US Embassy overcome in Yemen, military destroys weapons and diplomats vacate
photo/Jennifer Parr
Despite efforts by the U.S., Yemen has fallen into chaos with America evacuating the embassy and the State Department ordering the Marines to destroy issued weapons on their way out. The British and French also closed and evacuated their embassies Wednesday citing safety and security concerns.
From the full statement: “The Marine Security Force left the American embassy in Yemen for the movement to the airfield as part of the “ordered departure” with only personal weapons. All crew served weapons were destroyed at the embassy prior to movement. None of them were ‘handed over’ in any way to anyone. The destruction of weapons at the embassy and the airport was carried out in accordance with an approved destruction plan.”
President of Concerned Veterans of America Pete Hegseth discussed the situation last night on The Kelly File.
“We’re surrendering around the world, we’re surrendering our embassy, and now we’re asking U.S. Marines to surrender their dignity, give up oaths that they made, creeds that they live by, and surrender their rifle,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth said this is about the signals and optics presented to the world.
“It is maddening how naive this administration is,” he said.
UPDATE: #Marine Corps says Marines’ weapons were “rendered inoperable” during #Yemen evacuation. #KellyFile — Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) February 12, 2015
Read the full statement below:
The Marine Security Force left the American embassy in Yemen for the movement to the airfield as part of the “ordered departure” with only personal weapons. All crew served weapons were destroyed at the embassy prior to movement. None of them were ‘handed over’ in any way to anyone. The destruction of weapons at the embassy and the airport was carried out in accordance with an approved destruction plan.
Upon arrival at the airfield, all personal weapons were rendered inoperable in accordance with advance planning. Specifically, each bolt was removed from its weapons body and rendered inoperable by smashing with sledgehammers. The weapons bodies, minus the bolts, were then separately smashed with sledgehammers. All of these destroyed components were left at the airport — and components were scattered; no usable weapon was taken from any Marine at Sana’a airport.
To be clear: No Marine handed a weapon to a Houthi, or had one taken from him.
photo/Jennifer Parr
