Dishonorably Disarmed: Marines Insulted by Sec. Panetta
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was to address a mixed U.S.-Afghan audience at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan only weeks after six American solders were killed by Afghan soldiers, and days after an American soldier allegedly killed 16 Afghan civilians. That circumstance alone would ensure a tense atmosphere, but the decision to disarm the 200 Marines who planned to hear the secretary should set off further alarm bells.
The Marines were told to take their weapons out of the tent, deposit them in another location, and to return unarmed. Sgt. Maj. Brandon Hall told news outlets that he was acting on orders:
Something has come to light. … I was told to get the weapons out. All I know is I was told to get the weapons out. … Somebody got itchy, that’s all I’ve got to say. Somebody got itchy; we just adjust.
Helmand province Commander Mark Gurganus told the New York Times:
You’ve got one of the most important people in the world in the room.
He denied any link to the alleged murder of the Afghans. On the other hand, Gurganus also said he gave the order because he didn’t want the Afghan soldiers — disarmed as they normally are under such circumstances — treated differently from the Americans:
This is not a big deal.
Oh, yes it is.
When a U.S. cabinet official presents in a war zone, the first concern has to be that enemies of the United States would try to attack such a high-profile target. The current circumstance in which Afghan soldiers have proved to be somewhat less reliable partners than one might hope (to say this gently) is all the more reason to have the Marines armed and ready for an unexpected circumstance — a hidden knife, or someone charging through the door with an AK-47. Disarming the extra layer of security that the Marine audience would provide is foolish. Even more foolish is the general’s politically correct decision to assuage the potential hurt feelings of the disarmed Afghan soldiers by disarming his own.
Unless he’s worried about the Marines, which puts us in scary territory.
The president and the defense secretary have not defended the good name of American troops in the past few weeks. The president apologized to President Karzai for the accidental burning of Korans mutilated by Afghan Muslim militants before the whole story came to light. Karzai responded by demanding punishment under Afghan law and then an investigation. General John Allen, commander of the international force in Afghanistan, apologized to the Afghan government and the “noble Afghan people” even as American soldiers were being killed in what should have been the secure confines of the Afghan Interior Ministry. Karzai didn’t seem to feel the need to apologize, nor did our government seem to feel the need to press him.
On the subject of the American soldier suspected of killing Afghan civilians, Gen. Allen said:
The evidence at this point, both in terms of observations and reports and interviews, leads us to believe that he acted as an individual at this point.
This curiously echoes the words generally associated with “lone wolf” terrorists in the United States. Secretary Panetta opined on the “lone wolf” soldier on the plane to Afghanistan: he might face the death penalty, Panetta said, an egregiously prejudicial remark about a man who hasn’t been charged yet and who had been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury during the last of his three tours in Iraq. The soldier was found fit for duty and sent to Afghanistan, raising serious questions that will have to be part of the investigation. But Secretary Panetta appears already to have determined the outcome: soldier fit for trial, let’s talk about the death penalty.
The series of remarks by administration officials and military commanders, solicitous of Afghans and tin-eared towards the American soldiers who fight, build schools, and learn about Afghan agriculture before they deploy emphasizes the distance between the commander in Chief, his deputies, and the troops.
It is more than tin-eared; it is disrespectful of our troops to think the Marines had to be disarmed before they listened to the secretary of Defense.
As if a room full of Marines would need firearms…
The only conceivable reason for disarming active duty U.S. soldiers in the field, is that somebody senior was worried that one or more of them would murder Panetta then and there. You disarm your enemies, but you NEVER disarm your own troops in the field of battle.
All their excuses are B.S. and bald-faced, shameless, insulting lies. Obama and his people lie like you and I breathe. They lie literally every single day. Small lies as well as big, huge whoppers. Not a single thing they say means jack squat. It is becoming so tiresome.
The fact that Panneta admitted he no longer is representing the USA, but he, Obama, and Gen Dempsey represent the UN and NATO over and above the USA might be the reason he is a bit “jumpy” around American soldiers. For the soldiers to find out they are NO LONGER fighting for America, but are putting their lives on the line for an entity (UN) that Obama has given “authority” to the UN over the USA and the US Military. (emphasis and comments are all mine)
Over his 3 years in office, ever since Obama was Chair for the UN, he and his administration has routinely cited the “Authority” of the United Nations over the US Constitution, the United States of America.
The Pentagon (traitor) Gen. Martin Dempsey & (traitor) POTUS Obama along with the traitor US. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta have been trying to declare a Coup D’etat (takeover by a foreign entity, person, or nation) on our Constitutional government by giving the United Nations “Supreme Authority” over the US.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta gave testimony asserting that the United Nations and NATO have “Supreme Authority” over the actions of the United States military.
During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey brazenly admitted that their authority comes NOT from the U.S. Constitution, but that the United States is subservient to and takes its marching orders from the United Nations and NATO, international bodies over which the American people have no democratic influence.
If their “authority” comes from UN and NATO, then they have NO authority in the USA.
Their treasonous acts and words are on video, and there is no longer any excuse for them to have not been arrested.
The UN and its leftist supporters here have sought to use the American military as its enforcement arm as far back as the Truman administration and the Korean “Police Action”. Its a long a venerated tradition among those who see the U.S. as needing supervision by an anti American, antisemitic elite.
You are absolutely correct…..What I don’t understand is why Liberals go along with this Crap…..It’s all going to come down on their heads as well as the rest of us US Citizens…..Everything that Obama has done in his 4 years as POTUS is designed to place US Citizens at the peril’a and dictations of the United Nations and NATO…..Which by the way are all controlled by the Global Governance Elitist the G6/G7/G8/05/G20 Nations!….Of which the US is used as a Pawn as well as many other Nations!….”When will They ever Learn”?….Peter, Paul and Mary
R U saying that our USA service men and women, cannot evacuate from Afghanistan sans “permission” from UN and Nato?
The author states;
“all the more reason to have the Marines armed and ready for an unexpected circumstance — a hidden knife, or someone charging through the door with an AK-47″
Paneta had his armed body guards, I’m sure. He’s covered if a muslim gets in and goes wild.
It wasnt the “enemy” he was worried about, it was the troops he feared.
Men who, on principal, take up arms and risk their lives, over (guess what!?)principals.
They are the threat to Paneta, not the Taliban.
Liberals hate the military, because they FEAR the military. They fear they cant REALLY be controlled,
because they tend to do WHATS RIGHT, even if it means getting KILLED.
Men. With Iron-clad, Death Defying Principals. Armed.
Its THE biggest threat Liberals have.
So, drop your arms guys, I’m not taking any chances.
IVE GOT MY BODYGAURDS…If the Muslims attack this tent,
and YOURE unable to defend yourselves TOUGH SHIT.
I dont care about you.
Because its all (always) about ME.
running scared are they?
Would this be the way if Obamster was concerned about shoring up the military vote? Maybe Obamateur can copy cat John “I served in Vietnam and Cambodia” Kerry’s excellent “Reporting for Duty” campaign. It worked so well the last time the Dem Bulbs tried it.
What makes you think that obama’s DOD & DOJ will manage to get any ballots to the troops in time for them be returned (properly stamped)and be counted?
Shocking.
Well I’m certain that the marines willingly surrendered their weapons for the opportunity to listen to an inspirational sermon from Panetta. After all, who would pass up such a meaningful occassion? The man is a legend. The troops were obviously in rapture; you can read it on their faces.
But did Defense Secretary Panetta have the … guts.. to tell them that he (declared at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing), along with Gen Dempsey, that his “‘Authority’ comes NOT from the U.S. Constitution, but that the United States is subservient to and takes its marching orders from the United Nations and NATO”? That “the United Nations and NATO have ‘Supreme Authority’ over the actions of the United States military”?
That they were no longer fighting for the US but were now under the command of the UN?
Obama sent a letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner in which he said the military assault was “authorized by the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council in which he boldly asserts the “Authority” of international powers over and above the US Constitution. Panetta, Gen Dempsey, and Obama openly declared that they no longer represent the American people and instead are representatives for a global dictatorship that has usurped the sovereignty of the United States.
Congressman Jones introduced a bill that would subject Panetta & Obama to impeachment.
If their “Authority” comes from UN and NATO, then they have NO authority in the USA.
Their treasonous acts and words are on video, in writing, etc and there is no longer any excuse for them to have not been arrested and prosecuted.
I do not think impeachment is enough, these are treasonous actions by a US President, a Defense Secretary, and a Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Military General and quite possibly a few more.
This seems to be SOP with this administration. They are scared shuckless of the American people, especially military types. Why else are they trying to disarm the entire country?
I think of George Washington at Valley Forge, with his troops, Eisenhower mingling with the 82nd Airborne, just before D-Day. Both leaders knew that many of their men would be KIA within hours. Neither felt the need to take the prime means of staying alive out of the hands of their warriors.
It is true that the SecDef is a bigger target, but his flesh is no more valuable than the lowest rookie. His body, and our nation’s survival, rests on the loyalty and skill of the Americans he met. If he can not trust them, we are lost.
The officer who gave this command should go on patrol, unarmed, by himself, outside the wire. This type of thinking is the reason America can no longer win her wars.
People who risk their lives for me, deserve better leaders.
To top it off, Karzai wants all US troops to remain inside the wire. It is time to go, and hang Karzai out to dry.
Our president is too cowardly to fight to really win…or get the hell out before the election. Moral is getting real low over there; who wants to be the next; or last for that matter, to die in Afcrapistan. More troops will be refusing missions and looking for creative ways out of theatre. I would if I were there because we aren’t fighting FOR anything anymore.
Is there a politician in our country, or general, that would firebomb Tehran? I think you get the point!!
Blotto, “BS. This for a man who tried, convicted and sentenced to death this soldier is a piece of trash in my eyes. So quick was the Sec’t to denounce this soldier yet NOBODY denounced Hasan and even more distrubing was the immediate defense by General Casey, OZero, and Panetta himself regarding the assasination of our soldiers at Ft. Hood.”
I believe it all has to do with who they now (or “actually” instead of “now”?) represent, and it no longer is the US, nor do they have our military’s best interests in mind. I believe that they are keeping the military out of the US to limit the possibility of limiting defense here at home from those destroying our nation and putting our sovereignty under foreign powers, and away from the destruction of our nation that is going on here. (My personal opinion for which I may be indefinitely detained)
They (Obama, Panetta, Dempsey) feel confident enough here to announce that they represent the UN and NOT the USA. That our military fights under UN orders, not in the interests nor defense of the USA.
Over his 3 plus years in office, since Obama was Chair for the UN, he and his administration has routinely cited the “Authority” of the United Nations over the US Constitution, the United States of America.
The Pentagon Gen. Martin Dempsey & POTUS Obama along with US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta have been trying to declare a Coup D’etat (takeover by a foreign entity, person, or nation) on our Constitutional government by giving the United Nations “Supreme Authority” over the US.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta gave testimony asserting that the United Nations and NATO have “Supreme Authority” over the actions of the United States military.
At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey brazenly admitted that their “Authority” comes NOT from the U.S. Constitution, but that the United States is “subservient to and takes its marching orders from” the United Nations and NATO.
Obama sent a letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner in which he said the military assault was “authorized by the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council in which he also boldly asserts the “Authority” of international powers over and above the US Constitution.
Panetta, Gen Dempsey, and Obama openly declared that they no longer represent the American people and instead are representatives for a global dictatorship that has usurped the sovereignty of the United States.
If their “authority” comes from UN and NATO, then they have NO authority in the USA. Their treasonous acts and words are on video,in writing, and there is no longer any excuse for them to be arrested and held for prosecution.
A senior moment. There is a famous photo of Ike mixing with the 101 st paratroopers, hours before they went into combat(not the 82nd Airborne). He had been advised that some 80% would become causalities of the battle. By war’s end, the division suffered 90% total casualties (based on the authorized strength of the division) over 7,500 men.
My apologizes to the toughest outfit in the war.
Which was the……..
He was probably talking to Obama about fracking and got it confused with fragging.
Imagine, taking away the guns of those who would dive on a grenade to save you! Disrespectful lowlife.
This seems typical for these Democratic Administrations, who like to diminish the Honor of our Men in Uniform, Think Clinton WH, Servers for Snacks,the disdain these people have for our Military is utterly Shameful and disgusting!
They are afraid of Honorable Men, they have none..If they Can”t trust the Marines we are done as a Nation of Free Men…
The General is a combat soldier (Anbar, 2005, so I’ve read.)
The Secretary of Defense is a career bureaucrat.
I cannot visualize the General coming up with this idea, unless he’d had actionable intel that a threat was afoot.
Unfortunately, I can visualize the Secretary (or his boss) as having no balls.
The oath requires a soldier to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. No wonder Panetta is getting nervous. But of course, it’s the same oath he was required to take to serve in the Congress and again as SecDef. Might he have foresworn himself?
wGraves
If by “forsworn” you mean admittedly no longer represent the USA, and go completely against the Oath(s) he took, Yes, he has.
Panetta is “one of the most important people in the world”? The lowest ranking Marine in that tent was more important than Panetta.
You are so right on.
Robb- US Army Retired
Panetta is only the most important person on earth…Only in his warped little mind….If a General made this order, you can be sure as hell certain that it came from that spineless sec of def…..What in the world is going thur the minds of these sicko`s….Cowards, chicken hearted, scum, bottom feeders of politics….The least important person there was Panitta, Then on to the Fighting Man….I would not trade one buck private, E1, for half of wash. DC…and that includes 0zamb0 and his entire Adm…..Spineless trash
Y’know… I hate to tell y’all this, but this sort of thing has been going on for years, now. They did it in Saudi Arabia before Desert Storm, and they did it in Iraq for both Bushes. It’s a routine thing, whenever a really high-ranking VIP visits, especially one that has Secret Service protection.
I served 25 years on active duty as an enlisted combat arms Soldier, so I do have a bit of perspective on the issue. I don’t have direct experience of it, but I’m pretty sure we were doing the exact same thing back in the Cold War. I know I’ve read about troops being disarmed during visits in Vietnam, and I’m pretty sure I heard stories about the same thing from peers of mine who experienced the joys of taking part in visits during the Reagan years in Germany.
What’s different this time is how much publicity this is getting. I’d like to know why this issue has suddenly “blown up”, and why we’re hearing about it so much. Is this a sign that the media monolith is starting to break down?
Yup, when Nixon visited the First, the immediate troops for the guest photos were clean, spiffy, new jungle fatigues, and disarmed. Those of us who were armed as a ready reaction force were kept far, far, away. If you were not armed on the perimeter, you were disarmed and kept in the hooch. Nothing new.
I respectfully disagree.
The Secretary of the Navy visited our post in al Anbar in 2009 and we had a hangar full of US Marines and US Army Soldiers and we ALL still had our weapons. I’ve NEVER heard of any unit being disarmed due to a VIP visit before this.
Orion
“Always have a plan to kill everybody in the room, should the need arise.”
Hopefully this will inspire Rumsfeld’s staffers to insist on weapons checks should he ever have the gall to speak to a group of GulfWar II combat veterans.
Will this administration take away weapons from the military or the public when they try to take over the country?
Both.
They’ll use the latter on the former if they can get them to do it. But I have more faith in our citizen soldiers.
It’s the TSA and such you have to be careful about. The damn SWATties seem to want to cowboy up on anything that moves.
Vietnam-era USAF-vet apologies to all the current and “former” Leathernecks who have been so rudely, condescendingly and disrespectfully insulted by this weak-kneed, spaghetti-spine, wimpy military-hostile-MISadministraion’s PC gesture towards the gentle, sensitive, easily-bruised feelings of the Afghani troops.
Tough toenails.
If it’s already SOP for the Afhanis, then it’s nothing out of the ordinary. Just another day at the beach.
Typical moral equivalency on display from the Leftards running the zoo in the Emerald City of Odds.
Remember in November!!
“man who hasn’t been charged yet and who had been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury during the last of his three tours in Iraq.”
I don’t know the UCMJ,
but in domestic U.S. law he would not be able to plead an insanity defense.
Because he turned himself in to the authorities immediately after having committed the crime.
That means he knew he had done something, and he even knew it was against the law.
So he hadn’t lost touch with reality.
To plead insanity, the defense counsel has to prove that the defendant either didn’t know what he was doing, or he didn’t know what he did was wrong.
Someone so delusional that he has no idea what he’s doing, doesn’t turn himself in to the authorities right after doing it.
sorry but because he turned himself in doesn’t mean he isn’t mentally impaired. you are not i suspect sufficeintly informed or educated enough to determine such things. you are shooting your personal opinion from the hip is all.
Kirk…my eyes totally skidded over reading your post. Thanks for the perspective.
However, it’s interesting that precedent was never cited as a rationale of “business as usual”, rather a the touchy-feely desire to not make the Afghanis feel too “uncomfortable.”
I think that’s what so many of us are reacting to so strongly.
Thanks for your service!
Marines are, indeed, tough, but, how many unarmed soldiers were killed or injured at Fort Hood by the Islamist Major Nidal? Would Nidal have been stopped sooner if some of them were armed? Knowing that soldiers were armed, would Nidal have not chosen to kill that day?
Similarly, here at home, schools are declared ‘no gun zones’. Where would a killer seeking to kill others en masse go if he desired success? I doubt a convention of police officers would be his first choice. Why?
It also says a lot about Gurganos. He must have somebody watching his back.
BS. This for a man who tried, convicted and sentenced to death this soldier is a piece of trash in my eyes. So quick was the Sec’t to denounce this soldier yet NOBODY denounced Hasan and even more distrubing was the immediate defense by General Casey, OZero, and Panetta himself regarding the assasination of our soldiers at Ft. Hood.
With all due respect to the former warrior who defended this action, tempting the fate of our guys is NOT worth the PC BS rationalization you and the MSM and our DOD came with for this action to leave our guys unprotected. This is the same group who decided our ROEs which have led to many unnecessary deaths.
When will everyone finally get it that this administration and the progressives hate our military and anything they can do to destoy them-like continuing this war in Afcrapistan-is meant to help them destroy America.
blotto USN (SS) ’74-’78
As mentioned before, not bringing in weapons is standard. I’ve been able to meet Rumsfeld (Kuwait 05) and Condi Rice (Afghan 08) and both times was not allowed to bring in my weapon.
I don’t think it matters anymore. I’m no fan of Obama, Panetta, or any of their cronies, but in this case they didn’t do anything wrong. Unfortunately, the “dishonored Marines” version of the event fits the anti-Obama narrative so well that many people will believe it rather than the truth. Yeah, I know – the liberals do the same thing all the time. They usually end up looking like partisan idiots. Let’s hope the same doesn’t happen to us.
“I don’t think it matters anymore. I’m no fan of Obama, Panetta, or any of their cronies, but in this case they didn’t do anything wrong. Unfortunately, the “dishonored Marines” version of the event fits the anti-Obama narrative so well that many people will believe it rather than the truth. Yeah, I know – the liberals do the same thing all the time. They usually end up looking like partisan idiots. Let’s hope the same doesn’t happen to us.”
Feeling a little insecure there Bugs? So, again, in order to prove a point, you would put our Marines and soldiers in harms way by disarming them in a war zone? That you trust ANP and AQ to the point that they would NOT attack them at a time like this? And that IT has NEVER been done before-that being our guys murdered by “civilian” or ANP terrorists?
That our ROEs have led to the deaths of too many of our warriors that you think this idea is good-to disarm our warriors because of smuck visits them? If you think that is good policy, then I guess, “They usually end up looking like partisan idiots,” I stand guilty as charged. But of course you on the left have never acted like partisan idiots, right??
Unless they were ordered to, I bet most of those Marines didn’t return the SecDef’s tent. I wouldn’t have.
Par for the course – on U.S. bases, (non-MP) Soldiers and Marines have no access to loaded weapons unless they are at the range. The average civilian has more opportunity to carry and practice with firearms.
I find myself wondering how many times this happened to GWB on his trips to visit troops in the sandbox? Anybody know?
Think of the Marines in Beirut killed in their beds asleep because a gate was being guarded by empty rifles. If told to remove my weapon, I would have not returned for his photo-op. AIRBORNE!
Yes. The old, tough bad boy Ronnie Reagan, Mr. Peace through strength, screwed the Marines by not letting them guard their base and after 241Marines were killed in their sleep, that patriotic old gipper did nothing to avenge their deaths. As a matter of fact, the terrorists stated that, “they tucked their tails and ran like dogs.” Where are the Jesse Helms/General Krulak (Howling Mad) types.
Semper fi
In other words, the total lack of respect has existed for a long time and it continue. Can you imagine George Washington or George Patton asking their men to disarm? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!
This is a very strange matter. Under Islamic law it is illegal to deface a Koran with writing. If it is defaced it is supposed to be burned, as it is no longer holy. That is why the military was burning the korans. The Afghan is want a prisoner in exchange for the release of several Al Queda now – and a single soldier is blamed for burning these korans (under orders yet!). He is immediately airlifted out of the country. It makes me wonder if he is not the prisoner who will be exchanged.
Panetta knows that it is he who is acting in a treasonous way against America. He rightfully fears he will be shot by the people he is actively betraying. Gotta love our Communist prez.
“The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!”
― Eleanor Roosevelt
Mr Panetta and your handlers are a discredit to your nation. I intend to do everything I can to see to that you loose your job on Jan 20th when the socialist-in-chief get tossed out on his ear.
WHAT WAS IT 3-400 MEN SETTING IN THEIR W/O GUNS….HE SHOULD STICK HIS HEAD UP HIS BUTT OR OBAMA’S BUTT AND SMELL THE SH$#. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HE IS SH76.
Liberals just don’t get it. Not long ago a jewelry store in my city was robbed at gunpoint. It had a ‘No Firearms’ sign next to the front door.
My only conclusion is that Liberals are mentally deficient.
Panetta had a vehicle blow up on the Tarmac after landing….so in a completely illogical fashion — a man who feels threatened and feels he may be under attack– has his men disarm— in a war zone– he has our military disarm. Think about that.
Consider Richard Holbrooke and his last words after taking ill in Hillary Clinton’s office….in the hospital, his last words as he grabbed a doc….were ….”get our military out of Afganistan “..and then he died.
They said he has an anortic tear. Thought that was instantaneous …not almost two days later…
Consider…our military is being set up.
Why release information of the burned Korans ???…. To crazy savages…to an obviously untrustworthy alliance with that puke, Karzai…who is damn well aware you’re leaving in August ….and, you’re leaving him to the Taliban….
One can only imagine the release of the information of burning Korans ….was to foment violence
How many more soldiers will they let be picked off, have to watch their buddies legs being blown off, give them that gd yellow purple heart for restraint…after their fourth deployment …before they crack…ten years of this shit with extended deployments…These are our gd children, our fellow Americans….
Well maybe our military thinks their being set up too.
So whether it was wrong to have our military disarm…It was damn well insane if you believe you’re under attack…Panetta showed hand…..making confirmation to what our military men and women already suspected …..
The military was now on to his treasonous gig…
Who will stand with them…Where are our generals…Are there any patriots left in the High Command…did Obama retire anyone not worthy of treason…Where are you guys? Where!
There must, Must! be more we can do to stop these traitorous pieces of shit.
And who the hell released the soldiers name that killed the villagers??? You tell me…How does that happen?
Hope his daughters and wife are under, deep under, security.
And all I can see is my President…working…on his brackets…sitting at a basketball game…enjoying himself …again.
semper forgetus
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