Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

[Guy Montag]

Somebody explain this one.

"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.”

Somebody got Itchy

 

[-Nick-]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

Holy shit... nothing like the Defense Secretary stating that he's obviously scared of the forces under his command without actually saying it outright. Idiot...

 

[JB5812]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

Don't assume anything just yet. There is good reasoning as to why this happened.

 

[XTR]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: savage110FPshoot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Don't assume anything just yet ... </div></div>

Aww come on, this is the interweb, where is the fun in that?

 

[CE1371]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

We didn't have to disarm when the commandant or sec navy visited in '10

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

the next chapter to this story will be interesting.

 

[Guy Montag]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Broker</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Holy shit... nothing like the Defense Secretary stating that he's obviously scared of the forces under his command without actually saying it outright. Idiot... </div></div>

Might have something to do with Panetta's testimony before Sessions last week.

 

[sharac]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

Perhaps he was afraid of some honesty expressed in the form of accelerated 5.56...

 

[JSTARSZ]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

I have spent a considerable portion of my time deployed in my Army career and this is the first time I have seen that happen. At the most we would have weapons with magazines removed but never completely disarmed. It will be interesting to hear the whole story.

 

[Immorteq]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

This is so funny on so many levels.

 

[JB5812]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

lol you guys need to relax. There IS more to this story and if I'm not offended as a Marine, then obviously it's not quite what you think. I'm sure it will come out very soon.a

Something did actually happen there.

 

[theriddler]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

Im actually on the base where he visited. There was other stuff going on here before he arrived.

Lets just say theres hightened security all over camp.

 

[-Nick-]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: savage110FPshoot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">lol you guys need to relax. There IS more to this story and if I'm not offended as a Marine, then obviously it's not quite what you think. I'm sure it will come out very soon.a

Something did actually happen there. </div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Semmens</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Im actually on the base where he visited. There was other stuff going on here before he arrived.

Lets just say theres hightened security all over camp. </div></div>

I'm trying to see how our own personnel could be seen as a viable threat enough to disarm... Obviously you guys are privy to intel that we are not, so I'll take your word for it and retract...

 

[daybreak1199]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

KABUL, Afghanistan — "A tense visit to Afghanistan by Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta got off to an unscripted start when a stolen truck sped onto a runway ramp at the British military airfield as his plane was landing. Mr. Panetta was unhurt, but Pentagon officials said the Afghan driver emerged from the vehicle in flames."

"No explosives were found on the Afghan national or in the truck, the officials said, and the Pentagon was so far not considering the episode an attack on Mr. Panetta. But it reinforced the lack of security in Afghanistan at the start of his visit, the first by a senior member of the Obama administration since an American soldier reportedly killed 16 Afghan civilians, mostly children and women, in Kandahar Province in southern Afghanistan."

"In a sign of the nervousness surrounding the visit, Marines and other troops among the 200 people gathered in a tent at Camp Leatherneck to hear Mr. Panetta 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 were not armed to begin with, as is typical.

Later, American officials said that the top commander in Helmand, Maj. Gen. Mark Gurganus, had decided on Tuesday that no one would be armed while Mr. Panetta spoke to them, but the word did not reach those in charge in the tent until shortly before Mr. Panetta was due to arrive.

<span style="color: #FF0000">General Gurganus told reporters later that he wanted a consistent policy for everyone in the tent.</span> “You’ve got one of the most important people in the world in the room,” he said. He insisted that his decision had nothing to do with the shooting on Sunday. “This is not a big deal,” he said. "

Sounds like a lot of PC bullshit and a major lack in security awareness. I would start with the leadership, and the lack of support we are giving to or Men and Women. Asking them to do more with less each and every day.

 

[Chris@InterstateGuns]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

I would have walked out the tent and kept walking. Mostly because I wouldn't have wanted to be gear guard

 

[theriddler]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

Funny.. He didnt land in a plane.. hmmmm. The burning retard in the truck did lockdown our base though.

 

[akmike]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

So they're nervous about the security due to the incident on the runway but they take weapons away from the Marines???? I would think they would want to have the Marines armed if there was a security issue?

 

[theriddler]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

There is armed guards everywhere. They put the base on lockdown after that incident. Noone comes in our out.. No chow halls, no showering, no going anywhere

 

[Guy Montag]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Semmens</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Funny.. He didnt land in a plane.. hmmmm. </div></div>

WTF??

You wouldn't know it by reading the headlines.

Thanks for the post Semmens, and for your service.

 

[Bushmaster7]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

IMFO it is piss poor when our own servicement and women have to be disarmed for the visit of a high level government official. I don't care what party is involved; if we can't trust our military then the game is over period. If these officials are that afraid of their lives then stay the shit out of a war zone.

 

[theriddler]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

The reason i know he didnt land in a plane was because i was trying to get back to my bullpen which is right next tot he VIP helicopter landing zone and they had like 3 blocks cordond off.. Practicly had to bed and plead to be able to go back to work.

 

[Guy Montag]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

That's amazing Semmens, EVERY news report depicts Panetta on a plane, and a bomber rolling up on the runway as he was landing!!

Thanks for your candor.

 

[theriddler]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

Media is a bunch of bullshit.. And there was no bomb.. just an idiot on fire in a stolen truck who had no idea who was coming in and at what time..

So many planes fly in and out all day theres no way to know for sure. And i cannot say he didnt land in a plane at some point.. but would be retarded to land in a plane than fly 3 ospreys half a mile to land again in the VIP lot

 

[Mustafa]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

Ospreys are planes.
The Marines were not apparently disarmed to protect SecDef, they were disarmed because the Afghans were disarmed and the general didn't want to have the Afghans treated different than the Americans.

 

[Guy Montag]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mustafa</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ospreys are planes.</div></div>

Does that look like an Osprey?

 

[Ghogs Nightmare]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

OSPREY:

 

[Mustafa]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

Someone refered to Osprey's landing. I assumed that was in reference to the ride.
And no. That doesn't look like an Osprey. In fact it looks exactly like a C-17.

Ah, here it is.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Semmens</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> And i cannot say he didnt land in a plane at some point.. but would be retarded to land in a plane than fly 3 ospreys half a mile to land again in the VIP lot</div></div>

I understood that as he arrived in a formation of 3 Ospreys.

 

[theriddler]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

He must of landed somewhere than hopped on an osprey.

Sorry for my miss information. He was landing in an osprey when I was out and about.

 

[dbsinh2o]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mustafa</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ospreys are planes.
The Marines were not apparently disarmed to protect SecDef, they were disarmed because the Afghans were disarmed and the general didn't want to have the Afghans treated different than the Americans. </div></div>

"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."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnew...tta-speech.html

 

[Mustafa]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

Yeah they usually remain armed. But now the general has realized that treating the Afghans differently is not good for the relationship, and they aren't about to let the Afghans keep their weapons in there.

 

[KYpatriot]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

This kind of pc crap is more and more prevalent. Our senior military leaders have got to have the guts to say "this is stupid...sir."

I wouldn't have someone working for me that was afraid to say I was about to screw up.

Without the facts its hard to judge but on the face of it sure seems silly, and a poke in the eye to the men.

 

[ArmaHeavy]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

I guess the SecDef shit himself when he learned that Marines were trained to kill. Hence the attempt at trying to remove the bulldog's teeth.

Stupid fucking politicians.

 

[KYpatriot]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mustafa</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yeah they usually remain armed. But now the general has realized that treating the Afghans differently is not good for the relationship, and they aren't about to let the Afghans keep their weapons in there.
</div></div>

As usual, they shit their pants and we gotta wear diapers.

 

[JB5812]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

There is still an extremely important detail being left out that I wish was mentioned by the media (go figure). The fact that it is being kept quiet is why I don't want to say what it is.

Over-reaction... probably. But considering the circumstances with the individual specifically, they had to.

 

[ArmaHeavy]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: savage110FPshoot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There is still an extremely important detail being left out that I wish was mentioned by the media (go figure). The fact that it is being kept quiet is why I don't want to say what it is.

Over-reaction... probably. But considering the circumstances with the individual specifically, they had to. </div></div>

Inquiring minds want to know this scuttlebutt.

 

[theriddler]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

Where you at in afghanistan savage? LNK?

 

[JB5812]

Re: Combat Zone Marines disarmed for Panetta Visit

I'll PM you. Not really EVERYONE's conversation