Marine sentries who had not been allowed to insert ammunition in their weapons three weeks ago now stand guard with fully loaded guns. Some of those who had been based in Beirut were being billeted on American ships and ferried ashore by helicopters. Others were hard at work building new fortifications. Most guard posts were being reinforced and rearmed. Six-foot-high mounds of dirt, rows of tar-filled steel drums, sandbags and concertina wire blocked off the entrance to the Marine compound. Ironically, the little-used route through the parking lot that had been followed by a suicide bomber on Oct. 23, killing...
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