In 1982–83, American Marines were stationed in Beirut with a vaguely defined mission to keep the peace. But once the PLO was evacuated and a new Lebanese president elected, Moslem terrorists assassinated President Gemayel and relentlessly pressed their guerrilla war, forcing the Marines to stay in “The Root” and to participate in an increasingly tense and dangerous mission.
Written and now revised by a retired Marine Corps captain who served in Beirut, this brutal, fast-moving novel about the events that led to the massacre of the Marines is peopled with Moslem terrorists; Arabs wiling to lay down their lives to stop the fighting; tough Israeli soldiers who deride American peace efforts; wise-guy journalists; and--of course--the Marines. Outrage is a tribute to those Marines who gave their lives in Beirut and an expression of outrage at the events that occurred.
Fast-paced, authentic, and at times disturbing, it is both an exhilarating testament to the sacrifice of those who served and an angry condemnation of the policies which led to the deaths of so many brave men.
“Firsthand knowledge is the strong suit in this fictional treatment of the disastrous involvement of the US Marines in Beirut….Misguided American policy decisions leading to the use of Marine troops as symbols rather than as soldiers continually placed the men in combat situations, yet without the authority to become involved or even properly defend themselves….the real strength is the close-up view of the murderous effects of a rotten political strategy.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Retired Marine Captain Dye has written a fictionalized account of the events that led to the deaths of 241 American Marines and other servicemen at the hands of a Moslem fanatic at Beirut Airport in 1983. Dye's military dialogue will sound authentic to most veteran ears…”
—Publisher's Weekly
“The Marines struggle with increasing frustration against command indifference, Muslim snipers, and willfully blind politicals….The best part is the incandescent invective launched by these cheerfully profane soldiers at their enemies, allies, and one another.”
—Library Journal
