US Military dependents being relocated
Saturday, July 03, 2004
Well it seems like Chan'ad's sources on the possible relocation of military dependents were true. From the US Department of Defense:
More news reports:
WASHINGTON, July 2, 2004 – Increased threat of terrorist attack has led Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to approve the temporary relocation of eligible family members and non-emergency Defense Department personnel from Bahrain.Sadly, this includes several of my friends and acquaintances. I wish them the best, and hope they can come back soon under better conditions.
Military officials are developing procedures to execute the mandatory departure, Pentagon officials said. News reports said the order could affect up to 650 family members and DoD employees who would be sent to safe haven in the continental United States.
...
Pentagon officials said the departure has been approved for 30 days and will remain in effect thereafter until terminated. Those who leave may not return until the mandatory departure is terminated.
Military officials have also issued a "stop-movement" order for all dependent personnel bound for Bahrain.
More news reports:
This entry was posted
on Saturday, July 03, 2004 at 7/03/2004 02:15:00 pm. Permalink
7/03/2004 09:17:00 pm
Makes you wonder if the State Department knows something the rest of us don't. Have they issued similar warnings for Kuwait and other countries?
While it is understandable because then there are a couple thousand less desirable targets, I think it sends the wrong message that the Islamist can influence behavior.
Have heard the Lebanese Marine has been beheaded; I hope it's untrue.
7/04/2004 12:14:00 am
Well, if their sources were credible, it seems only right for the DoD to pull out people. Regardless of the signal it sends out to the Islamists, I'm sure the DoD does not want to take a risk with the lives of innocent people.
But I was watching a report about this on CNN this evening and they portrayed it as though the US may be responding to the release of six men, who were arrested on suspicion on having links to al-Qaeda last week. CNN seemed to imply that maybe the US was unhappy in the way that the Bahraini authorities dealt with the situation. I don't know at all if this is true.
And sadly, yes, a website is claiming that Cpl Wassef Ali Hassoun has been beheaded. I'm still hoping and praying that it will turn out to be untrue, but I'm afraid I know what the headline tomorrow will be.