LEBANON/CIVIL CONFLICT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01070R000200920009-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 25, 2008
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: October 27, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2008/07/25: CIA-RDP88-01070R000200920009-8
ivDL AilitiiLY NLWS
27 October 1983
LEBANON/ BROKAW: Every day since the massacre of the American Marines in
CIVIL CONFLICT Lebanon has brought still more questions. At the top of the
list, why wasn't there enough security to keep the bomber out?
And there were new questions today after it was disclosed that
the Marines were warned that such an attack might happen. James
Polk with details from Washington tonight.
POLK: For a full month before Sunday's attack on the Marine
headquarters in Lebanon, U.S. intelligence sources received
warnings repeatedly of a possible truck bomb assault on U.S. and
French installations in Beirut. These intelligence warnings
went unheeded, despite the earlier bombing of the U.S. Embassy.
No extra security steps were taken. Barbed wire was the only
barrier. The lone sentry at the first gate carried an unloaded
rifle, Marines concede, and had no time to load and fire at the
truck which crashed through. Today in Lebanon, the commander of
the Marines, Colonel Tim Geraghty, said they were warned only
two days before the attack that a car bombing was imminent. His
explanation for inaction, 'We receive a lot of warnings. It is
not uncommon.' More questions, who did it? President Reagan
talking to a group at the White House yesterday. 'We now have
sufficient evidence that Iranian terrorists were responsible and
that they were aided, abetted, and supported by the Syrians.'
Why so long to identify the dead and notify families? Most
Marines slept without dogtags. Records were blown up with the
building. Duplicate files had to be flown overseas. Why so
long for the casualty office to announce a list the living?
After digging out, it took time before tired troops could be
mustered. and counted. Even this is added to the uncertainty for
families confused about where their Marines might be assigned
when those names weren't missing from the list. Only 57
families have been notified so far of confirmed deaths. The_
total dead are 225, the worst American military loss under
surprise attack in an undeclared war since Pearl Harbor. James
Polk, NBC News, Washington.
Approved For Release 2008/07/25: CIA-RDP88-01070R000200920009-8