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Subscribe to RSSSecretary of Defense Leon Panetta on Friday said America is succeeding in Afghanistan, but warned that enemies are looking for new ways to inflict damage.
"In particular, they have sought to take advantage of a series of troubling incidents involving misconduct on the part of American troops," he said in a speech at Fort Benning, Georgia. "These days, it takes only seconds for one picture to suddenly become an international headline."
Panetta addressed about 1,300 soldiers from the 3rd Infrantry Division's 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team.
Relations between the U.S. and Afghanistan have been strained by several recent incidents, specifically the burning of Muslim holy books at a U.S. base and the massacre of 17 civilians, including children, allegedly by Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, who is imprisoned at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, awaiting trial in the killings. In addition, American troops have been videotaped urinating on the bodies of Afghan militants and shown in photographs posing with the body parts of dead insurgents.
"I know these incidents represent a very, very small percentage of the great work that our men and women do every day across the world," Panetta said, "but these incidents concern me — and all of the Service Chiefs — because they show a lack of judgment, a lack of professionalism, and a lack of leadership on the part of some of our men and women in uniform."
“While these are seemingly isolated events by a few bad apples,” Michael Smith, a professor of communications at La Salle University in Pennsylvania told msnbc.com, “they may come to symbolize America to the Afghan population. If this becomes the case, our mission is doomed and the lives of our troops at greater risk.”
Earlier this week, President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to Afghanistan, where he signed an agreement that spells out a winding down of the war as well as a longtime commitment to staying there.
The Strategic Partnership Agreement, which was nearly two years in the making, was described by the President as a historic moment for Afghanistan and the U.S. NBC's Atia Abawi reports.
Though no specifics on the number of troops who will remain in an advisory capacity, perhaps for a decade, were announced, the agreement pledges support after 88,000 combat forces leave Afghanistan in 2014 after what will be 13 years of war.
Related: Troops returning home to strained veterans-affairs system
In the meantime, the United States has said it is committed to stabilizing the Afghan government in the face of a messy insurgency from the Taliban, which hours after Obama’s visit launched a suicide car bomb attack that killed seven people in an a compound housing hundreds of westerners.
Related: Extreme war stresses to blame in Marine urination video?
According to Anthony H. Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington and a former Defense Department intelligence assessment director, concerted communications campaigns to build up the images of American troops and the war effort started at the beginning of the Afghan conflict. The campaigns got a whole new emphasis in 2009 when a leaked report by U.S. and NATO commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal bluntly stated that without more forces and a new counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan, failure was likely. The report also said the Afghan government was riddled with corruption.
“Similarly, there has been a consistent effort to provide sensitivity and cultural training to U.S. troops, trying to make them aware trying to make them aware how Afghans see the world and Afghan values,” Cordesman said.
In insurgency campaigns — in Afghanistan’s case the Taliban trying to wrest control from the NATO-backed Afghan government — how civilians perceive each side in a conflict is key to cooperation during the war as well as stability afterward, Cordesman pointed out.
Two Americans have been killed following days of protesting over the recent burning of the Quran at a NATO military base. NBC's Atia Abawi reports.
“The history, almost regardless of who does this," he said, "is that very often you get the cultural values wrong. You can’t communicate as well as a movement that is local.”
Speaking to the troops is useful, Cordesman said, but it is not a way of having a large impact on what the Afghans think about Americans in the short run. The Quran burning was a particularly egregious episode culturally — it sparked weeks of violent protests — while urinating on bodies and posing with photographs could be viewed as an act of revenge, which Afghans understand, Cordesman said.
While such incidents are damaging, in the end it will be support for the Afghan government that will allow the United States to claim victory in Afghanistan, Cordesman said.
“It’s not support for us that counts,” he said. “It’s support for them that makes transition to any kind of strategic victory possible.”
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Leave a Comment:
Another fine article from the Department of Pointing Out the Obvious.
I say we pull all the troops out of foreign lands so they don't embarass us further.
Keep them here where we can monitor their behavior.
And yet another MSNBC front page dis of our military. I expect all the Oberman-like nutcases (see Steve above) whose freedoms are protected and ensured by the very people they mock, to chime in.
I'm not gonna hold my breath waiting for an MSNBC positive story on our troops, or one detailing the ongoing disgusting and cowardly behavior of the enemy we face; too much too ask I guess. No wonder MSNBC was Osama's news station of choice.
Its the Obama puppet show... Maybe they should have said this before the misconduct and murders occured. Its feel good politics!
Misconduct seems to be going around - troups, secret service... I felt better when it was just Clinton in the Oval Ofc... and oh yeah I forgot - this is all Bush's fault...
How quaint shaking hands with the Al Qaeda leader..
well - it's obvious that it's not so freaking obvious when a small percentage of the troops cause the kinds of problems that they are.
It's like seat belts. F'ing obvious that they save lives, but we gotta keep after the idiots who don't follow the law because of the problems that they cause.
Ummmmmmmm, errrrrrrrrrrrr.................Mr. Panetta, sir - with all due respect:
Check your watch, chump. It's about ELEVEN EFFING YEARS SLOW.
This war has been a losing, foolhardy proposition from the word GO!
EVERY DAMN ONE of our troops could act like Saint Michael the Archangel and it wouldn't make a damn bit a difference, you incredible imbecile.
We are fighting for the freedom of people who don't know democracy from a dog's derriere. Barbarians who wouldn't utilize democracy any more than a dolphin could use an Audi. And NO amount of intervention on our part will change that. There's the newsflash for you, bud.
Tod, the Afghans fought off the invading Russian armies. Now, they are slowly pushing out the invading American armed forces, the most powerful army the world has ever seen, with weapons that seem primitive in comparison. And you call them cowards? We drop bombs at night on their houses while they sleep, and you call them cowards? Get a life, man.
@Steve: Pick up a rifle or shut the hell up! I'll take the ban on here! If you think we are such an embarrassment to the country why don't you roll your worthless ass out your door and make your country proud! Oh wait, that's right, you are a coward who does nothing for our country except pay your taxes and I'm sure you complain every April even though you get money back. I hope you one day do something great for our country, stop breathing.
Sending troops into unnecessary, illegal, and endless wars also hurts the "war effort."
Thank you hot ticket, and never
Of course us going after those who killed 3000 of our fellow citizens was foolhearty, sheesh.
Sometimes I have to wonder, how is that some of our citizens are actually the offspring of those who fought and died for our freedoms.
Armyguy:
From an Army vet....well said!!!
Panetta's only job is to gut the Military, just like he did at his last job at the CIA, so Obama can get more money to buy votes...
Yeah Larson, I call people that subjugate woman, and blow up women and children, cowards. I also call people who don't recognise the sacrifice of those whose protect their freedoms, fools and ingrates.
hey panetta fu
u the same fool that stood up in congress and say we answer to the un
arrest this trader
"Trader" bite me says?
Must be a Bagger posting (judging not just by the misspelling, but entirely the wrong word).
Is the Party of No paying you by the post or a flat $2.25 per hour?
I DO have to say you nailed it on this one. The AFGHANS are the biggest, most useless AND unworthy bunch of ingrates that OUR troops have ever had to fight and die for, with the possible exception of the Iraqis. Thanks for reiterating my point.
to post 1.16
yes when u get home from your groping children from your tsa job.go look up h.con.res.107
or if u are to dumb -watch a video called-
Obama-Admin-Cites-Intl-Permission,-Not-Congress,-As-Legal-Basis-For-Action-In-Syria.
stop being a useful idiot
i really dont expect anything less(sadly)from someone that gets there news from here though
Never Stop Asking Quesitons
You are doing the backward spin thing again. We all know it is Obama's (Big Brother is Watching) Narwhal room where people have been paid (probably with our tax dollars) since he got into office to collect every bit of data they could to use to brainwash voters by promising them what the data indicates they want. AND, we all know Obama said he was going to win this election using the internet. So who is paying posters? I don't get paid, I just want my country free from Socialism and Dictator wanna bes. By the way we didn't go to Afghanistan to make the people free and happy. That seems to be the theme of this administration but initially we went there to wipe out the Al Quida bunch that attacked us on our own home land for no reason other than thier Kill all that aren't Muslim mentality. I really wish they would go back to teaching history in schools and colleges. Of course those who believe what Obamanites say wouldn't understand anyway I guess.
Well the one thing we have lost sight of is this was suppose to be a War. Unfortunately in a War the human psyche tends to degrade to almost an animal survivalist nature. The reason therefore for military training to hopefully insure the soldier's psyche stays the course. Yet what we are forgetting here is one is the "Rules of Engagement" aren't that defined. We have soldiers over there who are literally sitting ducks and can't do a thing about it until they are given "release orders". On top of that you have a lot of those soldiers who are on there 2nd, 3rd some 4th deployment overseas in the sand boxes of "Hell". This takes a deep toll on a person who has chosen to volunteer to "Protect the Freedoms of All Americans Even in a Foreign Nation that means Nothing to them."
These folks chose to do this and yes some have made serious mistakes. This stuff happens in War and if we did not have the Internet and the technology we have today.Instant Media! Well lets say we think this stuff is bad, if you could see some of the atrocities we committed to the Vietnamese people, German soldiers, etc, the list goes on. Its called War for a reason its totally ugly and we need to end it. Ask yourself Why are we there? Now? Why aren't we more concerned about taking care of our own infrastructure and schools here at home for people who would appreciate it.? Go do a little research to see who the real benefactors of our soldiers being deployed there are?
PS Otherwise we may have just witnessed the signing of " Obama's Vietnam only Longer!"
My comments are in relation to Americans who do not respect those who keep them safe, or respect the sacrifices made on their behalf.
If you want to change the topic to how we should approach the war on terrorism, that's a different story.
My opinion;
We need a strong leader to declare, only once, a new policy; From the second we have definitive proof that your country is allowing terrorists (whose aim is to harm our nation, peoples or interests), you have 1 week to destroy them. If you do not, we will. We will not rebuild your country. We will not appoligize, and we will not pretend you are our ally. If you are foolish enough to allow the terrorists back in, God help you!! You've been warned
to Armyguy. Just who do you think you are with the holier than thou accusations of cowardice. You are the worst example of of any service member. If you want to pick up a rifle and defend the country, feel free to do so, but how dare you tell anyone that they must pick up rifle. I served and the freedom I defended was freedom for everyone, and I mean everyone whether agree with me or not. You walk around with your chest all puffed out and your patriotism on your sleeve, telling the everyone how they must use the valuable freedom that you alone provide. You are not the first nor will you be last soldier to face criticism. Your childish rant and baseless accusations will not help your argument.
Granite,
Towards steve, armyguys "rant' was justified, Yours toward him; not so much.
Larson, I respect the courage of the Afghans who fought the soviets under "the Lion". Unfortunately he, and I believe his family, were blown up 1 day before 911 by the cowardly Taliban.
The Vets coming back from theater say "The Afghan military will cut our throats". The Afg military shoot our troops in the back of the head and we keep being told we are winning. Look at Iraq - our buddies we saved. They are selling all their oil to anybody but the US. Now they are sending support to the Syrian government. Yet we keep hearing spin, "things are great". It's been said so many times, yet all we are doing in Afghanistan is pouring Billions into our Private Contractors who do not want to end the gravy train. Even our pure of heart Obama has been corrupted. Wait until the already corrupt republicans ever get into office. The Cheney and Bush Jr's.
Yeah, P-dog said what we all know. Stupid and silly stuff should be left for the frat party. The problem is leadership is poor to nonexistent where troops pose for pictures that are counterproductive. Crucify a few Battalion Commanders and this stuff would stop almost instantly.
The problem would be that these young (dumb and full of — — _) guys still would need to "blow off steam" somewhere and there is no safe place to do this anywhere for guys that have server two or three tours of duty in these third world latrines.
If we are going to make war then we need a draft so that everyone has skin in the game. No deferments, no excuses, no special treatment (that means you chicken hawks). I think we would make war less but a heck of a lot smarter when we did go out to play.
11B, but it don't mean nothing.
Agreed Glenn,
Mandatory three years military service would stop an awful lot of whining (I suppose initially it would cause a lot of whining too, but who cares?)
Democrats suck, what did Leon say about the killings in Texas by the Muslim at the Army base. Why did Leon make the Marines in Afganistan put down their arms in a war zone, why are democrats so inept? The only misconduct is by our Community Organizer In Chief. Does his inexperience show yet? How can anyone want 4 more years of SH!T.
Dem's cant afford it, think of the votes they would lose.
Larson, et al.... you do realize that Afganistan won the war against Russia with help from USA.
Panetta, what a joker. What is he talking about? He is about a decade late in any of his stupid statements. Go away, and while you are at it take that Dumbama jerk with you. Might want to think to settle in Afghanistan, good place for you losers.
I say piss on the hole thing.
I have to ask, what is an "illegal" war?
the only thing I can figure is that it is a war that the socialist progressives don't like.
war may be ugly, terrible, horrifying, dirty, hell, even un-popular and un nessesary, but never "illegal".
the progressives would, of course, rather have al-kyda continue to murder innocent Americans.
I think the best way that our fighting forces adhere to the rules that panetta wants, is to have one lawyer and one media member accompany every squad of 5 soldiers. I have to agree with TOD 2791955. with this type of mentality we wouldn't be worried about someone elses freedoms.
Panetta should look into his own administration as far as misconduct. Have ANYBODY look into the DOJ (Eric Holder), Obama for stepping on the constitution and not letting our troops fight in a war that we should not be in. Osama has been killed by Seal Team 6, not Obama. Pull the troops so my kids don't get killed for no reason. If these A-Holes would let them fight the war would have been over years ago.
More of the usual: "The troops are to blame" - never the idiots that are running the war, creating ROEs that hamstring our efforts, listening to liberals that ALWAYS aim for the bottom, and want to do nothing but surrender.
The Afghans see the world as threatening, and they want to kill everyone in it. Actually it doesn't matter what the Afghans think- the Taliban and AQ are running them- the Afghans will think anything they are told.
All this new BS about how we are going to be there for 10 more years does nothing for us. The Afghans hate Karzai- his govt. is as corrupt as can be, and we are supporting it, which means the Afghans hate us.
Is there ANYBODY that is dumber than a State Dept. employee? How stupid do you have to be, how pathetically venal, how desperate for a job, to follow the mandates of the idiots that are their bosses.
What gets me is that the pols KNOW we want them to blow the crap out of Afghanistan, and refuse to do so, and we let them get away with it, election after election. This malfeasance gets our people killed .
For those idiots who are always complaining about the military -industrial complex here's a clue: it's the politicians that control the army- the pols start the wars, and tell the military what to do. The pols may have been BOUGHT by the MIC, but the pols are the ones responsible in the end.
*
Our military is all volunteer, right? So stop volunteering, already! I don't know about you but I would be happy to end sending our young folks all over the world to risk their life. If you young ladies and gentlemen will refuse to re-up, it ought to make panetta happy as well as me, very quickly. I believe you can get everyone's attention!
You spend 2 or 3 tours in a war zone where the ROE's protect the enemy more than
you, watch your friends get blown to pieces and have your spouse leave you
because you've been away from home for year(s) over several
deployments. I'm surprised more troops haven’t lost their minds and committed
more acts like this. We need to GTFO of that country! Stop wasting our budget on a war
that is not winnable with the current ROE's. The Taliban is going to take that
country back over as soon as we pull out; it doesn’t matter if its 2012 or 2020
they will take over again. Let’s bring our troops home and let the Air Force
and Navy use occasional airstrikes to keep them in check.
CITIZEN TO PANETTA: Bring the troops home. They've done several tours. And for what? No matter who we help we get no love and no respect for it. Stop sending U.S. tax dollars to Israel, to Egypt, to Pakistan, etc. My respect to the troops.
To Ritdog: It's not the pols it is the Lobbiests from big monied Contractors who control the length of the war. The military industrial complex. Ever read the confessions of a Lobbiest by Jack Abromoff. He said he had 85% of Congress doing his bidding either by incentives or by threats of targeting said pol as you say.
"Military Industrial Complex" you Fox news dupe. The fiction is - it does not exist.
Read: "Leo Strauss and the philosophy of deception" if you don't believe me. A treatise by the original Neocon in his own words on how to control you - the mass's. One page so you won't wander off to diddle yourself
Think the Government, and it's Cabinet should pay more attention to their wandering "Secret Service Agents". That is a "Scandal".
This War in Afghanistan should have been over---now another how many years of our US Military being there after 2014.
Karzai doesn't care. Most Americans do not respect this Corrupt and anti American Leader of Afghanistan . Our US Military Soldiers should be treated with great respect by Cabinet Leaders---it is demoralizing to lump all of them into one group. Only a few have been out of line re: Military Conduct.
Sacrificing for our Country. Please PRAISE them. Do not bring their morale down. Leon Panetta, you are out of line.
BEFORE READING THE BELOW, instead of denial or questioning the source of the information; just go do your own detailed research and then using basic cognitive skills connect the dots. You doing that and seeing for yourselves is better than me doing it for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LniYN3sXmGg
STOP lining thru our departure date.
2001. 2002 for Operation Hotel California2003. 2004 Down time to replace dead.2005.2006.2007. Redacted.2009.2011.2012.2013. 2014. Indefinite ?. Most of you thought that I was joking about Years of Consecutive Tours.Already as Ordered by President Obama as Commander In Chief already starting, the Reduction In Forces (RIF) of the US Military of: 80,000 US Military Personnel PLUS 27,000 US Military Personnel Returning from the Wars PLUS 10,000 US Military Personnel returning from the US Military Installations Closed at Germany (Logistics Supply and Transportation Support for Afghanistan) PLUS 5 more Brigades all being thrown on Unemployment.
PLUS xxx,xxx US Civilians that provided support to the soon to be RIF'ed US Military Personnel, no longer needed thrown on Unemployment.
PLUS about 1 (one) Million US Civilians of the US Military Defense Industrial Complex (President Obama's and Secretary of Defense Leon Penetta's "A 10% US Military Defense Budget Cut will result in a million US Civilians becoming Unemployed").
The specific numbers by Branch of Service can be seen here: US Army: www.armytimes.com; USAF: www.airforcetimes.com ; USMC: www.marinecorpstimes.com ; USN www.navytimes.com;
The US Civilians to be Unemployed: www.federaltimes.com
Don't EVEN start up with that lame excuse: "Use them (Active Duty US Military) to secure US Borders instead of throwing them on Unemployment". 1. Against US Law., 2. Against President Obama's April 2009 Policy, "US Military will not be used to secure US Borders".
Larson-2940684,
I TOLD YOU BEFORE STOP ATTEMPTING TO REWRITE HISTORY. THERE ARE STILL THOSE OF US THAT WERE PARTICIPANTS:
That was us (not you) as Operation Cyclone, as US Military Training Teams attached to CIA's SAD/SOG that Trained the Pro US Afghans to defeat the USSR 40thArmy Occupation. After Operation Cyclone (us living with them and leading them in YEARS of Asymmetric Warfare) the US Politicians Ordered us to Abandon US Ally Afghanistan.
The Pro USSR Afghans (the other half of the Afghan Population) that fled into USSR Backed Fundamentalist Islamic Republic of Iran return to Afghanistan, after years (1979 to 1989) of Islamic Sanctuary at Fundamentalist Islamic Republic of Iran. As part of Islamic Sanctuary (duty of host, duty to the host of those receiving the Islamic Sanctuary), many of these Pro USSR Afghans became Fundamentalist Islamic Believers, and many even fought on the side of USSR Backed Fundamentalist Islamic Iran during the Iran Iraq Wars (becoming Battle hardened experienced Combat Veterans).
They become the 1990s Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban as fully supported by USSR Backed Fundamentalist Islamic Republic of Iran.
Since the US Ally 1980s Pro US Afghan Muhajeen were abandoned by the US and basically left with nothing. It was very easy for the 1990s Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban fully backed by USSR Backed Fundamentalist Islamic Republic of Iran to massacre the 20,000 to 50,000 US Ally Pro US Afghan Muhajeen as well as the millions of their Families, Relatives, In Laws, Friends, etc..
The MASSACRED US Ally Pro US Afghan Muhajeen do NOT exist anymore, that is why during this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arxKhJIjIiY&feature=relmfu we (AGAIN NOT YOU) years later had to link up with the Northern Alliance (that also Hated the Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban).
Like you really know from Operation Cyclone. We were conducting Raids on the USSR 40th Army Occupation Munitions Depots. And the Fundamentalist Islamic Republic of Iran since then has been providing CURRENT 21st Century Weapons from the Chinese and Russian Federation to the Fundamentalist Islamic Jihadists Organizations (Fundamentalist Islamic Al Quada, Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban, Fundamentalist Islamic Pakistanis Taliban, Fundamentalist Islamic Army of Pakistan (not the same as the US Ally Pakistanis Military), Haqqini Network, etc.. Since you DO NOT KNOW: AK-47 800m, SVD 1,200m, RPG-7 800m versus M-16 350m, M-4 250m, M-203 250m; this is why we (NOT YOU) use M-25s as individual weapons instead of M-16s/M-4s. Our advantage used to be Night Time Operations, this was Negotiated Away by President Obama's Political Appointees, as well as the FACT that the Fundamentalist Islamic Republic of Iran has been providing CURRENT 21st Century Night Vision Devices from the Chinese and Russian Federation, that is some cases outperform ours (ours being one generation ahead of Standard US Military Conventional Warfare Forces Night Vision Devices). I previously posted those methods being used to defeat US "High Tech" with little or no Tech.
That is because of President Obama's March 2009 Policy, that the US and US Allies Lost the Iraqis Northern and Southern Oil Fields to the Chinese and Russian Federation. All US Politicians criticized President Bush saying that the Iraqis Oil would pay for the US Military Liberation of Iraq for DECADES of Iraqis Oil, and that was the reason to go there. President Obama's March 2009 Policy also resulted in the US and US Allies Loss of the High Tech Mineral Wealth of Afghanistan to the Chinese, the various Overthrows of US Allies Established Governments aka the "Arab Spring", the loss of the Libyan Oil to China that was of Strategic Importance to the US European Allies.
DO YOU KNOW THE NAME (TITLE) OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S MARCH 2009 POLICY? To state how serious this President Obama March 2009 Policy is, shortly after arriving here to Command Afghanistan General McChrystal as Nominated by President Obama, General McChrystal said something that violated President Obama's March 2009 Policy resulting in his receiving a Verbal Reprimand followed by a Letter of Reprimand.
The Results or President Obama's March 2009 Policy, NOT President Obama's Words or Promises to the US Public, resulting in undoing all of our work since the 1980s that many of my peers and many subordinates died to accomplish.
The reason why many of us that had already had been on multiple tours (including our years of consecutive tours) voted for Candidate Obama was because during the Presidential Debates he promised as a Solution to stop the repeated deployments of the 1% of US Citizens of the US Military, he would instate the Selective Service (aka Draft) and or Mandatory Compulsory US Military Service (his April 2009 US Military Defense Budget Cuts of the USAF and USN indicated the "Draftees" would be US Army or USMC "Ground Combat").
When I was young so long ago, I received that letter from the Selective Service before Graduating from High School (early Birthdate). So as one of those "young dumb and full of cum" 18 year olds I ended up at Vietnam, first as Field Artillery, then at age 19 a LRRP/Ranger Patrol Leader calling in Airstrikes at Plei Can (Ho Chi Minh Trail (Super Freeway) to slow down the NVA and VC March to the South so that the rest of the US Military could Retrograde from Vietnam, unlike those that just read History books we were calling in the Airstrikes until AFTER the Fall of Saigon (the really sickening feeling that someone my leave your arses there as expendables instead of risking more assets for exfiltration.).
It was because of the high probability of being Drafted and Sent to Vietnam that my peers of those days Protested, Demonstrated, etc. to end the War at Vietnam. After Vietnam, I stayed in during the start of the Volunteer US Military. Then went into Reserves, College, ROTC, and came back in as a US Military Officer.
So, yes, 100% agree the Selective Service and or Mandatory Compulsory US Military Service as stated by Candidate Obama during the Presidential Debates (youtube.com) "US Military Service is a Civic Duty", "US Citizenship is not an Entitlement" (Earned US Citizenship not just given).
1. If that happens the US Politicians (US Civilian Control Over the US Military) will just start up the Selective Service aka "Draft".
2. You have not Served in the US Military or have not Served in the US Military Recently have you?
a. Ever heard of the Term "Stop Loss".
b. Or the very lame excuse of "Needs of National Security" to Recall us again and again from EARNED Retirement in the Special Category (other than Medical Professionals). And do not use the text book answer "that did not/does not happen", our being here (Afghanistan) as a bunch of "Old People" is proof enough, most of us were supposed to go back on Retirement 03 2012; instead we ended up in another 4 degree F Afghan Winter above 6,000 feet conducting US Military Asymmetric MOUNTAIN Warfare.
c. Those very small fine print things on the US Military Contracts about about Recalls, revoking Retirement(s), Federal Penitentiaries, application of UCMJ on Prior US Military Service Civilians aka "US Military Veterans", etc..
And don't argue with me, go argue with the US Supreme Court that upheld a., b., c. above (you think we WANT to be here, I would rather be a pest spoiling my Grandchildren as revenge on my spoiled kid.).
I told you about that BEFORE. It is President Obama's Political Appointees that can only access the Billions USDs Aid money being spent here.
It was President Karzai that demanded that General McChrystal Investigate why Billions USDs were being spent here and NOTHING was being done nor built, that made President Karzai keep losing support of the Afghan people.
President Obama's Political Appointees then started screaming to the International News Media "Karzai Corrupt", to deflect the Blame and Guilt.
These same President Obama Political Appointees then started to do things to get General McChrystal to stop his Investigations of them. And they Temporarily succeeded, until General Petraeus was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by US Congress.
After becoming the Commander of Afghanistan, General Petraeus was asked by President Karzai to investigate President Obama's Political Appointees (continue General McChrystal's Investigation). General Petraeus completes his Investigations and turns over his Investigation results to President Karzai, without informing President Obama, SOS Clinton, Secretary of Defense Gates, etc. (the bosses of the President Obama Political Appointees that he and General McChrystal Investigated).
President Karzai demands that President Obama's Political Appointees account for every dime of the Billions USDs spent at Afghanistan or get out of his Country. After announcing this, one of President Obama's Political Appointees "strains his heart" at the $1 Billion US Embassy at Pakistan (operating cost of $1 Billion per year, just like the $1 Billion US Embassy Iraq, aka Disneyland Resort and Spa) and dies on the operating table. The other President Obama Political Appointee tenders his Letter of Resignation to President Obama.
The US Department of State hushes all of the above up, using their Diplomatic power over News Media. President Obama appoints new Politicial Appointees to Afghanistan and Pakistan. President Obama makes a Deal with General Petraeus, like he did with General McChrystal and General McKiernan (retire as Four Star Generals instead of Three Star Generals to get their Letters of Resignation). General Petraeus get the best President Obama Deal due to his knowledge of the Investigation requested by President Karzai, and the SR (Special Reconassiance) Mission turned into a DA (Direct Action) Mission (Raid) at Pakistan, that would destroy President Obama's Political Career. Then Director of the President's Own Executive Intelligence Agency, CIA, Leon Penetta also gets a President Obama Deal due to his knowledge of the Rescue of Captain Phillps and the SR (Special Reconassiance) Mission turned into a DA (Direct Action) Mission (Raid) at Pakistan, that would also destroy President Obama's Political Career.
AGAIN: Instead of denial or questioning the source of the information; just go do your own detailed research and then using basic cognitive skills connect the dots. You doing that and seeing for yourselves is better than me doing it for you.
@ ARMYGUY-3910615....luckily I have higher standards than you and received and honorable discharge as an E-5 from the Corps.
Yes there was sarcasm in my comment but I was also around when the Russians were in Afghanistan and Bin Laden was our ally. I remember when Iraq was also out ally against Iran.
Politicians are too stupid to use our troops correctly. Russia warned us about going into Afghanistan but apparently we were much smarter than they were and things turned out differently....not.
When you grow up you will understand. In the meantime I wish you a long life in hopes that you may someday learn.
Stop giving billions to people who do not deserve it.
Given the context of this story, are you referring to the Department of Defense, the VA, or Afghanistan?
All the above.
justredd by your statement are you saying that the VA should not get funds???
More like Congress and the WH !!
Earlier this week, President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to Afghanistan, where he signed an agreement that spells out a winding down of the war as well as a longtime commitment to staying there.
Why are we committing to staying there in the long term? It is time to leave. This longtime commitment is just us being to prideful to admit that we messed up in Afghanistan.
Cause its all about buying votes - nothing is binding. Its all for show. Come on wake up. This guy does nothing except for things that can further his political career and retain POWER... He must have POWER to feed his ego...
Get Real..maybe you need to get real...like Bush's Mission Accomplished was not buying votes...What about up and down terror levels (gee what friggin color is it today)....and "War on Terror", "War on Terror", "War on Terror", "War on Terror", "War on Terror", "War on Terror", "War on Terror", "War on Terror", "War on Terror", "War on Terror",...night after night and day after day (especially in 2004). I was still in the Navy then, and we thought it would make a great drinking game if you drank everytime you heard then President Bush say "War on Terror" during a speech, get pretty drunk pretty quick....so I guess only Republican Presidents and VPs are allowed to visit the troops in wartime and be considered "patriotic"..
Buying votes from who? Hardly any Americans even approve of the war.
Who the Hell is going to vote for Obama now after he says we are going to stay TEN MORE years in Rat Hole Afghanistan??? Anybody who votes for this guy is just as Nut's as he is.
Get Real - Kind of like every politician Republican't or Democrap. So which POS are you trying to sell?
Satanik - because it gives us access to the ME (which we don't need)
Trinity - Good comment
Tarzan - Mitt Romney? Really. I don't see the improvement you are trying to sell
trinity1984 Obama has killed Osama according to him and we are still in that sh*(thole Afghanistan. Our troops can't kill the enemy without being shot at first and even then has to ask for permission to do so. I think Bush is another A-Hole but he is not President. Give it up. We have a President in now that is aroguant, POS, and all he cares about is spending our money and to get re-elected. He is no better than any other Political hack. Romney is no better but I really don 't know if this country can take another 4 years of this jackazz. I am no Republican or Democrat but I am a patriotic SOB that believes in our constutition and will defend it to my death.
We are commiting to staying there because that is what our military commanders and our congress have suggested we should do! Nothing like lining the pockets of the war machine and the love of non-taxable combat pay/promotions.
SO FULL OF SH!T. Your USN baloney during those days of the USN Ships and Boat (Submarines) coming into Port for the Family Reunions after each Mission (launching cruise missiles from hundreds of miles away, aircraft from thousands of miles away) displaying banners of "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED", as well as the entire crew getting participation Medals (Campaign Medals); eventhough, they Never even set foot in these Countries. Hot meals, flush toilets, Ships stores (retail), video games, television, someplace to sleep (not in a sleeping bag) without worrying about mortars rockets snipers, etc.
A real f**king insult to the USN Corpsmen, USN SEALs, etc. as "Boots on the Ground".
You too, Kayner agreeing with trinity1984 BALONEY.
WRONG. US Military Commanders NO, US Military that disagrees with President Obama's "Right War" is asked to tender their Letter of Resignation.
US Congress, yes, because they KNOW about the almost hundred million "Fair and Living Wage" US Civilian Jobs of the US Military Defense Industrial Complex. Unlike you descrs-1664846. President Obama and Secretary of Defense, 2012, "A 10% Cut of the US Military Defense Budget will result in a million US Civilians being unemployed".
I'm looking forward to celebrating the end of election season on 5 December, the date the 21st Ammendment was ratified 79 years ago.
Why should American soldiers have to behave like saints compared with soldiers from other countries?
Because we are suppose to be better than that.
I'm assuming you did not even bother to read the article. When our troops commit shameful acts it makes our war efforts even more difficult than they already are. It just pisses the Afghans off and makes some of them turn to extremism. “they may come to symbolize America to the Afghan population. If this becomes the case, our mission is doomed and the lives of our troops at greater risk.” Apparently you don't care that these acts actually put our troops in more danger.
And Sally Lu is the kind of person who would have troops stop shooting during battle if the enemy ran low on ammo. Why? To be nice and fair by giving the enemy troops ammo to use against her troops.
Remember, Sally Luser, If you protect and support your enemy he will know you are a fool. He will grow strong and devise ways to destroy you.
Haven't you learned yet: good guys finish last
Because the U.S. took a role on itself as a Global Force for Good. Look at the slogans that are used by Navy. That is the exact wording of their motto. As a "Global Force", the soldiers are taken to a higher level of regard and discipline. You cannot just urinate on corpses and think you can get away with it, plain idiotic. One of the two things should happen: U.S. stops proclaiming itself as a Global Force or make sure all the idiots get punished for embarrassing the rest of honorable military people.
At least, the US is trying to help Afghans monetarily, unlike the USSR, that came in there, raped the nation and only left scattered military vehicles. So, when they criticize the US about being the aggressor, they need to look at their past first and STFU.
The Law of Armed Conflict is designed to make post-war reconciliation easier by limiting military force to legitimate targets and by treating noncombatants humanely. It includes articles from the Geneva Conventions. Violating these rules is not only counterproductive, it is also punishable under the UCMJ.
We aren't being nice to them because we're the good guys. We're doing it because it's the most effective way to accomplish the mission.
Maybe we should send Miss Manners to Afghanistan to teach our soldiers more manners. Panetta and the rest of those @#$%#$!@$% are sitting in their Plush offices eating Caviar and drinking expensive wine and our troops are fighting a Losing war in a desert and sleeping with Sand Spiders. And our troops should watch their manners?????
Discipline problem in the military services seems to be just more of the systemic poor management atmosphere and attitudes that permeate this Administration. Lack of leadership skills, knowledge and experience of the kind not acquired in community organizing and collecting voter names from tombstones.
we can look for more of the same. the conflict is no longer perceived by americans as having a just cause. i wonder how many americans agree with our military presence in this country. the only real change that will have a positive effect for afghanistan is economic stability. as long as the people of afghanistan have an economy based on growing poppies for U.S. consumption nothing will change.
Another article meant to demean and vilify our troops .......Again a few bad apples as Mr. Panetta stated. The grandstanding that the President displayed last week means nothing ? There are a lot of good people out there doing good things for the Afghan people.....but we will never here of it. Thank you MSNBC for pointing only the negative once again .....you should be proud of yourselves.
Well as a NCO most of them are kids just out of high school and it'll take some time for them to grow up. Their NCO's should have made sure that they are not acting foolish. In saying that we can't be everyplace at once. But we try to just so they can get home. Also your right most of them are good service men and women and only a few are very foolish. You have a good day Sir.
panetta should warn HIS BOSS of misconduct~! Oh wait, it's too late!!!!!! Who the hell takes any of the current administration seriously?????????
Typical bs from the higher ups. Kill them, blow them up, fry their asses with napalm, but don't offend their delicate sensibilities. @!$%#ing idiots. Once you've killed them, you've already committed the ultimate offense, whatever you do after is irrelevant.
Need an explanation, look to Rome. At its height, the military was a regimented, highly trained and equipped, professional force. Fast forward and they were an undisciplined, poorly trained, overly stretched, political organization that served as a means for the nation's most well positioned to rob the empire of its capital.
Combat vet here...
and why did Rome fall? Historians believe one big reason is that there was no work. Slaves were used to do a lot of the work and your regular citizen couldn't get a job. Kinda like what we have here in the U.S.A. today. Everything is made in China (like slave labor) and Americans can't get a job. Not a good sign for the future.
Why in God's name are we still f***ing there?
Obama and Panetta can kiss my ass, but Obama especially. That bastard lied through his teeth back in '07 and '08 about what his administration would be about.
Only person I'll vote for on a ballot is Ron Paul.
Obama can't even mutter the word victory to our troops (campaigning). Panetta doesn't have a clue as our fearless leader.
Our troops are the best in the world and "VICTORY" is at hand!
what world do u live in?
My cousin came home after serving six years over there, and he said that he is seriously glad to be out of that @!$%# hole. He said that there is not many over there who respect their commanders because they know nothing about why they are there, that there is no rhyme or reason to what they do, and every couple days there are groups challenging an order that is so crazy and suicidal, that when they challenge it, the superiors "THEN", look at it again, and then change it....
Every now and then, they go and shoot some sand for practice, but for the most part they are not doing anything but sitting around, or doing some cleaning, or housework crap...! More then a few guys confiscated some AK47's and shot each other in the arms and legs just so they can get shipped out for a while... they call it in as an ambush... get support, and get shipped out a few days later...
There is however, some serious construction on something he said that special, secret contractors work on. They come to the bases every now and then, don't talk to anybody, and stay in specially build tents and kept away from the other troops even though they are American.
He was out one day, on a scouting mission...and his unit strayed off course in their vehicles on a deserted road, and all of a sudden, a couple of black cobras were flying overhead, a couple black tanks, and some black humvees came racing towards them and all the soldiers were dressed in black, with American flags on their arms, and on their vehicles...and they surrounded them, threw down on them and ordered them out of their vehicles.. it was a big cluster f-ck, with everybody aiming their guns at each other... yelling at each other to stand down... and he was like... "WTF is going on here"...!!!
Then some superior guy stepped forward and calmed them down, and got them to stand down...then they were held at gunpoint and disarmed them... while they were questioned about why they were where they were... this lasted for a couple hours, before they were escorted ten miles away, and were told how to get back to base...
The thirty five of them, were disciplined and scolded by their Unit leader about the infraction, and told that they were not to talk about the incident, and that it was to be kept confidential... "or else"... something bad would happen beyond his control...
He said soldiers talk, and some know something, and some don't ... but the U.S Government is doing something there, and they don't want anybody to know about it... C130 Transports come in empty and leave loaded, and fuel at bases on their way out of the country... some soldiers have said that they have seen the cargo leaving, and they swore that they seen bails of opium on pallets in one plane... and the guards threatened to shoot them and take their bodies on the plane and throw them out over the ocean if they said anything about what they see, if they see anything...
Don't worry... there is a reason why this contract to stay until 2024 was signed.... there isn't much of a war effort going on... it's something else, and the government knows about it... is behind it, and the ..."War" title appears to be a smoke screen....!
LOL! 6 years? Which branch was he in? That's some crazy BS there, AC......... LOL!
The American military industrial complex has become out of control killers marching across the globe. and let us not forget about NATO and the UN or (death squads). I feel horrible for our soldiers who are serving under this leadership. HOW MUCH FU U C KING WAR DO U PEOPLE WANT??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
This is not American. One more thing our homeland is being invaded buy this war machine as well. TSA, DHS, FEMA, ICE, HSI, military on OUR streets (ILLEGAL!!!!!!!) ect ect ect ect. The cops aren't good enough anymore? It's time to say NO MORE TYRANNY, NO MORE SOCIALISM. NO MORE OBAMA, NO MORE BIG BANKS.
RON PAUL will fight for our rights as AMERICANS.
Thrill22 you are an idiot, but I am sure you have already figured that out. Without a strong military we are nothing. Fear is the great equalizer, and believe me foreign countries fear us.
The problem is we need military people in high places. No one should be able to run for president without a military background. No one should be able to be Sec. of Defense that is not a military person.
As far as Ron Paul goes, this guy is a bigger idiot than you are. His plan is no plan turn the other cheek while someone sends a bomb up your a s s.
Good Grief, thrill!............... Howdidwegetthere is right!
As stated in this article, it is only a very small percentage of troops that actually participate in wrong behavior!!! We should be proud of these young men and women who are willing to lay down their lives for our great country!!!! I seriouly think the problem is that this soldiers have been on way to many tours of duty and the stress is really getting to them. I just wish we could bring them all home tomorrow!!!!!!! God Bless Our Troops!
Good Job Omega ....
thank you omega
Omega:
From a 22 year vet, yours is one intelligent, perceptive comment. Well done!
I want my brother and cousin home from the War like now 8( I miss them and hope they are safe in that @!$%# hole.
What ever happened to the policy instituted a couple of years ago whereby our soldiers had to say " ready or not hear I come " before they fired their weapons at people ??
This needs to be enforced.
What are you talking about?
I'm a two tour serving vet and lots of things have added up to this. I'm sure that there have been atrocities in the past, but it does seem like there are more now. Maybe that it due to the fact that everyone has a camera and facebook now. However, my thoughts are simple on the matter. The Army at least is not as 'emotionally' challenging as it use to be. Furthermore, for quite some time during this recent war, standards were laxed to let just about anyone in. For example, low ASVAB scores and ignoring arrest records, but recently the Army has tightened those requirements back up. The other thing is who the Army has to pick from. I've noticed in my near two decades of being with the military that 'kids' today don't have a lot of coping skills. In fact, when I went through basic almost everyone in my platoon had lost a family member or friend of some sort. On the other hand, to a lot of the new soldiers death is something new to them with few or no family and friends lost. Granted that is not a bad thing, but when dealing with a profession where death is a possibility even in training it helps to be a little mentally tough. That and there is no reset button in life like with PS3 and not everyone wins and gets a trophy. One key thing I believe is that NCO's (sergeants) are not enforcing the standard. This may be because their command climate (officers) do not back their NCO's or the NCO's were just not mentored correctly. One final thought is just that of our own social climate has changed. I remember an article from Life Magazine (see link below) in WWII that showed a woman who received a Japanese skull from her boyfriend in the Pacific (he was an Officer). Although letters that came into the magazine company showed contempt for the action it still got front page news. Could you imagine society's reaction if something like that occurring today? The most influential thing is that of multiple deployments. Many of our soldiers in the recent war spent more time in a combat zone than they did in garrison. Combat, plus the emotional toll of being away from family and friends takes it's toll.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_mutilation_of_Japanese_war_dead
JohnDoe, Thank you for your service.
Instead of the SECDEF waring our warriors, who are doing everything they can to stay alive from the afgan troops that are killing our men, SECDEF needs to find the guts to put obama and that jackass irangian in their place and praise our brave men and women. This is typically how a civilian with no military knowledge badly handles these situations. Panetta is a pin head and he just needs to resign and find someone to replace him that is military friendly and understands war.
Yes, our "brave men and women" who murder civilians and incite more enemy recruitment by abusing the corpses of the enemy. Real admirable, that. One heck of a "warrior" ethic. That kind of behavior is NOT making us safer.
blooper23 - do some time over there and you just might understand why they pissed on the bodies, not that i am saying it was right but i understand and i know where they come from...and just for the record their recruitment was and is doing just fine well before we did any of these acts......another point how many bodies were desecrated prior to 9/11?
I say .....
it's time to start investigating Holder 'n his boss the liar in chief
Why is Obama committing the U.S. to have a presence over there for even longer? I thought we were supposed to be getting out of there. In fact, when he was campaigning before he got elected President he said he would already have us out of there by now.
People,,,,,, Obama is a liar. Sorry.
Obama is a good guy.
Quit dumping on him.
Not everyone is cut out to be president.
Obama the narcissist is certainly up for the job and he needs no one else period...not even the citizens of this country...unless you are a minority on the government dole.
Ok troops. Don't shoot unless you have been shot. You are not warriors, you are good relationship people. Only our pilots are allowed to kill innocent people, as long as they get the bad guy, if they don't we can cover it as if they did. We take care of our own. What I mean by that, we take care of our officers. When we say the buck stops here, we're talking about you grunts(foot soldiers). Your job is to walk out in the open and draw fire, so our pilots can bomb that area. Think of it as this, if you get shot. We will give you a purple heart medal.
deb....323.... Your comment makes no sense whatsoever. Use a little intelligent thought before bashing that keyboard!
What the f u c k are you talking about? You make absolutely no sense. Go buy some more glue.
Leon Panetta was a 9th rate Attorney in San Jose California when I lived there. He was a bunggling idot just like the Vice President. He was a fith rate Politician and achived fame like "Tiny Tim". Right time, Right place and a Political "Suck Up". He's a do anything,say anything you want me to politician. I met him twice as a public servant and he was the kind of guy who placed food in a napkin and took it home from parties. Cream floats to the top just as doe S--t. The Bogus of the Bogus with his bogus Foundations.
Jim Stiles
You know Panetta well Jack.
I have been Panetta's worse nightmare come true for 11 years and it is getting worse exponentially by the second now for he and the Monterey and Merced County Good ol Boys.
Treat enemy as an enemy. Treat them exactly as they treat our men - they cut throats of innocent civilians, we do the same to their religious leaders. They disgrace their religion, we use their book for toilet paper. You get what you give, simple as that. If you put the knife to a few of their swamis, bet you ten to one that all of a sudden, they will decide that Islime is really a peaceful religion. As long as they can send dupes to blow themselves up and do the dirty work, they will - put the hurt to the poo-ba's.
Meanwhile, Panetta: go see if the Secret Service can find you a pair of rocks for rent, maybe see if they have brain cells at the same place, grab a few of those while you're at it.
George - you're talking like we should bring our standards down to the level of Afghan tribesman. Have you ever seen wars of vengeance end without the total annihilation of one side or the other, or both?
George is right your wrong. In Vietnam we were winning (I was there) when we lowered ourselfs to their level than went one lower. We started being kinder, gentler and we ended up dying. I've seen torture you would'nt believe, and guess what good guy. There ain't no way in hell I would mess with those guys.
Loony panetta should maybe notify the prez about misconduct" , he's screwing the entire country.... although some people seem to approve of it.
Thing is,,,,not MATTER HOW many troops die in the god forksaken cra p hole(s), the dems will still support obama. They love the blood, guts, gore and mercenery blood money just like the republicans do. I don't care if they pee, pi ss or cr ap all over these 3rd world countries. Panetta can stick his concerns up his you know what. If the troops want to hang em all including the civilians by their toenails that fine with me. Bunch of arab f want me and my religeon dead anyway. .... .......9 11 was 19 hijackers and 12 years trying to find the killer. You want to go over and wave your flag......, well don't ask me to support you with money, my vote or anything else. Our polititions are abunch of low life hippocrates.
it is this mentality is why the world is hostile towards the u.s . stupid.
Panetta is a worthless old recycled retread.
I will also add that Panetta is the biggest two party hypocrite that exists.
Panetta called me directly in 2003 and asked if I could forget about the law firm and judges in Monterey County (his home turf and buddies) fixing real estate trials with attorneys.
Panetta didn't tell me that his son was an attorney at the law firm I caught.
Panetta right now is covering up with the aid of McClatchy Newsappers that I am being falsely prosecuted to retaliate against me for exposing the corruption.
I actually received death threats from a mayor for reporting in my paper the Badger Flats Gazette his arrest for crack cocaine and getting him busted with the FPPC for voting when he had a conflict of interest due to undisclosed loans he received. (Known on the street as bribes).
What has become bizarre to all that are hearing about this through my articles is that no newspaper even outside of Merced County and Monterey County, and out of the vast region of McClatchy Newspapers across the country....has reported a word about it.
They may like it or not, but I did run in the Recall Race on the platform of exposing public corruption.
I came in second to last because my agenda was focused upon exposing the Monterey County good ol boys Panetta is the head....McClatchy et al made sure nothing was written about me.
Panetta called me three days before he announced that he was not going to run in the Recall Race. Panetta did not want me to run in the Recall Race.
If both he and I were in the race it would look really bizarre that since Monterey was so small that I did not get equal interview time when the press was there. It was something that Panetta and the good ol boys could not deal with..
Nine years later my efforts have advanced the public consciousness that citizens cannot trust public officials. Nothing is below this group of unaccounablte thieves.
The fact is what Panetta is doing with McClatchy to me in California is far worse to destroying the credibility of the war efforts.
It is tyranny by our own top official punsihing a citizen for exposing government corruption with the press aiding keeping it concealed.
Secretary of Defense Panetta: The misconduct of the military high command that you lead sir causes one veteran to commit suicide every 80 minutes. Last year 6,500 soldiers committed suicide. You order our all volunteer soldiers to go on MULTIPLE TOURS OF DUTY knowing full well what damage it does to them mentally (PTSD) and yet you have the audacity to rebuke the few soldiers that make mistakes probably in no small part because they are not mentally well. May I suggest that you pick up a rifle and man a post in remote Afghanistan for the balance of your term in office. The blind are leading those in the field who see only to well the trauma of war.