Posted on 11/23/2006 5:55:48 PM PST by samtheman
KARMA, Iraq, Nov. 16 — The sniper team left friendly lines hours ahead of the sun. They were a group of marines walking through the chill, hoping to be in hiding before the mullahs’ predawn call to prayer would urge this city awake.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The military has also tightened rules of engagement as the war has progressed, toughening the requirements before a sniper may shoot an Iraqi. Potential targets must be engaged in a hostile act, or show clear hostile intent.The marines say insurgents know the rules, and now rarely carry weapons in the open. Instead, they pose as civilians and keep their weapons concealed in cars or buildings until just before they need them. Later, when they are done shooting, they put them swiftly out of sight and mingle with civilians.
I'm surprised the Slimes would make this point at all, even deep in an article that was probably buried deep in their paper.
Crap like this is why we were unsuccessful in Vietnam. A bunch of effeminate, crackhead, politicians telling the military how to do their job.
There are no soldiers in the Marine Corps. The army has soldiers.
AlaskaErik
Since Feb 24, 2001
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Life-long conservative. Former United States Marine. I seek the truth and I seek to spread the truth.
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What's a "former marine"?
Amazing how often people call Marines soldiers. You wouldn't call a sailor a soldier would you? Yet Marines are called soldiers every day. Not with malice intended for the most part, I'm sure. But Marines are Marines. Not soldiers. I know. I've been both.
What's a "former marine"? Unindicted Abscam co-conspirator Congressmember John Murtha is a "former Marine", hayna? Or no?
No, he is just a pile of Sh*T
It's the NY Slimes, they even call USAF ground personnel and SeaBees "soldiers".
You're right. My mistake.
A bunch of effeminate, crackhead, politicians telling the military how to do their job.And prosecuting them when they don't toe the line.
I wonder if sniper teams would be more effectively employed along the Iraqi border with Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iran.
I think snipers are the best. If I were a young guy in the service, that's what I would like to do.
Murtha's an ex-marine.
The training makes what goes on at MCRD seem like a picnic. There's a very high wash out rate and most of that is not because of poor shooting skills. Marines are excellent marksmen. The hard part is in learning field craft.
Lying motionless for hours on end doing nothing but watching for movement or the slightest out of place detail isn't something most people can do at all, let alone do well.
Lot's of guys wash out because they can't draw well enough. Imagine being sent out with just one other guy and being told to find a place to hide for a couple of days without being discovered by enemy patrols.
You not only have to get in and remain without being discovered, but you have to accurately draw, identify, and remember things down to the smallest detail. Then you have to get back out without being discovered.
Most of the time you never fire a shot.
It's a tedious, difficult, dangerous, and demanding job.
Semper Fi.
L
Crap like this is whay all four of my boys were encouraged to not join the military. To win a war it must be total destruction of the enemy and its support network. Here we are fighting tribal families and to win we must destroy or put the fear of destruction in all members.
I would not be able to control myself if one of my boys died because the "rules of engagement" were designed to make us look civil. In other words designed to protect those wanting to kill all of us.
A former Marine is someone who once served honorably as a United States Marine. Not to be confused with an ex-Marine, such as John Murtha, who has disgraced the Corps.
It sounds like you have done it.
Your story would make an interesting book.
I'd buy it.
Political correctness has killed more American soldiers than any of our recent enemies. When Russian merchant marines were shooting down our American fliers over Haiphong harbor, our pilots were not allowed to shoot back.
Anytime we go to war, the first act should be to jail all the politicians. It would do a lot to help keep our casualties down.
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