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Obama: Ill equipped US Soldiers resort to using Talbian equipment in Afganistan
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/21/debate.transcript/index.html ^

Posted on 02/22/2008 8:01:39 AM PST by HD1200

OBAMA: You know, I’ve heard from an Army captain who was the head of a rifle platoon — supposed to have 39 men in a rifle platoon. Ended up being sent to Afghanistan with 24 because 15 of those soldiers had been sent to Iraq.

OBAMA: And as a consequence, they didn’t have enough ammunition, they didn’t have enough humvees. They were actually capturing Taliban weapons, because it was easier to get Taliban weapons than it was for them to get properly equipped by our current commander in chief.

OBAMA: Now, that’s a consequence of bad judgment. And you know, the question is, on the critical issues that we face right now, who’s going to show the judgment to lead? And I think that on every critical issue that we’ve seen in foreign policy over the last several years — going into Iraq originally, I didn’t just oppose it for the sake of opposing it. I said this is going to distract us from Afghanistan; this is going to fan the flames of anti-American sentiment; it’s going to cost us billions of dollars and thousands of lives and overstretch our military. And I was right.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; demdebates; obama; oef; soldiers; talbian
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To: MNJohnnie

Amen brother.....


141 posted on 02/22/2008 9:46:54 AM PST by mad_as_he$$ (John McCain - The Manchurian Candidate? http://www.usvetdsp.com/manchuan.htm)
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To: OPS4

Indeed, I would think the higher the clearance and/or priority, there could conceivably be a major in command of a platoon.


142 posted on 02/22/2008 9:49:10 AM PST by SwankyC (McCain is the wrong liberal for the job.)
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To: Renegade
I assume most of the AK’S are either AK-47’S Or AKM’S. They are 7.62MM and are not interchangeable with M16’S.
143 posted on 02/22/2008 9:49:11 AM PST by HenpeckedCon (B. Hussein/Bernie Sanders-08)
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To: HD1200

When did Obama join the 911 Truthers?


144 posted on 02/22/2008 9:49:28 AM PST by Doctor Raoul (Fire the CIA and hire the Free Clinic, someone who knows how to stop leaks.)
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To: tanknetter
I did a quick search - this is apparently what I recall reading about: SR-47
145 posted on 02/22/2008 9:51:20 AM PST by tanknetter
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To: MNJohnnie

under NORMAL circumstances (regular army unit), yes, you are likely correct, however I wont say a Captain would NEVER be in charge of a platoon. At the same time I spoke of, there was a buck seargent in charge of my platoon.


146 posted on 02/22/2008 9:52:11 AM PST by SwankyC (McCain is the wrong liberal for the job.)
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To: HD1200

Silly me for asking a question - how, Sir, did the intrepid Army Captain in question capture said Taliban weapons if he was, as you say, not properly equipped for the mission?

And another silly question. When we capture enemy materials - if it is in servicable condition - should we not put said equipment and weaponry into the hands of OUR forces? Just because we re-use captured equipment and weapons does not necessarily mean we have a shortage of our own. Additionally, and I hate to admit it, but I know more than one red blooded Amrican soldier who, given the choice, will carry an AK over the M-16.

Last bit - and maybe times have changed - but as I recall Captains are generally a company grade officer, and platoon commanders are 1LT/2LT. Am I mistaken? I caught this detail and my BS radar went off.


147 posted on 02/22/2008 9:55:57 AM PST by BlueNgold (... Feed the tree!)
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To: Always Independent; Holicheese

The Madrassa taught Obama at an early age to always lie to infidels.


148 posted on 02/22/2008 10:01:03 AM PST by afnamvet (Support The Troops. Your life may depend on it.)
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To: HD1200

Assuming this is true, who’s been blocking troop funding?

Democrats...


149 posted on 02/22/2008 10:02:50 AM PST by <1/1,000,000th%
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To: rlmorel
Likely the guy is one of the "phoney soldiers" that Rush blasted some time back. The guy probably is a MoveOn loonie who has never been in the military or is a former enlistee who got booted "for the convenience of the government" (discharge for unsuitability) before he finished BMT.

These were the kinds of guys that sKerry had testify during congressional hearins in the early 1970s.

150 posted on 02/22/2008 10:10:17 AM PST by RightWingConspirator (Redefeat Communism by defeating Hitlary in 2008)
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To: HD1200

Thank God for the Internet. You guys exposed this BS for what it is. It shows both Hillary! and O’Bambi for the ignoramuses they are. God help us all.


151 posted on 02/22/2008 10:12:09 AM PST by TenthAmendmentChampion (Global warming is to Revelations as the theory of evolution is to Genesis.)
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To: T. Jefferson

Halp us Obama Hussein, we’re killing da Taliban hear with their own guns!


152 posted on 02/22/2008 10:17:29 AM PST by T. Jefferson
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To: TenthAmendmentChampion
Last year my daughter was invited to a large Chicago medical center for a job interview. After being interviewed by various administrators associated with the job for which she was being interviewed, they took her out to dinner at Morton's. Her hosts gushed and gushed over B Hussein Obama, and one idiot, a female doctor, related how she had been at O'Hare one day and had come across B Hussein Obama in a concourse. She stated that "He actually made eye contact with me, and I nearly fainted when he looked into my eyes." (Unfortunately, this is the kind of people who are supporting B Hussein Obama).

My daughter decided at that minute that she would not even consider an offer from that hospital.

153 posted on 02/22/2008 10:26:58 AM PST by RightWingConspirator (Redefeat Communism by defeating Hitlary in 2008)
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To: TenthAmendmentChampion
Just a bit of Devil's Advocate (hold the flames until Hitlery & Slick are gone for good)...

Does a 2nd Lieutenant remain a 2nd Lt even on his/her 3rd tour in Iraq? And isn't the Army having recruiting problems?

Could it have been a Captain who was recently promoted telling a war story from a previous tour?

Why haven't we captured bin Laden after 5 YEARS?! Especially when we did find Saddam in the Spider hole early on...(Whoopi Goldberg: 'Git out dat hole, Sad-damn')...

Are we REALLY fighting a war in Iraq or has it become more like a Police Action...door-to-door, keeping the peace-type thing?

Did Ronald Reagan know a lot of detail about military life, tactics, etc.? But didn't we in the military LOVE him as Commander In Chief? Why was that?

Obama was talking here about JUDGMENT...and his point may well resonate among a majority of Americans...

The Military Industrial complex will NEVER want Iraq to end...

Careers at stake!

Profits at stake!

Think about it...

154 posted on 02/22/2008 10:27:37 AM PST by O Neill (Aye, Katie Scarlett, the ONLY thing that lasts is the land...)
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To: Miss Didi

Wow. I knew somebody would latch onto it.


155 posted on 02/22/2008 10:57:52 AM PST by HD1200
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To: roses of sharon

Ummmm Captains, at least in the Marine Corps, don’t lead Platoons...they find themselves as Company Commanders....fine Commander in Chief he would be....wonder if he even knows what the rank insignia for a Captain looks like..bet he thinks it is a gold bar.


156 posted on 02/22/2008 11:06:49 AM PST by celtic gal
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To: HD1200
Rush is discussing it again now in the 3rd hour.
157 posted on 02/22/2008 11:28:26 AM PST by Miss Didi ("Good heavens, woman, this is a war not a garden party!" Dr. Meade, Gone with the Wind)
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To: O Neill
In the Marine Corps, one is promoted based on time in grade, not the number of tours in country. Time in grade and fitness reports. Going from Second LT to First LT is nearly automatic unless the Lt steps on his sword..going from 1ST to Captain gets more competitive and going from Company Grade to the Field Grade Ranks ( Major through Colonel) becomes far more competitive..If an officer is selected below zone, that officer is considered selected ahead of contemporaries and has an unusually outstanding record.
158 posted on 02/22/2008 11:32:02 AM PST by celtic gal
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To: celtic gal

ping for later


159 posted on 02/22/2008 11:35:34 AM PST by Graycliff (Long haired freaky people, need not apply.)
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To: celtic gal
In the Marine Corps, one is promoted based on time in grade...

Sounds very much like the 'up or out' system of the Air Force (which I was in long ago). Thanks for the info...and thanks for your service!

160 posted on 02/22/2008 11:59:43 AM PST by O Neill (Aye, Katie Scarlett, the ONLY thing that lasts is the land...)
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