Half a million Lebanese citizens rallied in honor of Hariri’s memory today (via Reuters):

The turnout was reminiscent of huge protests after last year’s February 14 killing of Hariri and 22 others.

Those demonstrations, coupled with international pressure, forced Syria to end its 29-year military presence in Lebanon, although Damascus denies any role in the assassination.

Syria’s Lebanese foes said Tuesday’s rally would revive a campaign to force pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud to quit and to punish those behind the truck bombing that killed Hariri.

“By being present here today, you foil the conspiracy … against Lebanon, against Rafik al-Hariri, against Lebanon’s freedom, independence and dignity,” the former prime minister’s son and political heir Saad al-Hariri told the crowd from behind bullet-proof glass.

Believing he too could be killed, Hariri has spent more than six months abroad, but returned to Beirut for the anniversary…

Robert Mayer at Publius Pundit remembers and urges: “Let’s hope that not only will today be used to commemorate the death of Rafik Hariri, but to help build momentum toward bringing the regime who killed him and occupied Lebanon to justice.”

Amen.