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4 US Marines Die in Afghan Ambush (due to Obama's New Rules of Engagement)
McClatchy News Service ^ | September 9, 2009 | Jonathan Landay

Posted on 09/10/2009 6:20:24 AM PDT by La Lydia

GANJGAL, Afghanistan — We walked into a trap, a killing zone of relentless gunfire and rocket barrages from Afghan insurgents hidden in the mountainsides and in a fortress-like village where women and children were replenishing their ammunition...Dashing from boulder to boulder, diving into trenches and ducking behind stone walls as the insurgents maneuvered to outflank us, we waited more than an hour for U.S. helicopters to arrive, despite earlier assurances that air cover would be five minutes away...

U.S. commanders, citing new rules to avoid civilian casualties, rejected repeated calls to unleash artillery rounds at attackers dug into the slopes and tree lines — despite being told repeatedly that they weren't near the village.

"We are pinned down. We are running low on ammo. We have no air. We've lost today," Marine Maj. Kevin Williams, 37, said through his translator to his Afghan counterpart, responding to the latter's repeated demands for helicopters.

Four U.S. Marines were killed Tuesday, the most U.S. service members assigned as trainers to the Afghan National Army to be lost in a single incident since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion. Eight Afghan troops and police and the Marine commander's Afghan interpreter also died in the ambush and the subsequent battle that raged from dawn until 2 p.m. around this remote hamlet in eastern Kunar province, close to the Pakistan border.

Three Americans and 19 Afghans were wounded, and U.S. forces later recovered the bodies of two insurgents, although they believe more were killed...

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


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; bhodod; fallen; islam; marines; obamaswar; roe; stupidity; violence
Vietnam redux.
1 posted on 09/10/2009 6:20:25 AM PDT by La Lydia
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To: La Lydia

HOW ABOUT A SPEECH ABOUT WTH YOU ARE DOING TO OUR GUYS AND GALS IN AFGHANASTAN!!!!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO OUR SOLDIERS!!!!


2 posted on 09/10/2009 6:22:35 AM PDT by Texas4ever (God is in control!)
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To: Texas4ever

When are we as Americans going to ask the President to speak about what he is doing to protect our soldiers?

where is he on this war....we are dying at an alarming rate!!!

4 more Brave Soldiers DEAD....WHY!!!

WHERE Is THEIR MONEY....?


3 posted on 09/10/2009 6:24:42 AM PDT by Texas4ever (God is in control!)
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To: Texas4ever

I think the Liar in Chief needs to visit the troops in the field and lead them against the enemy. He can dazzle they with his rhetoric.


4 posted on 09/10/2009 6:28:39 AM PDT by Mouton
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To: Texas4ever

Lets get out he is killing good men and women.


5 posted on 09/10/2009 6:28:43 AM PDT by scooby321 (and)
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To: La Lydia
Vietnam redux.

In MANY ways

6 posted on 09/10/2009 6:28:56 AM PDT by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
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To: scooby321

i need your opinion...do you think it would be in bad taste to hold a sign in my town that starts saying how many soldiers are dying daily something like this...

4 Marines died for you today!!! WHO IS PROTECTING THEM?

something like that....or WHY ARE THEY DYING MR. PRESIDENT?


7 posted on 09/10/2009 6:32:51 AM PDT by Texas4ever (God is in control!)
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To: Texas4ever

Your president (not mine) is providing aid and comfort to the enemy. He actively wants Americans to die in the war effort against the Taliban. Haven’t you figured that out yet?

PS, There is no law that says I have to recognize him as my president. All I have to do is obey the laws. My president would be on the opposite side of everything he has done or tried to do.


8 posted on 09/10/2009 6:34:21 AM PDT by 2ndClassCitizen (The socialists always vote for a free lunch.)
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To: La Lydia

There needs to be an investigation by Congress about this and these Rules of Engagement...I’m getting in touch with my Congresscritters today...this is unacceptable...


9 posted on 09/10/2009 6:34:29 AM PDT by matginzac
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To: Texas4ever

“OBAMA’S NEW RULES OF ENGAGEMENT KILLED FOUR MARINES TODAY”


10 posted on 09/10/2009 6:35:19 AM PDT by La Lydia
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To: La Lydia

Ike Skelton is Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, call the switchboard and ask to be switched to him and/or the committee and demand investigations
202-225-3121

Carl Levin is Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, call the switchboard and ask to be switched to him and/or the committee and demand investigations
202-225-3121

I called Levin, Skelton, and both committees yesterday in addition to stopping by my US Representatives local office with a copy of the report and calling my US Senator.

Also did the email thing off their web sites.


11 posted on 09/10/2009 6:35:22 AM PDT by HD1200
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To: La Lydia

Thank you! That is what I was looking for...i just didnt no the appropriate words!

I am disgusted...where is the outrage....I think he may be setting up our boys....I am scared for them all.


12 posted on 09/10/2009 6:36:50 AM PDT by Texas4ever (God is in control!)
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To: La Lydia

It’s a “Blackhawk Down” event.

Democrats are not very good at wars these days, starting with Johnson.


13 posted on 09/10/2009 6:39:10 AM PDT by RobRoy (The US today: Revelation 18:4)
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To: Texas4ever
I read this story and was livid. If you don't fight to win and refuse to use all the weapons that will allow you to do so then why bother. All you end up doing is get good men killed for nothing. Fight to win in Afghanistan or get out now.
14 posted on 09/10/2009 6:39:48 AM PDT by Destroyer Sailor
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To: La Lydia
U.S. commanders, citing new rules to avoid civilian casualties, rejected repeated calls to unleash artillery rounds at attackers dug into the slopes and tree lines — despite being told repeatedly that they weren't near the village.

So far, nothing in the MSM - where's their outrage and wall to wall coverage.

These new rules of combat - NO AIR COVER - resulted in last month being the deadliest of the whole war for our troops.

sept is setting up to be worse.

Obama is more concerned about casualties with the enemy than with our own.

The only air 'cover' now allowed when the tallies are using a village for cover to attack from is - we can fly over "to scare them" but NOT FIRE. Right. That scares them - as they laugh their heads off.

This is the new ROE - send our troops out like ducks in a shooting gallery and give them NO COVER. The rationale: (I am not just supposing) "...in the long run it's the right thing to do - but there will be higher casualties on the front end"

Unconscionable. Bas-turds. They are deliberately sacrificing the lives of our troops.

What next? Will our troops have to read the terrorists their Miranda Rights before shooting - or not allowed to shoot at all, even from the ground.

The taliban has been given a green light by our commie/muzzie CIC

Let out troops fight this and get it over with - or just pull out now and leave the country to slip back into the dark ages - they want our help? Tell them to warn their citizens to steer clear of harboring the terrorist or they risk getting killed. Wipe out a village or two that allows the taliban to set up and attack from their town. It wouldn't take long for them to get the message.

15 posted on 09/10/2009 6:40:29 AM PDT by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" Lincoln)
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To: Destroyer Sailor

Looks like we should get out...the president is more interested in an outcome that pleases AFghanistan rather than a victory for the US....

I think most fighting would say they are fighting for the Homeland...that is the USA!!!

SOMEONE NEEDS TO LET THE PRESIDENT KNOW!


16 posted on 09/10/2009 6:42:08 AM PDT by Texas4ever (God is in control!)
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To: maine-iac7

MaClatchy New Service is MSM. But I don’t know how many papers actually published this story. This is a disgrace.


17 posted on 09/10/2009 6:42:47 AM PDT by La Lydia
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To: Mouton
I think the Liar in Chief needs to visit the troops in the field and lead them against the enemy

He wouldn't dare turn his back to our troops. He IS the enemy, and they know it.

watch this clip - llive link next post: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIHz5tevLAw

18 posted on 09/10/2009 6:43:09 AM PDT by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" Lincoln)
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To: Mouton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIHz5tevLAw


19 posted on 09/10/2009 6:43:37 AM PDT by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" Lincoln)
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To: Texas4ever

NO - your signs need to say “GIVE OUR TROOPS AIR COVER” and “STOP KILLING OUR TROOPS instead of the enemy.”

“STOP SETTNG OUR TROOPS UP TO DIE”


20 posted on 09/10/2009 6:45:52 AM PDT by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" Lincoln)
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To: La Lydia
politicians lost Vietnam -

politicians are doing their best to lose Afghanistan, IMO!!!

whoever came up with this new ROE has American blood on his hands!!

21 posted on 09/10/2009 6:46:25 AM PDT by elpadre (AfganistaMr Obama said the goal was to "disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaeda" and its allies.)
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To: matginzac
I’m getting in touch with my Congresscritters today...this is unacceptable...

wasted breath. They know about it.

Get it out to Rush and Beck et al

August was the deadliest month of the whole war - sept is shaping up to be even worse.

our CIC chief is protecting the enemy and leaving our troops without air cover - deliberately.

There rationale is that, even though they recognize that their new ROE will result in more deaths of our troops = it's the right thing to do "in the long run."

We need to get this out - we need to fight for our troops NOW!

Include that in our Tea Parties - make the signs.

22 posted on 09/10/2009 6:51:22 AM PDT by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" Lincoln)
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To: maine-iac7

Okay, let’s poll all the idiots who voted for the disgusting Obamanation because he was “cool” and he was going to “bring the troops home” and see how they are enjoying the hope and change as the troops come home in body bags.

Any one of those four Marines was worth more to this country than Obama and all his minions including the United States Congress and all the “journalists” who run his propaganda mill.


23 posted on 09/10/2009 6:51:28 AM PDT by RipSawyer (Change has come to America and all hope is gone.)
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To: maine-iac7

Right-o...


24 posted on 09/10/2009 6:54:27 AM PDT by matginzac
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To: HD1200

Carl Levin could care less. I emailed my senators, because my congressman is a moron.


25 posted on 09/10/2009 6:54:56 AM PDT by La Lydia
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To: La Lydia

War should always be the last resort of a nation of free men. When free men go to war, the reporters and lawyers should be left at home.


26 posted on 09/10/2009 6:57:49 AM PDT by steve8714 (There's a straight line from John Wilkes Booth through Paul Robeson to Sean Penn.)
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To: La Lydia

Is the mainstream media gonna show the flag draped coffins in the airplane? Of course not! Only if Bush were Pres.


27 posted on 09/10/2009 6:58:34 AM PDT by shiva
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To: steve8714

I tend to agree with you, but, in this case, If the reporters were not there, we would not know why this happened.


28 posted on 09/10/2009 7:02:42 AM PDT by La Lydia
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To: maine-iac7
Defend our troops - not the Taliban...
29 posted on 09/10/2009 7:13:13 AM PDT by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" Lincoln)
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To: La Lydia

The new ROE came from General McChrystal.

This event may cause him to revisit his decision.


30 posted on 09/10/2009 7:16:16 AM PDT by IGOTMINE (1911s FOREVER!)
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To: La Lydia
"U.S. commanders, citing new rules to avoid civilian casualties, rejected repeated calls to unleash artillery rounds at attackers dug into the slopes and tree lines — despite being told repeatedly that they weren't near the village."

These are not Leaders, they are Scumbags and Yes men!!!

31 posted on 09/10/2009 7:21:00 AM PDT by gitmogrunt
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To: Texas4ever
"i need your opinion...do you think it would be in bad taste to hold a sign in my town that starts saying how many soldiers are dying daily something like this...

4 Marines died for you today!!! WHO IS PROTECTING THEM?

something like that....or WHY ARE THEY DYING MR. PRESIDENT?"

I think it's a great idea!!

You need to add that they are being refused air support by their commander in chief Obama with his new rules of engagement.

If you have a chance to get near any tea parties - take some extra signs & pass them out.

OBAMA REFUSING AIR SUPPORT - TROOPS ARE DYING TO SAVE CIVILIANS UNDER NEW RULES OF ENGAGEMENT.

32 posted on 09/10/2009 7:26:26 AM PDT by LADY J (Change your thoughts and you change your world. - Norman Vincent Peale)
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To: La Lydia
Time to switch from the “Liberator” role to the “Conqueror” role.
33 posted on 09/10/2009 7:29:32 AM PDT by NY Attitude (Make love not war but be prepared for either.)
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To: La Lydia
Question - pose this to Rush, Beck et al

If you deny cover fire to our troops, who are pinned down, being fired upon and being killed, then you are, are you not, aiding the enemy to kill our troops...you are helping/abetting the enemy.

That is, you are “aiding and abetting the enemy.”

Plain and simple. The sun does rise in the east.

Is this not TREASON? In your face treason...and at the least, grounds for impeachment.

34 posted on 09/10/2009 7:33:38 AM PDT by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" Lincoln)
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To: maine-iac7
My son will be there again in a month or so and if he should die due to ROE someone will pay. If I was the father of one of those Marines I would not be passive.
35 posted on 09/10/2009 7:38:38 AM PDT by Recon Dad
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To: IGOTMINE
The new ROE came from General McChrystal. This event may cause him to revisit his decision.

Good grief. Why do you think he was appointed to take over in Afghanistan after the outrageous and unprecedented ousting of Gen. McKiernan?

He is lock step with his CIC _ or TIC (traitor in chief) live link next post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/11/AR2009051103696.html

36 posted on 09/10/2009 7:47:31 AM PDT by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" Lincoln)
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To: IGOTMINE

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/11/AR2009051103696.html


37 posted on 09/10/2009 7:47:51 AM PDT by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" Lincoln)
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To: Recon Dad

see your freep mail


38 posted on 09/10/2009 7:48:55 AM PDT by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" Lincoln)
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To: maine-iac7
I just sent this out to my email list - we were successful, back in 2001, in driving the unwashed worms that cam out to protest the war and Bush, back under their rocks.

Time to be seen and heard again - LOUD. Now is the time, with all the coverage of the Tea Parties.

( My email)

our traitor in chief is aiding and abetting our enemy in killing our troops = ducks in a shooting gallery and not allowed to defend themselves - no cover.

August was the deadliest month of the whole war for our troops = Sept is setting up to be even worse...because of the new ROE - Rules of Engagement...

which are NOT to provide air cover for our troops, even when ambushed, pinned down and being killed. (the rationale for these new ROE's admits that it will cause more deaths for our troops now but that it will be worth it in the long run. Worth it for WHO?)

That is treason. Pure and simple. That is aiding and abetting the enemy, who now knows THEY have the cover, not our troops - and they are ramping it up.

We need to slam Rush, Beck and all with emails demanding that our traitor in chief DEFEND OUR TROOPS,NOT THE TALIBAN.

send them the above link about the battle - the same battles our troops are now subjected to daily.

I am sick - frightened and sick...and our troops feel they are being sent to be fodder for the enemy - who are the real friends of our CIC

We need to get the Tea Party folk to make signs saying:

DEFEND OUR TROOPS,NOT THE TALIBAN...

and make our own signs and stand on the main intersections every day - at least weekends...get folks together - go to your local VFW and such halls and recruit -

Do this in your towns NOW - google for your local Tea Parties in your state...

MAKE YOUR SIGNS and gather friends and get downtown - have flags and music - Greenwoods "Proud to Be an American" is a good one. Alert your local newspapers and let them know you expect coverage.

Write letters to the editor and just put the headline: "'We're pinned down:' 4 U.S. Marines die in Afghan ambush.."

Make those signs: DENIED AIR COVER as they were being killed...under the "DEFEND OUR TROOPS, NOT THE TALIBAN" - "Honk for our TRoops"

and include the web link -

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/75036.html and the facts about the new ROE and how deadly it has already been -

Let's Roll -

39 posted on 09/10/2009 8:29:45 AM PDT by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" Lincoln)
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To: Texas4ever

This makes me worse than livid!!! FOX interviewed the father of the young Marine whose picture was shown by AP, (AFTER THE PARENTS BEGGED THEM NOT TO PUBLISH THE PICTURE!!). The dad (a former Marine himself) was complaining about the Rules of Engagement and pretty much said that’s what got his son killed and the the ROE desperately needs to be changed, that the ROE was getting troops injured and killed in Afghanistan. SICKENING!!!!!


40 posted on 09/10/2009 9:09:39 AM PDT by fishergirl (My warrior, my soldier, my hero - my son. God bless our troops!)
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