This will be next.
Posted on 05/19/2010 1:53:30 PM PDT by Crush
Commanders have reportedly ordered a U.S. military unit in Afghanistan to patrol with unloaded weapons.
Some soldiers are being ordered to conduct patrols without a round chambered in their weapons, The US Report has learned from an anonymous source at a forward operating base in Afghanistan. Our source was unsure if the order came from his unit or if it affected other units.
On war correspondent Michael Yon's Facebook page, commenters stated that this is a common practice in Iraq, while others said that it is occurring in Afghanistan as well. According to military protocol, “Amber” status requires weapons to have a loaded magazine, but the safety on and no round chambered.
"The idea that any combat unit would conduct any operation, including patrolling and even manning a security post -- in which direct action may-or-may not take place -- and not having weapons loaded, borders on being criminally negligent in my opinion," says Lt. Col. W. Thomas Smith Jr., a recognized expert on terrorism and military/national defense issues. "This is nothing more than infusing politically correct restrictions into already overly restrictive rules of engagement. And this PC nonsense is going to get people killed."
According to Smith, "American soldiers are highly skilled in the use of 'loaded' weapons, and so should be trusted to operate with 'loaded' weapons. If someone overseeing decisions on ROE thinks not, then ratchet up training. But don't put a man on the street and force him to go through multiple prompts when a gunfight breaks out. Remember, the situation can go from quiet to kinetic in half the time it takes to breathe."
In an ambush situation, just how long does it take to engage a target when your weapon isn't already loaded?
(Excerpt) Read more at theusreport.com ...
He sounds only a little better than Wesley Clark.
Those were the same conditions that the Marines in Beirut were under on 23 October 1983 when the Islamikaze bomber rammed into the barracks in his truck. The sentries didn’t have time to insert a magazine and chamber a round...
Charge the weapon, then lock the magazine in the well.
I have seen situations where similar requirements were made, and the troops would simply lock their bolts back and put their magazines in.
All it takes then is a good bump to release the bolt and chamber a round.
Anyway, I would have my Soldiers leave the FOB in amber status, then as soon as we were outside of eyesight, have everyone go red. On coming back, do a quick halt, everyone go back to amber, then roll back onto the FOB.
This is an order meant to get Soldiers killed. Not so much in Iraq these days, but certainly in Afghanistan.
No better. Just a little taller.
“borders on being criminally negligent in my opinion,” says Lt. Col. W. Thomas Smith Jr., “
It doesn’t just “border” on it, it’s treason.
As a ‘Blue Star Mom’ I’m a big supporter of our troops, but it is getting more ridiculous as time moves along in Afghanistan and Iraq, and given the RoE that have been coming down on our troops, we need to get the H3LL out of there NOW, sooner than later...all they are using our troops for, are ‘sitting ducks’ and it is really sickening!! There is certainly NO victory nor glory in that!!! What the H3LL is with these lame-O’s in the higher ranks at the Pentagon that would allow this? This is certainly the nightmare of every Mother, Dad, spouse, and children, among others that they have to live in further fear of their loved ones being in Harms Way!! There would not have been so many killed in ‘cold blood’ at Fort Hood by that ‘TERRORIST’ Hasan, if these unarmed soldiers could have defended themselves, but on a foreign battle field, that’s a whole different negligence on the part of whoever is giving these kind of orders!!
I am beyond pale and thoroughly disgusted!!
Any other ‘Blue Star Parents’ feel as I do? I dare say...I’m probably not the only one!
Some one needs to find who is responsible for this and put them on trial.
What would be the point? So you can’t chamber a round without first:
1) Disengaging the safety
2) Dry firing
3) Re-Charging & Chambering the round
This ROE makes even less sense when you consider all that!
You still on the Blame Bush bandwagon?
Pure insanity.
It’s not just the “free shot” attitude. It’s multiple free shots.
My son-in-law is in-country in a few weeks. This is outrageous.
You don’t need to do all that. You just have to charge your weapon. It only takes a couple of extra seconds, but that’s a hell of a lot longer than it takes to just flip the selector lever and fire at a target.
And what a great sound that is!
Ignorant idiot.
These were the same ROE in Beirut. The morning of the Beirut barracks bombing, guards walked with unchambered rounds. Don’t we ever learn???
This will be next.
I need to enter gated communities several times a day as part of my work.
I need to show my ID to a guard to get in.
Often the guard is wearing a sidearm.
And I’ll guarantee there is a round in the chamber.
Not only was I born here, but some of my ancestors have been here since the ICE AGE.
Just sayin.
I have a son over there. He is an SF CPT (P) leading two A teams. He recently was moved from Helmand province to Kandahar. He says the rules of engagement they have to operate under are ludicrous. The paper work folowing any action that results in casualties approaches the ridiculous. I never thought I would be saying this, but it’s time to bring the troops home. You can’t win anything with one or more hands tied behind your back. We know Obama is going have us out of there when it is time for him to campaign for reelection. So, why wait? Bring them home now!
I would not consider a gun with a loaded magazine but without a round chambered to be “unloaded”. It is not ready to immediately fire, but the gun is loaded.
The USS Cole was WORSE than what people have been saying; yes it’s true that they did not have loaded weapons off of Aden, Yemen, but what I’m saying is that also AFTER the kamikaze zodiac attack, the responding guards who rushed with weapons topside WERE DENIED AMMO.
That’s because the Captain did not want 2 risk an ACCIDENT.
Sounds false, right...?
I’m sorry but that’s TRUE.
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