A Pentagon spokesperson Friday would not say definitively that U.S.
Marines in Egypt have been authorized to carry live ammunition, raising
questions about the administration’s denial of reports indicating that
Marines were not carrying live ammo when the U.S. Embassy in Cairo was
besieged by rioters.
Reports emanating from the Nightwatch newsletter indicating that Marines in Cairo did not have permission to carry live ammunition sparked a firestorm Thursday, leading to denials from administration officials, including spokesmen at the Pentagon.
However, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs George Little would not clearly state whether the Marines had live ammunition during a press briefing earlier today.
When contacted by the Free Beacon, Pentagon spokeswoman Monica Matoush said that she was unable to clarify Little’s comments, and directed this reporter to the State Department.
A senior State Department official told the Free Beacon: “The Marines on duty at Embassy Cairo had ammunition in their weapons, as they always do at all our Missions overseas when they are on duty.”
U.S. Marines carry weapons, Little repeatedly stated during his Friday briefing.
Read more: http://freebeacon.com/pentagon-spox-wont-confirm-marines-had-live-ammo/
Reports emanating from the Nightwatch newsletter indicating that Marines in Cairo did not have permission to carry live ammunition sparked a firestorm Thursday, leading to denials from administration officials, including spokesmen at the Pentagon.
However, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs George Little would not clearly state whether the Marines had live ammunition during a press briefing earlier today.
When contacted by the Free Beacon, Pentagon spokeswoman Monica Matoush said that she was unable to clarify Little’s comments, and directed this reporter to the State Department.
A senior State Department official told the Free Beacon: “The Marines on duty at Embassy Cairo had ammunition in their weapons, as they always do at all our Missions overseas when they are on duty.”
U.S. Marines carry weapons, Little repeatedly stated during his Friday briefing.
Read more: http://freebeacon.com/pentagon-spox-wont-confirm-marines-had-live-ammo/
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