Fatah's last stand: collapse or conspiracy?

[rodeodance]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers



Fatah's last stand: collapse or conspiracy?
By Dion Nissenbaum | McClatchy Newspapers

* Posted on Wed, June 20, 2007


GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — As they gave up compound after compound to advancing Hamas forces, weary Fatah fighters loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas fell back toward the seaside presidential compound in Gaza to make their last stand.

They set up .50-caliber machine guns and unloaded crates of ammunition, certain that it would be their last stand.

"This is all there is for us,” said a special forces officer who called himself Abu Hassan as he oversaw the stacking of ammunition. “We will not surrender. They will execute us."

But there was no last stand. Instead, Fatah leaders fled the Gaza Strip by boat and on foot, leaving lower-level fighters feeling betrayed..........

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/17136.html

[bemildred]

1. Cannon fodder. nt