Andrew Tahmooressi in US
It happened quickly overnight – Marine Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi was released from Mexican prison and crossed back over into the United States, according to Fox News;
After 214 days in a Mexican prison, Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi crossed the US – Mexican border Friday night, boarding a private jet for Florida shortly after 9 p.m., after a strong diplomatic push convinced a judge to release the former Marine on humanitarian grounds.
His release comes after a lengthy trial and a Congressional hearing in September highly critical of Obama Administration efforts to secure his release and Mexico’s refusal to let him go. Tahmooressi said he made an innocent mistake the evening he crossed into Tijuana with three weapons in his truck on March 31.
While his defense rested its case several weeks ago, Tahmooressi’s release came only after a strong diplomatic push from former Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Reps. Ed Royce (R-CA) and Matt Salmon (R-AZ).
Good news.
Category: Politics
fucking bullshit. He should have been released the next morning. Mexico held him hostage for 8 month while they infiltrate their shit citizens, drugs, and crime into our country.
Glad he’s back, first and foremost! Welcome home, Sgt! But it shouldn’t have taken 8mos to get a US Marine back from goddam Mexico, =especially= since their people and their crime and diseases are flooding over our wide open borders.
Thanks for nothing, Obama.
I’ll be waiting for Obama to say, “Andrew Tahmooressi? Who the hell is Andrew Tahmooressi? Oh, you mean the guy I got released all by myself from the Cubans, I mean the Mexicans?”
Yes, it’s wonderful that he is back home. I am very happy for him and his family. I’m not buying that “strong diplomatic push” bullshit. 214 days in a cesspool for making a mistake that harmed absolutely no one. How many Mexican murderers, rapists, and thieves were released by the Obama administration during that same time span? Hell, Obama released five terrorists while this American languished in a Mexican shithole. And once again, we have that timing thingy: midterm elections. Well, I am very glad he’s back. Very. Glad.
Yeah, MG Bob Scales & Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen were on Fox & Friends and both echo your sentiments for the suspicious timing of Andrew’s release. Don’t think this makes difference either way…voters both living, and the dead probably already made up their minds
Lots of credit to Greta Van Susteren, Montel Williams, congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and many others that enabled collection of over 100K signatures, and bring heat on the admin. CNN, MSNBC, & the MSM in general can go fuck off for virtually ignoring Andrew Tahmooressi’s ordeal. I guess still busy digging through Palin’s trash cans.
Any word on how much the Mexican judge was paid for his release?
Made me laugh.
I’m hoping someone stuck a horse head in his bed…
Welcome home, Sergeant Tahmooressi! Welcome home!
It’s about time! Prayers answered at long last.
Welcome home, Marine! Please know that you were not forgotten for a single moment.
About fucking time! Our “president” would trade five mass-murderers to recover an asswipe who was a deserter at worst and a shit soldier at best, whose collaboration got Americans killed. But a decorated Marine who’s a victim of circumstance, who gets railroaded in a Mexican show trial with what can be generously described as questionable evidence?
He probably should’ve claimed that he’d converted to Islam a few months back while locked up. Anybody care to place bets on how quickly the Glorious Leader would’ve cranked up the diplomatic heat in that case?
Welcome home, Marine.
I’m just glad he’s back home where he belongs.
I hate to be the nay-sayer here … I’m glad he’s been released and back inside CONUS … but I have to say that I don’t buy Tahmooressi’s story about how he crossed the border on accident.
Where he crossed is one of the largest border crossings of the US-Mexico border. Certainly in the top five largest crossing on the border, and the largest border crossing into Mexico along the California section of the border.
In his statements Tahmooressi stated that there was no signage on the interstate warning drivers that they were approaching the border. He claimed that it was completely unmarked as he approached.
I call bullshit.
I’ve crossed into Mexico many, many times. And I’ve crossed multiple times at that particular border crossing alone. The whole time that you are traveling south there is signage telling you that you are approaching the border at regular intervals. There is also signage telling you where the last viable exit is if you intend to stay in the U.S.
Is it possible he was just driving with his head up his rear? Talking or texting on the cellphone? Or some other reason he wasn’t paying attention? Yeah, I suppose it’s possible … but … well … if he was that stupid then he got what he deserved.
Yes, I’m glad he’s been released (although that is another issue entirely … they claimed he has PTSD and requested the release on humanitarian grounds) but I just don’t believe his story. It just doesn’t ring true with established facts.
Sorry if this is a tad harsh sounding, but I find that most people are angry that he was incarcerated and really never took the time to actually find out why. A whole lot of internet myths surrounding this too. I’ve even seen stories furthering the falsehood that he accidentally crossed at some dusty unmarked border road in the middle of no where. And they’re trying to use his alleged accidental straying across the border at this alleged unmarked crossing into the cause-de-jure when it has no basis in fact.
Just my turn in the pickle barrel of unpopular opinions today I guess 🙂
Welcome, Gravel. We’ve been waiting for…
you.
It’s all good 🙂
Can’t say I’ve ever crossed at that particular crossing Gravel. But at other US/Mexican border crossings I’ve seen – yeah, they’re pretty clearly marked. I have a hard time with the guy’s “crossed by accident” claim. Won’t say it isn’t possible, but I’d have to see the crossing – and it would have to be very different than the ones I have seen.
Take this guy’s example as a warning, folks. If you’re going anywhere near the Mexican border – and ESPECIALLY if you’re planning on crossing – double-check your vehicle for weapons and ammo very carefully. Mexico is asininely anal about both coming into the country, and will lock you up in a heartbeat if they find either. In the past, as I recall US citizens have ended up in a Mexican jail for a single .22 cal or other stray round in their trunk (though as I recall, not for as as long as this guy ended up in jail there – but then again, he had a weapon, not just ammo). And in such a case, la mordita ain’t very likely to help at all.
It was the U.S. Interstate 5 crossing between San Diego and Tijuana … specifically the US Port of Entry at San Ysidro, California. It is the largest port of entry on the California border, and the absolute furthest west U.S./Mexico border crossing, unless you swim around the fence where the border crosses the beach and enters the Pacific Ocean … which I’ve seen a lot of people do.
It’s a HUGE ‘F’n crossing. It’s not like he was bouncing around the back trails and accidentally strayed across the border on some unmarked dirt trail in the middle of some dusty, isolated section of the desert. This was a built up area of city, on a well traveled, well lit, well marked interstate.
Plus, the whole gun issue. Just shaking my head.
Gretta van Susteren, a reporter for Fox, actually drove the route that the Sgt took and no. It is not only not clearly marked, the only small sign that gave any indication was so heavily painted over with graffiti that it was unreadable.
Also, the Sgt was new to that AO and unfamiliar with the roads.
So I hadn’t seen the interview with Greta van Susteren. I went back and watched all the videos where she talks about this incident and read the transcript of the interview she conducted with Tahmooressi. I will say this, what Tahmooressi tells her is completely different than what he said in other interviews. COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. According to earlier interviews Tahmooressi stated that he missed the exit for San Ysidro (which also happens to be the last possible exit before the border) because he thought it was further down the interstate. And that because he missed the exit he then arrived at the Mexican border checkpoint by accident. However, he tells van Susteren a completely different story. That earlier that day he had already crossed – on foot – out of the U.S. and into Mexico before any of the incident happened. That he had parked his truck in a parking lot and entered Mexico on foot and wandered around for several hours. [Quote:] And I went around, walked around, looked at the shops. I checked in a hotel over there because I was thinking to stay the night. And I ate at a restaurant. I walked around little more and kind of explored a little bit. And I checked out of the hotel because that hotel wasn’t very nice. It was dark and gloomy and dirty. So I was like, oh, forget this. And I didn’t really like what I seen in Tijuana that much anyway with all the authorities and things. I didn’t feel very safe or comfortable there. So I decided to head back to the United States. According to this interview (which is, again, a completely different story than he had told other interviewers) it wasn’t until he got confused in the parking lot that he went the wrong direction and ended up at the actual check point into Mexico. Now, to a point, I better understand the situation he says happened, but I still have issues with the difference in stories he has told. Particularly with the point that he previously claimed that he was heading… Read more »
Also, and not to be a smart ass, because this is certainly going to sound that way, but just because it was on Fox (or van Susteren) doesn’t lend (or take away) credence to the story.
To many different variations have been told now.
I could see it to some extent if he was unfamiliar with the area of the POE. That almost happened to me once (no guns in the truck at the time), I avoided entering Mexico by making an illegal turn, luckily nobody saw that cared. I had never been there before, was looking for something else, and should’ve been paying more attention to the signs. So I’ll call it plausible, having nearly had it happen to me.
Plus, the Mexicans were throwing up a lot of “evidence” against him that had all the credibility of Michael Moore, likely by some official who wants to upgrade his Porsche to a Ferrari at the Tahmooressi Family’s expense.
There were definitely some inconsistencies in his story. See here: http://www.sandiegored.com/noticias/52481/Andrew-Tahmooressi-lied-about-Tijuana/
I think you’re off the mark, here. I think that most people are pissed off that it took 8 months to get him back here. I think people are pissed off that our own government sent arms across the border (Fast & Furious), yet that same government couldn’t be bothered with lifting a finger to assist one of our own who only had 3 weapons on him and wasn’t running drugs and guns for the cartels. I think that people are pissed off at both Mexico’s government and our own, because Mexico enables and assists their citizens to break our laws and our government releases hardened criminal illegals within our own country at the same time that our Marine languishes in that shithole South of the border.
I don’t give a fuck whether his story is a little fishy, because I think he is embarrassed about the real reason, which is probably that he didn’t remember that he had those weapons in his truck as he approached the border and by the time he remembered it, he couldn’t turn around before crossing the border. I have seen these border crossings as well, and I don’t recall a turnaround lane without you crossing and coming back.
I’m active in RV forums that include Mexico travel (which is great BTW…wish we could be there this winter). The Canuks say that Canadian press has long waved the BS flag on his account according to some of the posters who are normally solid posters.
One day it will all sort I out. I’m glad he’s out. Dear Leader released some really bad folks while the Marine was incarcerated.
To: C/O Mr. Gravel
I’d say you need to back away from your smart remark. You sound like some one that’s been there, seen that, and did that, like some Mr. know it all. Get real, how in te hell would you know if those “KEEP OUT SIGNS” were not removed and were just used as a trap. There are several reasons that he entered Mexico not knowing where the border line was. Right now I will stop where I am and wait to see what the rest have to say regarding your tread, I will say one thing about your feelings, “BULLSHIT”
Sam Naomi,
This is where he stated he crossed the border. Go look at it on the map and you tell me what you think. It’s an OFFICIAL border crossing, on US Interstate 5.
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=tijuana&hl=en&ll=32.543539,-117.030648&spn=0.004925,0.006427&geocode=+&hnear=Tijuana,+Baja+California,+Mexico&t=h&z=18
I’d also like to say that none of my comment was a “smart remark,” as you put it. Just stating actual facts. It’s a highly visible, highly marked border crossing. In fact it’s one of the biggest border crossing on the US-Mexican border, and arguably one of the busiest.
Again, the border crossing that I’ve linked, and wrote about, is the border crossing that he said he crossed at.
So, as you stated earlier, Gravel, you’ve crossed there multiple times. Then you already know which lane to get in without trying to interpret a whole bunch of signs you’re seeing for the first time? That would certainly explain why it’s easy for you, but might not be for any of the rest of us.
I haven’t actually read much about this, but did catch parts of Greta’s experiences there that aired this morning. It looked very confusing to me, and I have no reason to believe that she might have exaggerated that point. She also said that the signage has been made much less confusing since our good Marine passed through.
So, Gravel, believe what you wish, but don’t be surprised if some of us ridicule you for your opinion. We are also free to form opinions based upon whatever criteria we wish to use.
I would note that I’m pretty sure that I read somewhere that he said he has crossed there before on several occasions, but can’t find that source … so … no biggie. He did say that he was trying to take the San Ysidro exit, but missed it because he thought it was further down the interstate.
What I don’t buy is that people, like Sam Naomi, have misconstrued this crossing as having no signage at all. While I understand the signage might be confusing, it is heavily signed, with large green and white interstate signs marking miles and kilometers to the border.
Mistakes happen, but as I said, his story doesn’t ring true because he said he didn’t see signs for the border and, again, it’s very heavily signed as it’s a major US-Mexican border crossing.
And yes, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Please note the comment that I left about my day in the pickle barrel, and 2/17 Air Cav’s tongue in cheek response to it. I don’t mind people disagreeing at all.
… it most certainly wasn’t a case of all the signs removed so that it was a trap, as Sam Naomi, inferred.
OWB: I lived in the US Southwest for a bit short of 1/3 of my life, within 20 mi of the US/Mexican border. Unless they’re a complete idiot, anyone living in that area for any length of time learns that Mexico is absolutely insanely anal-retentive regarding importation of firearms or ammo, and will arrest anyone caught crossing the border with either in a heartbeat – even if it’s an honest mistake. ANYONE driving around with a weapon in their car would be a damn fool to drive towards the US-Mexico border without being exceptionally careful about avoiding crossing.
Further, Tahmoressi also apparently was familiar with that particular crossing, having crossed into Mexico there on foot on at least 2 previous occasions (that’s backed by banking records).
http://www.sandiegored.com/noticias/52481/Andrew-Tahmooressi-lied-about-Tijuana/
Frankly, if he managed to “accidentally” get caught in the wrong lane and end up in Mexico, I can’t cut him much slack in the matter. Either he was being incredibly careless or was so distracted while driving he was a danger to himself and others.
I’m very glad the youngster is now back in the US. But to be blunt, his account doesn’t hold water very well – there are some serious holes in same. Seem to me he has “some ‘splainin’ to do”.
Oh, I hear ya, Hondo. I have no idea how much time he may have spent there earlier in his Marine career or even prior to that. The only news reports I have heard on the subject said that he had just arrived in San Diego for treatment of his PTS.
Am just reacting to what Greta said on the subject and the signage she showed, with the comments from people she interviewed both then and now. Whether the recent changes in the signage is highly significant? Who knows. But she talked with people on the ground who had gotten mixed up, and some who said it is much better now.
Sam Naomi. Gravel wasn’t being a smart ass and he didn’t say that the Marine deserved what happened. He just took exception to the Marine’s account of how he came to mistakenly enter Mexico. Whitey says it almost happened to him but he made an illegal turn to get North. And Gravel is glad that the Marine is back home, as are we all. As far as I’m concerned the Marine could have lied about his claimed mistake. I don’t much care. Just glad he’s back from that shithole, Mexico.
How convenient. The weekend before the elections.
I wouldn’t read too much into that, O-4E. I’m just glad he’s back.
I can’t say how happy I am he’s home! Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Reps. Ed Royce (R-CA) and Matt Salmon (R-AZ), thank you both for not giving up on this Marine.
Obama, thank you, again, for NOTHING!!! You blatant, self serving, unapologetic, ASS HOLE!!!
Don’t sugar coat it, Sparks, just tell us how you really feel…..
On-board with ya, buddy. 😉
To every member of B. Hussein 0bama & Comany, SHIT ON YOU and your Momma a thousand times over for ignoring him and using a deserter for propaganda purposes while releasing five terrorists!