REPORTS: No Live Ammo for Marines

The Washington Free Beacon ^ | Sept 13. 2012 | Adam Kredo

[Cliff Dweller]

U.S. Marines defending the American embassy in Egypt were not permitted by the State Department to carry live ammunition, limiting their ability to respond to attacks like those this week on the U.S. consulate in Cairo.

Ambassador to Egypt Anne Patterson “did not permit U.S. Marine guards to carry live ammunition,” according to multiple reports on U.S. Marine Corps blogs spotted by Nightwatch. “She neutralized any U.S. military capability that was dedicated to preserve her life and protect the US Embassy.”

If true, the reports indicate that Patterson shirked her obligation to protect U.S. interests, Nightwatch states.

[ImNotLying]

Sure not the same military that I proudly served for 26 years. DADT gone, security details not allowed to carry ammo, Chairman of Joint Chiefs calling private citizen to try to censor comments, Commander-In-Chief bowing to foreign leaders and apologizing for insulting those who wish to destroy us, and on and on. Tears running down my cheeks.

[Cliff Dweller]

Kabar, I guess it has been awhile ... Marines now possess the Beretta M-9 DA SA 9MM in lieu of revolvers... ;-)

[Red Steel]

these reports indicate that the Obama administration was relying on Egypt’s new Muslim Brotherhood-backed government to ensure American security, a move observers are questioning as violence in Cairo continues to rage.

Relying on terrorists to protect your embassy personnel? No doubt Obama is an ass.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Anyone think no ammo was Hillery’s edict???

[Nachum]

The list, Ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/

[mmichaels1970]

Back to the Carter Years.

I'd argue that this is much worse.

During the Iran hostage crisis, the MSM continuously covered the story day after day. I remember graphics on screen with the number of days in captivity superimposed on it.

I remember the failed rescue attempt being placed squarely on Carter's doorstep. I was a child, and even I knew that Carter was inept based only on news reports.

The press, regardless of their leanings, REPORTED on the crisis. I believe that this was a major part in what doomed the Carter presidency to only one term.

When we look at the Obama debacle, we are witnessing a media that is doing whatever it can to cover for the president. In fact, in its attacks on Romney, we can see that they appear to actually be hoping that Obama can end up getting a boost from this situation while dragging Romney down.

This is really bad. The gradual dumbing down of the American public over the years has resulted in large numbers that can be spoon-fed their news. Many are unable to think and investigate any deeper than the rhetoric they hear. Regardless of the internet and alternative media, I personally think the MSM is way more powerful than it was back in 1979.

At the very least, in '79 the press still held some modicum of integrity. And the public still seemed to share a common nationalistic bond. Integrity is gone now. Nationalism has been replaced by "what's in it for me".

'79 was a long time ago, and I was just a kid. So my opinion may be off, but it's certainly how I see it. The MSM needs to be confronted more intensely than it has been.

[morphing libertarian]

I would ad that the full complement of Marines varies from Embassy to Embassy. In 2002 they doubled the number in Paki from 11 to 22.

Yesterday someone posted: no Marines in consulate in Libya because it was not an embassy. Other places I have read they had 8 marines responding to the incident.

When my son was an MSG in Jordan, they had live rounds even though the local government was very cooperative. The Jordanians used to call and tell the details of demonstrations and how long they would let it go until the media had their photos and the locals broke it up.

[Old Sarge]

JAYSUS EFF'N CHRIST!!

[Marine_Uncle]

I would also like to enter a big Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

[kabar]

Maybe I should have said sidearm. The .45 is still the best people stopper. Weapon of choice.

FYI: We now know that one of the two previously undenified Americans killed in Benghazi was a former SEAL. I bet he was the one who was holding them off for the five hours that the compound was under attack.

[Sine_Pari]

Assumptions & Unknowns:
- Marines may or may have not been stationed in Bengazi; although always found in Embassies, some consulates do others do not depending on the country and Marine numbers available
- Marines may or may have not been escorting Ambassador Stevens when he was murdered; if they where they may or not may have been armed

Facts:
- Marines are under the supervision and control of the RSO (State Dept Security employee bureaucrat) at every US Embassy across the world who in turn works for the Ambassador
- Ambassadors can and often do mandate who in the Embassy can/cannot carry loaded weapons in country or hold weapons and ammo in their spaces to include DoD military Attaches, FBI LEGATT, DEA, DHS and others
- Extremely bad security conditions (criminal or terrorist) sometimes force Ambassadors to acquiesce and allow only trained personnel under unique circumstances (military & Federal agents of all sorts) to store, maintain and/or sometimes carry loaded weapons in country

Worst case scenario: If he had Marine escort when murdered, Ambassador Stevens likely did not allow his Marines to carry loaded weapons to prevent any Libyans from ever being injured or killed and avoid political heat. I have seen this rationale used in many places and I think it is borne of State Dept corporate distrust of trained young Marines with loaded weapons in volatile situations. The lack of any reports related to dead or injured perps who attacked the Consulate in Bengazi lead me to this conclusion until corroborated or disproved by credible sources; sad.

Regards

[thingumbob]

Ambassadors who demand the Barney Fife approach for security

[US Navy Vet]

Ms Nana,
I am a 20 year 1 Month and 18 days United States Navy Retired Petty Officer(NCO) and I will GIVE to “Mitt” Rommney 1 of my dd-214’s(Discharge Papers) and go back on ACTIVE DUTY to make up for my 4 years of “lost” time(I am 51 and it would be VERY HARD to get back w/in PT Standards) THAT is how STRONGLY I feel about gettting rid of this Administration!

[TigersEye]

Hillary's Marines!

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I am not amused.

[Old Sarge]

Tears running down my cheeks.

I got first dibs on the kleenex, over here...

[Tennessee Nana]

as a veteran I couldnt understand veterans voting for Bill Clinton...

and i dont understand now that veterans would vote fore either Obama or Willard...

Obama wasnt part of a draft but he has proven that he has no interest in our military being successful...

Willard has mocked our troops in the past and now wants to be CinC...He has no cared about the troops in the past, now he wants to rule over them..

Will he give the generals a free hand ??? who knows...

In 2008 during a debate when asked what he would do in the case of an emergency just like the one we have now, would he send the troops he said he woulod have to talk to his attorneys first...Say WHAT ???

I hope he has changed his mind about that...

We need a president who will arm the trrops to the teeth and allow the generals to lead...

one who wont go back to bed but will stay by the phone when something happens...

if all that is coming out now about Obamas actions is true its more than negligence...

apparantly he did send the Navy but he should have also canceled his fund raising...

his place is in Washington until the crisis is over...

What would Willard do in the same place ???

He hasnt canceled his fundraising or campaign either...

[ThomasMore]

Tell her to “Go to Hell”.

[Cliff Dweller]

This is NOT Libya, it was Ambassador to Egypt. Suppose each Embassy/Ambassador can implement their own policies.

Also Diplomatic Security is armed, I know of no exceptions.

[dinodino]

Holy. F***ing. S**t.

What is WRONG with this Administration!??

[Domandred]

Quickly going through Patterson’s bio it looks like she’s been around the block a few times. I’m not sure it was her that made the directive, I think it came from higher up, being Hillary or Barry Junior. Gonna bet on Hillary though given it was probably her that talked Bill into banning live ammo on military bases.