U.S. Marines Defending Embassy in Egypt Without Ammunition-Fiction!

U.S. Marines Defending Embassy in Egypt Without Ammunition-Fiction!

Summary of the eRumor:
This is a forwarded email that alleges that the U.S. Marines deployed to defend the American Embassy in Egypt were not carrying ammunition.

The Truth:
This is fiction, according to an updated September 13, 2012 article found on the Fox News web site.

According to the updated article, Pentagon Lt Col Chris Hughes said that the reports were not true. Hughes said, “The Ambassador and RSO have been completely and appropriately engaged with the security situation. No restrictions on weapons or weapons status have been imposed."   He added that the information comes from the Detachment Commander at American Embassy in Cairo.

Violence erupted at various U.S. Embassies throughout the world following an attack on the U.S. Consulate Oupost in Benghazi, Libya where U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens along with three members of his U.S. embassy staff were killed.

President Obama issued a statement about the deaths of Stevens and members of his staff and told the American public that an increase in security measures would be taken to protect U.S. Embassies and members serving in the U.S. diplomatic corps.

President Obama's Statement found on YouTube

Whether this was a preplanned act of terrorism or a protest to an anti-Muslim video on the Internet remains to be seen. On September 14, Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters in a briefing denied any act of planned terrorism saying that the protests were in reaction to an anti-Muslim video.

Press Secretary Carey on attacks found on YouTube

Conflicting reports allege that this was a strategically planned operation by Al Qaeda who called for the killing of American diplomats and used the protest of the video as a cover for their mission.

In a September 16, 2016 article by Fox News, Libyan President Mohammed el-Megarif told NPR in an interview that his country had been infiltrated by foreigners over the past few months and said, "We firmly believe that this was a precalculated, preplanned attack that was carried out specifically to attack the U.S. Consulate."

updated 09/16/12

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

If this story is even half true, not only has our military been turned into a social club for homosexuals, it’s now become about as dangerous as a social club run by women. The Marines called in to defend the already burned out American Embassy in Egypt will be little more than window dressing:

“U.S. Marines defending the American embassy in Egypt were not permitted by the State Department to carry live ammunition, limiting their ability to respond to attacks like those this week on the U.S. consulate in Cairo.

“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.’”

If you children are thinking about joining the Marines, tell them they’ll need to pack a dress and high heels because they won’t be engaged in any combat.

Why spend billions of dollars training guys and gals to be Marines when a school crossing guard would be just as well equipped to handle the job.

Ambassador Patterson “did not defend U.S. sovereign territory and betrayed her oath of office,” a Nightwatch report states. “She neutered the Marines posted to defend the embassy, trusting the Egyptians over the Marines.”

“Neutered” is the appropriate word. Our military has been castrated by the best of the liberal establishment and social theorists. In the future, our troops may not be able to defend our nation if war comes to our land in waves or if they have to go to some remote part of the world where American citizens are in danger, but they’ll be able to discuss the latest politically correct social theory. Don’t be surprised if the troops of the future no longer are dressed in the familiar camouflage green and grey but instead are decked out in pink chiffon with some dainty lace at the cuffs.