From a Recon Marine in Afghanistan

blog ^

[ErnBatavia]

(50 years ago today, I started boot camp at Parris Island Platoon 102)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1673149/posts?page=16

[RummyChick]

If you go to youtube and watch some of the Viper videos..it will give you an idea of what these guys go through.

The villages are empty of men (except very old or very young) because they join up to fight..

the soldiers hand out things to the villagers trying to win the hearts and minds.....it is a good idea....does it work?
I doubt it.

And like Vietnam..they use women and children to help in their fight.

In one broadcast the soldier talks about how he just saw a woman scurry away talking in radio..and he figured they were just about to get attacked..and they did.

In my heart, I do not believe it is a war we can win.

But what is the alternative?

And sadly, even if villagers wanted to help..they are threatened by the Taliban.

Soldiers post on anysolder about how these families are so poor ,live in mud huts with no doors, have no shoes, no way to protect themselves during the winter..nothing even to make fire except feces..which doesnt last long...

It is a very bad situation...for everyone.

I box up clothes, and toys, and treats to give to these people....hoping it will help the soldiers in some way..even if it is just once...and hope that the person who gets my things doesn’t end up killing them.

[philled]

This is an inhospitable, rock pit shit hole ruled by eleventh century warring tribes.

I think he's trying to make the place sound better than it is. I don't know that the tribes have made it into the eleventh century yet...

[Desron13]

Bookmark

[Red Reign]

'Nuff Said

[madamemayhem]

thank you for your service sir and welcome home.

[Retired COB]

thank you for your service sir and welcome home.

And I salute you for your service. I sincerely hope that the Democrats don't defund your war effort like they did mine....I worry about that. If we don't kill them over there, they're going to be coming over here after us eventually.

I have a nephew who is a 1st Lt in the First Mountain Division in country now. He's a level headed kid, and he knows exactly why he's over there. I have another nephew that was wounded in Iraq (sniper fire - shot through the left forearm). He just reenlisted and is ready to go back. I'm so proud of these guys that I find it hard to put into words.

[amom]

wow

[M Kehoe]

Good evening. A good post if true or not true.

Given that I've been a grunt in the ME (long time ago), the story rings true to me.

[Sidebar: the only way to "catch" bin Laden is to find some gooey red mist on a cave wall (if you can tunnel into the cave), and give the FBI something to test for DNA].

5.56mm

[culpeper]

Huns is a good description but I think the Huns were better organized.

[Summer98]

I have said it before and I will say it again. The only reason that we can’t find Bin Laden is because he is sitting on a ranch in Texas. Its well known that his family owns property there.

As to this posting, It is so true. You can’t logically argue with that logic. Without guns we would not be were we are today and well the Indians would of over ran us with their bows and arrows when we first got here if we didn’t have muskets to scare them off.