Okay, this is just crazy... ...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... I mean, holy freakin' crap, batman!...this doesn't seem good from a ton of different angles. [And just for some clarity here, a few of the authors here have been armed in the presence of a SecDef before...] Update: It's not because of this. Have lots of info on it.
Read the complete post at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Blackfive/~3/Yzu8FhLQuE4/secdef-dis-arms-marines-during-visit.html
Posted
Mar 14 2012, 02:59 AM
by
BLACKFIVE