What the HELL is wrong with the US Marine Corps?

I could hardly believe my eyes when I read this news from Afghanistan.

Less than a week after a US staff sergeant allegedly massacred 16 civilians in Kandahar, American soldiers were banned from bringing guns into a talk by Mr Panetta at a base in Helmand province.

Around 200 troops who had gathered in a tent at Camp Leatherneck were told "something had come to light" and asked abruptly to file outside and lay down their automatic rifles and 9mm pistols.

"Somebody got itchy, that's all I've got to say. Somebody got itchy – we just adjust," said the sergeant who was told to clear the hall of weapons.

Major General Mark Gurganus later said he gave the order because Afghan troops attending the talk were unarmed and he wanted the policy to be consistent for all.

"You've got one of the most important people in the world in the room," he told the New York Times, insisting that the decision was unrelated to Sunday's killings. "This is not a big deal."

However, US troops often remain armed even when their Afghan colleagues have been asked to lay down their weapons and the incident is believed to be the first time they were stripped of guns during an address by their own secretary of defence.

There's more at the link.

"Not a big deal"???

"NOT A BIG DEAL"???

General Gurganus, you have got to be shitting me. Just who the hell do you think you're fooling? Of course it's a big deal! When you disarm your own troops - particularly in that fashion, when they were already inside the venue - you're implicitly saying that front-line Marine combatants can't be trusted with guns in their hands to hear a speech by the head of the Defense Department. You may as well say, out loud, that you're scared they might shoot him. What other interpretation is possible for such an outrageous order?

Speaking as a combat veteran, if I were one of those Marines, I'd formally protest that order all the way up the chain of command. If those in command over me tried to ignore my protests, or silence me, I'd have no choice but to request to be discharged from service, as their actions would make it clear to me that they didn't trust me. I could do nothing else, in all honor.

This is absolutely sickening! I can only hope that someone at Marine Corps HQ relieves General Gurganus of his command at once, and makes sure that he never again commands combat troops. His order was, and is, a disgrace to the Corps and to his country. If that doesn't happen - if he's allowed to retain his appointment, and gets away with an order like that - I'll be forced to interpret it as a sign that something has gone terribly, perhaps irreparably wrong in the upper ranks of the US Marine Corps. In that case, I hope their subordinates take note . . . before it's too late.

WWCD? What would Chesty do? I think, if he were still alive, and within reach of Gen. Gurganus, the latter might, right about now, be regretting the day he was born . . .





Peter