Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Panetta visits Afghanistan: Hundreds of Marines unusually asked to disarm before he speaks
The New York Daily News ^ | March 14, 2012 | Aliyah Shahid

Posted on 03/14/2012 3:41:30 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Hundreds of U.S. Marines were ordered by an American sergeant on Wednesday to disarm before entering a tent where Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was set to speak during his trip to Afghanistan.

No reason was given and U.S. officials tried to downplay the move. But the highly unusual security measure comes amid rising tension in the country after an American solider allegedly killed 16 Afghan civilians on Sunday.

Sgt. Maj. Brandon Hall told more than 200 Marines at Camp Leatherneck that they were to leave their weapons outside. Afghan troops had already been told that they, too, were not allowed to bring their guns.

"Something has come to light," Hall told the troops. When an Associated Press reporter asked about the order, Hall said all he knew was, "I was told to get the weapons out."

During his visit, Panetta promised U.S. troops would not change its course of action, despite recent flare-ups. The trip was scheduled before the bloody massacre which has spurred demands for officials in both countries that foreign troops leave more quickly.

Afghan-U.S. relations have frayed since the shooting incident, in addition to the burning of Korans at a military base in Afghanistan last month. That sparked nearly a week of violent demonstrations, leaving 30 dead, including six U.S. soldiers.

American officials later said the disarming order at the Panetta event came from top commander, Maj. Gen. Mark Gurganus.

He insisted to the New York Times that it had nothing to do with the massacre.

"You've got one of the most important people in the world in the room," he said. "This is not a big deal.”


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; obama; panetta; wot
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-68 next last
To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

A little off topic, but worth a post. In a combat zone your weapon stays within reach. And after an attempted incursion as Leon landed, what could they be thinking. As a suicide attack develops, wait a minute while we retrieve our weapons. Other coverage has blamed it on local command, who didn't want to offend Afghani soldiers attending but who are disarmed.

21 posted on 03/14/2012 4:21:37 PM PDT by SJackson (The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

You’ve got one of the most important people in the world in the room

Hope he wasn’t including himself in this remark.


22 posted on 03/14/2012 4:28:36 PM PDT by bikerman (you can take the man out of the jungle but can't take the jungle out of the man)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SJackson

23 posted on 03/14/2012 4:30:09 PM PDT by SJackson (The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Some caesars had good reason to fear members of the praetorian guard. But are we there already? Sulla hasn’t even turned up yet.


24 posted on 03/14/2012 4:33:04 PM PDT by Avoiding_Sulla (How humanitarian are "leaders" who back Malthusian, Utilitarian & Green nutcases?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Follow me, the brave man said, and then he walked behind.


25 posted on 03/14/2012 4:37:30 PM PDT by Random Access
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RoseofTexas

What are we s’posed to use, harsh language?


26 posted on 03/14/2012 4:57:31 PM PDT by LearsFool ("Thou shouldst not have been old, till thou hadst been wise.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Tallguy

Afghans were disarmed so to be FAIR so were the American? That or Panetta totally mistrusts his own?


27 posted on 03/14/2012 4:59:54 PM PDT by JimSEA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Any way you look at it...this is ugly


28 posted on 03/14/2012 5:00:28 PM PDT by tophat9000 (American is Barack Oaken)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
"First time stripped of guns during address by Secretary of Defense" reads a headline at Drudge. Think about what's happening here, folks.. Our Secretary of Defense says just a few days ago that our military going to war would be subject to UN Approval, Not Congressional Action. Say WHAT? Is America a sovereign country anymore, Leon?? What form of government do you espouse for the United States, Leon?? Who the HELL do you represent because it's surely not anything Americans are familiar with, Leon.. Did you disarm our brave young men and women during your visit to Afghanistan because you know that your position on the U.N. APPROVING OUR WARS (and coincidentally, soon our elections?) TREASONOUS and feared retaliation from your own soldiers?

This is a travesty and gravely damaging to our troops' moral, but knowing the 0bama regime's objective of dismantling, damaging, weakening, and outright sabotaging anything and everything American, including our military, it comes as no surprise. What's even more chilling is our Congress' complete silence as they sit idly by watching 0bama and his 'change agents' spit, piss and trample on our Constitution!

29 posted on 03/14/2012 5:01:31 PM PDT by FedsRStealingOurCountryFromUs
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
No, it has nothing to do with the massacre. It almost certainly has something to do with THIS!
30 posted on 03/14/2012 5:05:41 PM PDT by firebrand
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Here’s why:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2859098/posts


31 posted on 03/14/2012 5:08:02 PM PDT by gandalftb (11th MEU, 2/4 Echo, TRAP Force)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All; LoneRangerMassachusetts

What Good Can a Handgun Do Against An Army?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/2312894/posts


32 posted on 03/14/2012 5:09:27 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (Ich habe keinen Konig aber Gott)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Biden is too retarded to be a target of anybody, no need to disarm our troops when he shows up.

Never will forget his assault on the Little League World Series winners back in 2009, the kids are celebrating and all of a sudden are posing for photos with Husseins insurance policy.-Photo spotted by LAcrew

33 posted on 03/14/2012 5:12:48 PM PDT by Rome2000 (Rick Santorum voted against Right toWork)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

this is the end of bambi


34 posted on 03/14/2012 5:13:53 PM PDT by The Wizard (Madam President is my President now and in the future)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Basically the only time you were allowed to take your weapon off is if you intended to use it or when you went to bed and then it was on your nightstand, locked and loaded. OIF vet


35 posted on 03/14/2012 5:18:09 PM PDT by jesseam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

I would say hell no. Hundreds of unarmed marines in Afghanistan is too dangerous. Rather would have panchetta stay home.


36 posted on 03/14/2012 5:24:28 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

I was involved in USMC security.

During Tet, when that crud LBJ flew into El Toro, MCAS, his Secret Service pukes insisted that all Marines be disarmed. They wanted Marines standing there like popsicles cheering the chief shithead on.

One MF secret service puke insisted that I give him my .45 and magazine to be sure I didn’t have any live ammo. I told that mercenary secret service puke to go F himself.

He freaked out and begged the captain in my platoon to disarm me and other people in the MP platoon.

Long story short, I obeyed the captain’s orders to give up my weapon.

Regardless, LBJ got boos and catcalls by the assembled Marines and the gutless secret service traitors didn’t hang around for a beer at the NCO club.

The incident was never broadcast by the propaganda press even though the place was infested by every network.

Bottom line? The criminal fascist government in DC hates and fears Marines and has since Tet.


37 posted on 03/14/2012 5:38:02 PM PDT by sergeantdave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
"You've got one of the most important people in the world in the room," he said. "This is not a big deal.”

Would you like to rephrase that remark, General?

38 posted on 03/14/2012 5:43:57 PM PDT by HIDEK6
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

What kind of idiot goes to a hostile war zone and tells the war fighters to disarm? What happens if they are attacked during the uber important speech? Oh,...right, they all die because they weren’t prepared to defend themselves...


39 posted on 03/14/2012 5:55:03 PM PDT by mandaladon (PalinGenesis)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Panetta was afraid of our troops? That tells me he has a verrrrrrrry guilty conscience!


40 posted on 03/14/2012 5:57:44 PM PDT by abclily
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-68 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson