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Title: Long-Planned Visit Lands Panetta in Tense Afghanistan
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URL Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/15/w ... ollowing-massacre.html?_r=2&hp
Published: Mar 14, 2012
Author: Elisabeth Bumiller
Post Date: 2012-03-14 11:08:55 by christine
Keywords: None
Views: 280
Comments: 38
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta landed here Wednesday morning for an unannounced and tense visit, the first by a senior member of the Obama administration since an American soldier reportedly killed 16 Afghan civilians, mostly children and women. The two-day visit was planned months ago, but it has taken on a new urgency since an American staff sergeant slipped out of a military base in the southern province of Kandahar on Sunday and, according to villagers and senior defense officials, went door to door in nearby villages, shooting civilians. “We will be challenged by our enemies, we will be challenged by ourselves, we will be challenged by the hell of war itself,” Mr. Panetta told some 200 Marines, Afghan security officers and troops from other coalition nations at this vast military base in the desert of Helmand Province, abutting Kandahar. Early in the day, a roadside bomb struck a minivan in Helmand at about 1 a.m., destroying the vehicle and killing eight civilians. In a sign of the nervousness surrounding Mr. Panetta’s trip, the Marines and other troops who were waiting in a tent for the defense secretary to speak were abruptly asked by their commander to get up, place their weapons — M-16 and M-4 automatic rifles and 9-mm pistols — outside the tent and then return unarmed. The commander, Sgt. Maj. Brandon Hall, told reporters he was acting on orders from superiors. “All I know is, I was told to get the weapons out,” he said. Asked why, he replied, “Somebody got itchy, that’s all I’ve got to say. Somebody got itchy; we just adjust.” Normally, American forces in Afghanistan keep their weapons with them when the defense secretary visits and speaks to them. The Afghans in the tent waiting for Mr. Panetta were not armed to begin with, as is typical. Later, American officials said that the top commander in Helmand, Maj. Gen. Mark Gurganus, had decided on Tuesday that no one would be armed while Mr. Panetta spoke to them, but the word did not reach those in charge in the tent until shortly before Mr. Panetta was due to arrive. General Gurganus told reporters later that he wanted a consistent policy for everyone in the tent. “You’ve got one of the most important people in the world in the room,” he said. He insisted that his decision had nothing to do with the shooting on Sunday. “This is not a big deal,” he said. Mr. Panetta, like President Obama, has denounced the killings and vowed to bring the killer to justice, a message he is to deliver in person to President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and top Afghan defense and interior officials while he is in Afghanistan. The killings have further clouded Afghan-American relations, which were already strained. American commanders said that Helmand was relatively quiet after the killings, unlike Panjwai, the district in Kandahar where the rampage occurred. Militants there attacked a memorial service for the 16 victims on Tuesday when an Afghan government delegation was present, firing machine guns and assault rifles from their motorcycles and killing at least one Afghan soldier; a motorcycle bomb went off Wednesday near where the same delegation was staying in Kandahar city, killing a security officer. Later on Wednesday, Mr. Panetta flew to a remote military base in western Helmand, Combat Outpost Shukvani, where American Marines fight alongside troops from Georgia, the former Soviet republic. The battalion commander of the 750 Georgian troops, Lt. Col. Alex Tugushi, lost both legs in a homemade bomb explosion in December; he is recovering at Bethesda Naval Hospital near Washington, where President Obama has visited him. Mr. Panetta read a letter to the Georgians from Colonel Tugushi that said in part: “Unfortunately, I could not complete my service with you. But I am proud of all of you — those who have fallen and those who continue to serve. You are all heroes who will go down in Georgian history.” Mr. Panetta told the troops in Helmand that the rampage on Sunday will not change the administration’s plans to withdraw 23,000 American troops from the country by the end of the summer and the remaining 68,000 by the end of 2014, although some could remain longer if the Afghans and Americas negotiate a long-term agreement. Mr. Panetta told reporters on his plane on Monday that the killings in Panjwai were a horrific part of the decade-old conflict in Afghanistan. “War is hell,” he said. “These kinds of events and incidents are going to take place, they’ve taken place in any war, they’re terrible events, and this is not the first of those events, and it probably will not be the last.” He added: “But we cannot allow these events to undermine our strategy.”
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#1. To: christine (#0)
The current administration has spent so much time adjusting, changing its mind, blaming its errors on others, making excuses, but always refusing to do what is required ... about EVERYTHING. Intelligent decisions timely made could have eliminated a heluva lot of the problems we see. I have to leave my comments at that because there is so much wrong with this country. There is so little being done to correct the state of this nation that it is inevitable we will lose our republic.
“All I know is, I was told to get the weapons out,” he said. Asked why, he replied, “Somebody got itchy, that’s all I’ve got to say. Somebody wants our Troops to be sitting ducks -- foreign agents probably. Mr. Panetta, like President Obama, thinks he's a VIP who works for NATO and the UN Security Council, not the Constitution. No, don't even wait for summer. Move out now, on the double. Edited for formatting. ------- "They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
I highly doubt that this is true. A better explanation is that Panetta is a filthy coward who does not trust the troops and was afraid someone was going to put a well deserved bullet into his brain bucket. Calling Ron Paul an isolationist is like calling your neighbor a hermit because he doesn't come over and break your window - unknown Jesus said, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do. Evangelical Fundinuts say, "kill them all who will not bow down to the Zionist Jew." - F.A. Hayek Fan
There you go. There needs to be bullets into brain buckets of a number of those leading our country, most of whom we didn't elect, don't see, and can't name.
If there is a better indicator of how the troops truly feel about the war in Afghanistan and/or the Obama administration then I sure can't think of it. I wonder how the troops feel about dying for those that don't trust them. I'm sure it's not a good feeling. Calling Ron Paul an isolationist is like calling your neighbor a hermit because he doesn't come over and break your window - unknown Jesus said, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do. Evangelical Fundinuts say, "kill them all who will not bow down to the Zionist Jew." - F.A. Hayek Fan
Normally, American forces in Afghanistan keep their weapons with them when the defense secretary visits and speaks to them. The Afghans in the tent waiting for Mr. Panetta were not armed to begin with, as is typical. The men that wear the stars and titles are RUNNING SCARED. Scared of the grunts that have LONG SAID LETS GO HOME. How I love this.
Phant... Think down range, after the election. Recall days ago I said Paul should be new Sec. Def. and clean house???? THERE WILL BE CHANGES MADE...AFTER THE ELECTION...IN RUNNING THE GRUNTS ENDLESSLY THRU THE MEAT GRINDER. Americans will NOT be happy.
I am glad I lived to see it. It has been long in coming.
It is too bad that the voters aren't getting the picture the way the grunts are. If they were, we would wake up November 7th and find not ONE incumbent on the ballot remained in office in BOTH houses of Congress. I would even have a drink on that one!!!
Fixed to reflect the dirty unspoken truth. " ... Somebody got itchy; we just adjust.”
#2. To: christine (#0)
(Edited)
In a sign of the nervousness surrounding Mr. Panetta’s trip, the Marines and other troops who were waiting in a tent for the defense secretary to speak were abruptly asked by their commander to get up, place their weapons — M-16 and M-4 automatic rifles and 9-mm pistols — outside the tent and then return unarmed. The commander, Sgt. Maj. Brandon Hall, told reporters he was acting on orders from superiors.
General Gurganus told reporters later that he wanted a consistent policy for everyone in the tent. “You’ve got one of the most important people in the world in the room,” he said. He insisted that his decision had nothing to do with the shooting on Sunday. “This is not a big deal,” he said.
Mr. Panetta told the troops in Helmand that the rampage on Sunday will not change the administration’s plans to withdraw 23,000 American troops from the country by the end of the summer and the remaining 68,000 by the end of 2014, although some could remain longer if the Afghans and Americas negotiate a long-term agreement.
#3. To: christine (#0)
Later, American officials said that the top commander in Helmand, Maj. Gen. Mark Gurganus, had decided on Tuesday that no one would be armed while Mr. Panetta spoke to them, but the word did not reach those in charge in the tent until shortly before Mr. Panetta was due to arrive.
#4. To: F.A. Hayek Fan (#3)
A better explanation is that Panetta is a filthy coward who does not trust the troops and was afraid someone was going to put a well deserved bullet into his brain bucket.
#5. To: Phant2000 (#4)
There you go. There needs to be bullets into brain buckets of a number of those leading our country, most of whom we didn't elect, don't see, and can't name.
#6. To: christine (#0)
“All I know is, I was told to get the weapons out,” he said. Asked why, he replied, “Somebody got itchy, that’s all I’ve got to say. Somebody got itchy; we just adjust.”
#7. To: Phant2000, Christine (#4)
#8. To: Cynicom (#6)
The men that wear the stars and titles are RUNNING SCARED.
#9. To: Cynicom (#7)
THERE WILL BE CHANGES MADE...AFTER THE ELECTION...IN RUNNING THE GRUNTS ENDLESSLY THRU THE MEAT GRINDER.
#10. To: christine (#0)
“We will be challenged by our enemies, we will be challenged by ourselves, we will be challenged by the hell of war itself, we will be challenged by Israel,” Mr. Panetta told some 200 Marines, Afghan security officers and troops from other coalition nations
-Alex Kurtagic
#11. To: christine (#0)
Panetta, Obummer, Clinton, Bush, Cheney, come to mind....give them a effn bugle and let them lead the charge of war. I personally will not lift a finger to save this custerf*ck called the USSA.
#12. To: Cynicom (#6)
We're at the same point that the Soviet troops were in 1986, only we're more determined to leave under "honorable" circumstances and we've got a big enough pile of bodybags to fill in order to let us leave under our own terms.
-Alex Kurtagic
#13. To: X-15, Phant2000 (#12)
The opening words are a lie...LONG PLANNED... What horse manure...this government is positive that the sheep believe anything When the king and his minions become fearful of the palace guards, the unwashed masses dance in the streets.
#14. To: Cynicom (#13)
Mammy O'Bammy: Fredo, get on a plane right now and find out what kind of shithouse those guys are running over there. Fredo Panetta: But, boss, them guys all got guns! ..LONG PLANNED...
A people that would and could throw the bums out in the voting booth never has to. - Prefrontal Vortex
#15. To: randge, Phant2000 (#14)
I am donning my dancing shoes because this is the FIRST CRACK IN THE ARMOR that Obama and his handlers have been unable to cover. As always it is the lowest minions in the military that start bringing down the house. After the election, regardless of who wins, drastic measures will be taken. This "volunteer professional military" that Americans so love, will have to be drastically altered, FOR THE SAFETY OF THE RULING ELITE. Endless wars have proven that "volunteer" armies do not work and never have. The Romans tried it. Fredo Panetta: But, boss, them guys all got guns!
#16. To: Cynicom (#15)
Perhaps that's why O'Bammy wants to unionize U.S. military by executive order.Endless wars have proven that "volunteer" armies do not work and never have. The Romans tried it.
A people that would and could throw the bums out in the voting booth never has to. - Prefrontal Vortex
#17. To: Cynicom (#13)
I only hope to live long enough to dance ... wherever ... In the streets, in the Halls of Justice, or just in the living room of my own home! God bless the grunts and anyone else making those cracks, however it has to be done.
#18. To: randge (#16)
The people at the top will have to tell the politicians that the "professional army" may be getting out of control. There is but one alternative and Americans are not going to be happy.
#19. To: Phant2000 (#17)
Honest Americans will recall that it has been the grunts that have caused every blow out in the military or have exposed military wrong doing with videos.
#20. To: Cynicom (#18)
That's the second time you said that. You thinkin' draft, what? There is but one alternative and Americans are not going to be happy.
Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
#21. To: Esso (#20) (Edited)
Yes Sir. This government has proven to themselves that a "paid professional army" is acceptable in times of peace, but that does NOT ring true in times of war, even with limited losses. They now understand that their own safety is in question when it depends on hired, professional "volunteers". Americans must now be reprogrammed to accept that "all" Americans need to serve their country, males and females. As usual, there will be escape avenues available to only those allowed by the governing elite. Once again the bleeding and dying will be borne upon the backs of the lowest of American society. To those that "know better", most Americans in the 1930s also knew better, trusted the word of the government and FDR that American boys would never again fight in foreign wars. After 16 million were dragged off to war, A FEW AMERICANS admitted they had been duped. That's the second time you said that. You thinkin' draft, what?
#22. To: Cynicom (#21) (Edited)
Draftees don't work out so good either, I guess. Years ago, I bought a book called "On Killing" by a LtCol Dave Grossman (I think). It went way back to the Civil War and found that most draftees never fired their guns, but pretended to, clear up through Korea. The military had to revamp their training (turn the draftees into psychos) and had most guys actually shooting by the Vietnam war. I wish I could remember the actual numbers, but it was really startling the number of soldiers who refused to actually kill in combat. It was an interesting book, It went into the various kinds of conditioning the military uses as well as the psychology behind it. I'd like to revisit it, but I let someone borrow it. Gone.
Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
#23. To: Cynicom (#21)
Holy Crap. If a draft is what these jokers need to pull their fat out of the fire, they are cooked! Needless to say, they won't be calling up the 'Greatest Generation.' Especially if he bleeding and dying is to be borne upon the backs of the 'lowest of American society.' The crew running shit in this country has engineered a mess so bad that they won't be able to rescue their own sorry asses from the wreckage when their house of cards comes down.
A people that would and could throw the bums out in the voting booth never has to. - Prefrontal Vortex
#24. To: Phant2000 (#9)
it's never going to happen. too many "voters" benefit or are dependent in some way on war and government. If they were, we would wake up November 7th and find not ONE incumbent on the ballot remained in office in BOTH houses of Congress.
#25. To: randge (#23) (Edited)
The amplitude on this clusterfuck is going to shoot to infinity if the jewzios get their war in Eye-Ran going. We don't have the manufacturing capability left in this country to sustain a war against any country, let alone the likes of Russia or China. We don't quit fucking with Iran, we're gonna have a nuclear war on our hands. Winner: None. Edit: I can just hear the 21st century Rosie the Riviter whining about carpy tunnel syndrome and repetitive stress injuries and how she needs to be on a big, fat disability pension. Yeah, WWIII oughtta be a real fuckin' cakewalk. The crew running shit in this country has engineered a mess so bad that they won't be able to rescue their own sorry asses from the wreckage when their house of cards comes down.
Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
#26. To: Esso, randge, Phant2000, Americans (#22)
I would disagree. Draftees come cheap and do not come with preconceived notions that somehow they will do a short time and never get dirty hands. Americans would do best to stop deluding themselves that they will never be dragged off to war, that such is left to ..."OTHERS". After the election, there will be a reality check in which the government/military will begin reprogramming Americans to demand that ALL YOUTH MUST SERVE THEIR COUNTRY. Wont happen???? Been there, did that, I got back with my skin in one piece, my brother and many friends never came back. I remember the refrain of the 1930s, "it wont ever happen again". Draftees don't work out so good either, I guess
#27. To: Esso (#25)
So. Here are your choices: 1) Put your country into the tender hands of Communists. (We know how that works out.) 2) Submit to those who will throw everything we have into the crapshoot of what can easily mushroom into a WWIII. I'm out of it. I'll let you guys decide.
A people that would and could throw the bums out in the voting booth never has to. - Prefrontal Vortex
#28. To: Cynicom (#26)
I'm just tellin' ya what the book said, I haven't really thought much about how a draft would work out now, but as dumbed down and pussified as this country's become, I'm thinkin' somewhere between bad and horrible, unless the draftees are flying drones from behind a computer screen. Real guns, boots on the ground, in the shifting sands of Eye-Ran, I see the young punk, iDooDad jockeys blowing their own heads off, or that of their COs. I could be wrong... I would disagree.
Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
#29. To: randge (#27)
Don't put this on me, this is Lloyd Blankfein's, Bill Gates', Warren Buffet's Ben Bernanke's and the whole lot of the 1%er jewzio's war. Folks in my 'hood don't want anything to do with it because we're the ones who have to pay for it. I'm out of it. I'll let you guys decide.
Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
#30. To: Esso (#29)
You can't get out of it that easy. This is Krautland in the 1930s. It's Commies or Nazis. There are only two flavors to choose from. If your benighted fellow citizens had possessed a bit more foresight over the last couple of decades, we might have avoided this pickle. But that is the pickle we're in, and there ain't a damned thing we can do about it now. So what's it going to be??
A people that would and could throw the bums out in the voting booth never has to. - Prefrontal Vortex
#31. To: randge (#30)
I will stand opposed to the jewzios. So what's it going to be??
Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
#32. To: randge, Esso (#30)
Gentlemen... Keep in mind that way back in the 1940s/50s I witnessed dissenters dragged from their homes in chains, saw busloads of AWOLs in chains and irons being flown direct to the front and put in the meat grinder. Witness kids your age being taken away to near certain death, their crime being they did not want to go. You never forget and never labor under any allusions concerning this government.
#33. To: Esso (#31)
Me & you. That makes an army of two. I will stand opposed to the jewzios.
A people that would and could throw the bums out in the voting booth never has to. - Prefrontal Vortex
#34. To: Cynicom (#32)
Hey, I ain't no spring chicken. I am out of it until Chinese tanks come rollin' over the bayou. Then it's 7.62 city for me. Witness kids your age being taken away to near certain death
A people that would and could throw the bums out in the voting booth never has to. - Prefrontal Vortex
#35. To: randge (#34)
In all out war there are no age limits. Everyone in the pool, Better luck next time. If I were younger, I would become a confirmed "bugoutter". Hey, I ain't no spring chicken.
#36. To: randge (#34)
At least our "army of two" uses the same ammo. We got that goin' for us. Then it's 7.62 city for me.
Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
#37. To: christine (#24)
I rest my case. it's never going to happen. too many "voters" benefit or are dependent in some way on war and government
#38. To: Esso (#36)
Heh heh.
A people that would and could throw the bums out in the voting booth never has to. - Prefrontal Vortex
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