By using neglect, disrespect, complacency and PC Bovine Scatology.... First I hear about medals for "not shooting" and now I read about this... Commanders have ordered a U.S. military unit in Afghanistan to patrol with unloaded weapons, according to a source in Afghanistan. American soldiers in at least one unit have been ordered to conduct patrols without a round chambered in their weapons, an anonymous source stationed at a forward operating base in Afghanistan said in an interview. The source was unsure where the order originated or how many other units were affected. Anyone remember Beirut??? The ROE our troops in Afghanistan follow, commonly known as the “Karzai 12,” are classified. But from what is known, the rules appear similar to those issued to the Marine Corps “peacekeeping” force operating in Lebanon from 1982-1984: 1. When on the post, mobile or foot patrol, keep loaded magazine in weapon, bolt closed, weapon on safe, no round in the chamber. 2. Do not chamber a round unless told to do so by a commissioned officer unless you must act in immediate self-defense where deadly force is authorized. I am working hard to find the "source" that Human Events is talking to/about here, because I want to have a word with him and confirm that this is not some tangent that a disgrunted private called his mom about because he is mad at his First Sergeant for assigning him to K.P. But if it is true, I want to know who gave this order and then I want them to not only justify it those of us who have walked point in the mountains of RC East, but I want them to explain it to the mothers, fathers, wives, husbands and children of these soldiers. I want them to tell the four year old son of a soldier in a war zone how their daddy is safer without the ability to quickly defend himself. Many of us on this blog know for certain that microseconds in a gun fight mean life or death... Reaching up to pull that charging handle and release it is an eternity.... In an ambush situation, just how long does it take to engage a target when your weapon isn't already loaded? “Too long,” states Sandy Daniel, military veteran and deputy director of the Victory Institute. “The first couple of seconds in an ambush are critical, and when that block of time is used to load a weapon instead of firing, you are losing the time you need to stay alive. Patrolling without a chambered round is suicide.” You're Damn Skippy... Even if this is a company level rule, I want to know who gave this order, why they gave it, and whether or not their rating chain approved it. And my feeling is, either we play this game to win, or we don't play at all. I can't imagine Gen. McChrystal or anyone else being OK with this, but I have been wrong in the past. If anyone knows the source, or the particulars of this source (unit, location, etc.) and how to get in touch with their unit PAO or IO person, send it to me. I want to have a word with them.... It will probably not be a friendly one....
Read the complete post at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Blackfive/~3/8vxrA0Tzxp4/how-to-kill-our-soldiers.html
Posted
May 24 2010, 04:15 AM
by
BLACKFIVE