"THIS IS ONE REASON WE AREN'T WINNING THE WAR ON TERROR"
BY: DR. FOREST LEWIS
An entire U.S. Marine Unit has been ordered to leave Afghanistan after the Leathernecks were accused of shooting and killing civilians.
The alleged shootings took place after a suicide bomber driving an explosive rigged minivan, crashed into a convoy of Marines operating in the area of Nangahar province on March 4. The Marines reported that following the explosion, they came under intense small arms fire. The Marines returned fire as they sought to exit the embattled area.
Reports say at least 10 Afghans were killed and another 34 were wounded "By The Marines Gunfire." The Associated Press, no friend of the U.S. military, reported wounded Afgans told the A-P that the Marines indiscriminately fired on civilian cars and pedestrians as they, the Marines, fled the area.
Meantime, U.S. military officials say that "Militant Gunmen" shot at the Marines, "And May Have Caused Some Of The Civilian Casualties." "May Have Caused Some Of The Casualties?" Come on guys, give me a break. Our men get caught in an ambush: and they do what they are trained to do, however, the politicians who have micro-managed this war from the very start, punish our brave Marines. This nonsense has to stop--otherwise, what the hell are we doing in Afghanistan or Iraq for that matter? Face it, this is one of the main reasons we aren't winning the war against the IslamoFascists. We have to fight this "Neat, Clean War," while the IslamoFascists murder at will: and the world is "Silent" over their overt barbarism.
Meantime, we have fat-butt bureaucrats in D.C. making up ridiculous rules of engagement. And our men and women are supposed to follow this craziness to the letter. But, where are the rules of engagement for the IslamoFascists?
The Marines were ordered out of Afghanistan by Army Major-General Francis G. Kearney III. General Kearney is the head of Special operations Command Central. Not only did he order the Marines to leave Afghanistan, he is the one who reportedly started the investigation.
When will these pencil pushers learn that we are engaged in a guerrilla war? And when will they stop tying the hands of our brave Marines and Soldiers?
I will tell you, as a former Marine, I have a problem with an Army officer commanding Marines. These folks will never understand the mind-set of a Marine. They will never understand the thinking of a Marine, because they haven't had to go through hell to earn the title of "United States Marine."
Marine Major, Cliff Gilmore confirmed that the 120 man unit had been ordered out of the country. However, he said because of security reasons, he could not divulge where the Marines were headed.
Aghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the shootings. That's the spirit. Condemn our guys--although all of the facts are not in. Condemn our guys for bringing democracy to your country, Mr. Karzai. The U.S. military is the reason why Karzai is "President Of Afghanistan." Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. Karzai's words will surely mean that some of the Marines heads will roll. Washington will have to do something to make this guy happy. Someone's head will be served up on a platter, make no mistake about it.
Then we have this moron, Lt. Colonel, Lou Leto, a spokesman for Army Major General, Kearney. Leto said of the Marines:
"They created perceptions (that) have really damaged the relationship between the local population and this unit. Therefore, the general felt it was best to move them out of that area"
I wonder if this idiot Leto would have been happier if our guys had withheld their fire--and were subsequently killed, simply because they didn't want to risk shooting civilians? War is nasty. War is hell. In war, we have what is called "Collateral Damage." That's just the way that it is. And there is no escaping that fact.
All of these Monday morning quarterbacks would have caused us to loose World War II. What, with their second guessing our men on the front lines. Think about that for a minute.
The reason why we are losing the war in Iraq is because of people like this Major General Francis H. Kearney III. Our men have to fight the IslamoFascists with one hand behind their back: and an eye on people like Kearney who is ready to say, "Bring In The Guilty Bastard," even before all of the evidence is culled together.
We are a blessed nation to have brave young men and women willing to enlist in an all volunteer military. What they don't need are people like General Kearney breathing down their necks.
Hey general, how about praising our guys instead of looking to wreck their lives?
FRIENDS OF "THE TRUTH"
WWW.CAPITOLHILLCOFFEEHOUSE.COM
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Pardon the delay in responding to your article but I just came across it today and felt that I needed to respond to your baseless accusations and errors.
First, since the Defense Reform Act of 1986, there is no one service that should be commanded exclusively by itself. That's why it's called Joint Warfare and not USMC, Army, Navy or USAF warfare anymore. Get over it. Marines command Soldiers, Seaman and Airmen and the other way around, all the time. Some do it well, others do not. It's not like there never been a poor USMC commander before and trust me, LTG Kearney is far from a poor CDR. In fact, he is one of the best we have, whether you're willing to believe that or not.
Secondly, the Marines in question are part of the USMC Special Operations Command (MARSOC) and as such, they are under the Operational Control of the CDR, Special Operations Command Central (LTG Kearney at the time) similar to the fact that when a USMC MEU comes in to a Geographical Commander's AOR, they are under the OPCON or TACON of the Maritime Component Command (wartime), Fleet ADM (peacetime) or a Joint Task Force Commander (either).
They were in AFG specifically because LTG Kearney wanted to employ the newest US Special Operations Forces capability in combat and not have them employed in some training event or exercise while in his AOR. Had an Army soldier and CDR not made this decision, they would have remained out of the fight and under the control of a sailor (CDR, 5th FLT).
The Marines in question did not just react to an ambush, they continued to fire for several miles down the road following their initial contact. That "return" fire was perceptually indiscriminate, undirected, uncontrolled and displayed a lack of small unit leadership that LTG Kearney felt Marines should have had. Collateral Damage is one thing and if you had been in either OEF or OIF you would know that Collateral Damage in those two wars is decidedly different than in any other conflict/war since Viet Nam (minus Beirut, Bosnia/Kosovo I have been involved in them all). Collateral Damage incidental to an ambush is one thing. Collateral Damage five miles down the road is another.
For that reason and the fact that at the time, US MIL and in particular Special Operations Forces (USMC, SOCCENT and NATO) were receiving significantly negative and unjustified scrutiny for their actions in AFG (particularly NATO and ISAF SOF), LTG Kearney felt it was in the US's and the Marines in question, best interests to not be in AFG any longer and possibly bring the USMC CDR (a Maj), MARSOC and the USMC capabilities into question by non-MIL/CIV agencies. He did it in the best interests of the Marines and instigated the investigation to protect the Marines and Marine leadership (Maj, Capt, Lts, Gunny's etc) and their careers rather than have them left hanging with untold suspicions over their heads. If you'll recall there had been several previousl investigations that basically ended several service members careers before anyone had a chance to legally exonorate them.
He did in fact not wreck their lives he probably saved a great many Marines careers. The Marines returned to the MEU and floated home with the remainder of the MEU. No UCMJ, no letters of reprimand and no further investigations.
I don't believe that a Marine could have handled the situation any better.
How do I know all this you ask. I worked for LTG Kearney during the episode in question and in particular was in the Operations Directorate when this incident occured.
Lastly, you should be grateful that neither the Army or US SOCOM has your attitude towards Joint Warfare. Had LTG Kearney or GEN Brown (CDR, USSOCOM) felt as you do, those Marines would have been with the remainder of the MEU as it floated through the CENTCOM AOR and the most they would have done would be a strategic reserve, conducted exercises on behalf of the 5th Fleet CDR or prepped for some Non Combatant Evacuation OP (NEO) but they would have definitely not been in combat.
Next time you want to attempt to denegrate another Service or cast dispersions on a CDR, get your facts straight and try to be a little less service specific/parochial (althought that is a bit of a misnomer as I don't believe that the USMC is a service but I think you're intelligent enough to get the point).
In my opinion, articles like the one you wrote do as much or more harm than the dispersions you cast towards our nation's military leadership. Your negative and parochial comments do nothing but confirm to all the naysayers and other ilk who are trying to portray OEF, OIF and the War on Terrorism as being lost by the US GOV and MIL.
I doubt you meant it that way but that's they way it is percieved by me and most of the others who are actually out fighting this war.
LTC Michael S. Patten
US Army Special Forces
Comment by Michael S Patten— 2007/12/02 @ 09:14 AM — (Reply)
"THE MARINES IN QUESTION DID NOT JUST REACT TO AN AMBUSH, THEY CONTINUED TO FIRE FOR SEVERAL MILES DOWN THE ROAD FOLLOWING THEIR INITIAL CONTACT. THAT"RETURN" FIRE WAS PERCEPTUALLY INDISCRIMINATE, UNDIRECTED, UNCONTROLLED AND DISPLAYED A LACK OF SMALL UNIT LEADERSHIP THAT LTG KEARNEY FELT MARINES SHOULD HAVE HAD"
you say that General Kearney was trying to protect the careers of the Marines. Judging from your statement, their careers are over. They are guilty right, Colonel? Your words are certainly a searing indictment. My only question is how do you know all of this, since the investigtion is still ongoing? Maybe Congressman Walter Jones who has asked the Pentagon to investigate your General Kearney, should have you brought up to Capitol Hill to testify. You know, say the say things that you wrote to me. It might be a good idea to inform the Congressman of your knowledge of this incident;and the conclusion that you have reached, while working for General Kearney.
You say that the Marines were firing several miles down the road. I appreciate your smugness regarding my intelligence, but who the hell can see "Several Miles? I found it intersting that after Major-General Kearney ordered the Marines to be redeployed, he was awarded a "3rd Star." Coincidence? I don't believe we will ever know. This much I do know, your General has come under fire from other quarters, other than this writer. But maybe these people "don't have their facts rights either, huh Colonel?
You know what I think Colonel? I think there has been a rush to judgment. Consider this, an Army Colonel has ordered payments of reparations to the so called victims families even though the investigation hasn't been completed. Your comments are colored by your close association with General Kearney.
Since you were kind enough to give me some of your sagacious advice, allow me to reciprocate. Get off of your high horse. It is not people like me who are part of the naysayers against the war. How you made this quautum leap is beyond me. You must not watch the news from the mainstream media; or read papers like, The New York Times. You really need to get over yourself. I met people like you during my time in the Marine Corps. Is there a "Full Bird" in your future?
Finally, why not use some of your energy to denounce the real enemies of our fine military.
Dr. Lewis
Comment by Dr. Forest Lewis— 2007/12/02 @ 10:30 AM — (Reply)
Dr. Lewis
Comment by Dr. Forest Lewis— 2007/12/02 @ 12:55 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Ed— 2007/12/02 @ 01:36 PM — (Reply)
Dr. Lewis
Comment by Dr. Forest Lewis— 2007/12/02 @ 02:38 PM — (Reply)