From Beirut to Jerusalem:

Betty Crocker in Dante's Inferno

US Marines in Beirut 24 August 1982 – Marines

sent to Beirut to facilitate withdrawal of PLO

MNF leaves 10 Sept 14 Sept 1982 – President-

elect Bashir Gemayal assassinated.

16 Sept – Sabra & Shatila massacre

20 Sept – Marines sent back to Lebanon to “support Lebanese central authority” (191)

Why Betty Crocker? MNF has no understanding of

the history of Lebanon or of the conflicts

Marines arrive with “Rules of Engagement” and handbooks explaining the conflict

the “International Militia” sent with the pretext of

“helping the Lebanese central government rebuild its country”

President Amin Gemayal's used the American Marines as an extension of their own strength.

Alienates other political groups in Lebanon

the “International Militia”

18 Apr 1983 –American Embassy attacked by suicide bomber

23 Oct 1983—Marine headquarters attacked by suicide bomber

"I used to love visiting the Marine spokesmen just for the opportunity to munch on their baked goods, although...the practice always left me feeling strangely out of sync with the wider Beirut environment, as though I were nibbling Betty

Crocker brownies in Dante's Inferno."