US Doesn't Trust Its Deployed Marines Not To Shoot Secretary of Defense

[Darrell]

Mr. Panetta flew from Washington to Manas, Kyrgyzstan, on his usual plane, a reconfigured Boeing 747 with “United States of America” emblazoned on the side, but as usual for security reasons, he transferred to a gray C-17 military cargo plane for the unannounced trip to Afghanistan.

In a sign of the nervousness surrounding the trip, a sergeant major abruptly told the Marines gathered to hear Mr. Panetta in a tent at Camp Leatherneck to get up, place their M-16 and M-4 automatic rifles and 9-millimeter pistols outside, and return unarmed. The sergeant major, Brandon Hall, told reporters that he was acting on orders.

“All I know is I was told to get the weapons out,” he said. Asked why, he replied: “Somebody got itchy — that’s all I’ve got to say. Somebody got itchy. We just adjust.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/15/world/...ml?_r=1&hp

[RobMille]

I can't figure anything out about the purpose of being in Afghanistan or the things they have the military doing there. Have been incredibly frustrated for 3.5 years now about why are we there, and what are we accomplishing?

[lucrezaborgia]

(03-14-2012 06:28 PM)RobMille Wrote:  I can't figure anything out about the purpose of being in Afghanistan or the things they have the military doing there. Have been incredibly frustrated for 3.5 years now about why are we there, and what are we accomplishing?

You want the pretty politically acceptable answer or the brutally honest one?

[Apathetic or whatever]

From what I have read it was a joint meeting with both US and Afghan troops. Apparently the issue was with the Afghans coming armed, not the Marines.


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-14...-exit.html

"Marine Major General Charles “Mark” Gurganus, the new NATO International Security and Assistance Force commander for the area that covers Helmand Province, said he ordered the American and other coalition soldiers to turn in their weapons to avoid signaling that their Afghan allies can’t be trusted.

“Somebody had said we were going to have the Afghans leave their weapons outside,” said Gurganus. “I wanted the Marines to look just like our Afghan partners.”

[myotch]

After 9/11, we had a choice to either go into Afghanistan in a full invasion, do it half-assed, or not go at all. I know why we went in, and I know why we are there now. I also know that we have to leave someday, and hopefully soon.

God bless our troops.

[exOBCstudent]

(03-14-2012 06:28 PM)RobMille Wrote:  I can't figure anything out about the purpose of being in Afghanistan or the things they have the military doing there. Have been incredibly frustrated for 3.5 years now about why are we there, and what are we accomplishing?

You ever heard of these guys called "Taliban"? They're not too nice and they don't play fair. They'd like to meet you in your hometown but instead we're meeting them in theirs. Wish us well.

[Darrell]

It's always interesting to see the differences of viewpoint between those of us sitting at home and those who are actually out fighting the war.

Not that the armed forces have a unified opinion but most of the soldiers I've talked to who have been over there (and I work with them every day) say that they believe that what we're doing in Afghanistan is both right and necessary.

[exOBCstudent]

(03-15-2012 07:54 AM)Darrell Wrote:  It's always interesting to see the differences of viewpoint between those of us sitting at home and those who are actually out fighting the war.

Not that the armed forces have a unified opinion but most of the soldiers I've talked to who have been over there (and I work with them every day) say that they believe that what we're doing in Afghanistan is both right and necessary.

I'd be one of those guys also although I'd prefer not to have to do another 13 month deployment if I didn't absolutely have to. Now, if they shortened them to 3-4 months that the Chair Force does...I'd be jumping all over that!

[EmilyKing]

(03-15-2012 07:57 AM)exOBCstudent Wrote:  

(03-15-2012 07:54 AM)Darrell Wrote:  It's always interesting to see the differences of viewpoint between those of us sitting at home and those who are actually out fighting the war.

Not that the armed forces have a unified opinion but most of the soldiers I've talked to who have been over there (and I work with them every day) say that they believe that what we're doing in Afghanistan is both right and necessary.

I'd be one of those guys also although I'd prefer not to have to do another 13 month deployment if I didn't absolutely have to. Now, if they shortened them to 3-4 months that the Chair Force does...I'd be jumping all over that!

Go Chair Force!

[exOBCstudent]

(03-15-2012 03:19 PM)EmilyKing Wrote:  

(03-15-2012 07:57 AM)exOBCstudent Wrote:  I'd be one of those guys also although I'd prefer not to have to do another 13 month deployment if I didn't absolutely have to. Now, if they shortened them to 3-4 months that the Chair Force does...I'd be jumping all over that!

Go Chair Force!

You guys have some good things going for ya though...good chow halls, shortened deployments, babes......