7.10.2004

US Marine Wasseff Hassoun

I'm not one of the people jumpying to conclusions that this 24-yr-old deserted/cooked up a plot with fake captors/just wanted out. I would hope that everyone approaches this story understanding that a) it's going to be awfully difficult to place ourselves in this young marine's shoes and b) that he's innocent until proven otherwise.

He went to Iraq to serve his country. Until proven otherwise, he deserves nothing but our respect, our care, and due process of law (which is unfortunately a few steps up from what Rumsfeld's military offers).

My heart goes out to his family in Utah. This whole thing must have been a nightmare for them and likely continues to be so with so many questions swirling about.