Posted on 02/22/2008 8:01:39 AM PST by HD1200
OBAMA: You know, I’ve heard from an Army captain who was the head of a rifle platoon — supposed to have 39 men in a rifle platoon. Ended up being sent to Afghanistan with 24 because 15 of those soldiers had been sent to Iraq.
OBAMA: And as a consequence, they didn’t have enough ammunition, they didn’t have enough humvees. They were actually capturing Taliban weapons, because it was easier to get Taliban weapons than it was for them to get properly equipped by our current commander in chief.
OBAMA: Now, that’s a consequence of bad judgment. And you know, the question is, on the critical issues that we face right now, who’s going to show the judgment to lead? And I think that on every critical issue that we’ve seen in foreign policy over the last several years — going into Iraq originally, I didn’t just oppose it for the sake of opposing it. I said this is going to distract us from Afghanistan; this is going to fan the flames of anti-American sentiment; it’s going to cost us billions of dollars and thousands of lives and overstretch our military. And I was right.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Amen brother.....
Indeed, I would think the higher the clearance and/or priority, there could conceivably be a major in command of a platoon.
When did Obama join the 911 Truthers?
under NORMAL circumstances (regular army unit), yes, you are likely correct, however I wont say a Captain would NEVER be in charge of a platoon. At the same time I spoke of, there was a buck seargent in charge of my platoon.
Silly me for asking a question - how, Sir, did the intrepid Army Captain in question capture said Taliban weapons if he was, as you say, not properly equipped for the mission?
And another silly question. When we capture enemy materials - if it is in servicable condition - should we not put said equipment and weaponry into the hands of OUR forces? Just because we re-use captured equipment and weapons does not necessarily mean we have a shortage of our own. Additionally, and I hate to admit it, but I know more than one red blooded Amrican soldier who, given the choice, will carry an AK over the M-16.
Last bit - and maybe times have changed - but as I recall Captains are generally a company grade officer, and platoon commanders are 1LT/2LT. Am I mistaken? I caught this detail and my BS radar went off.
The Madrassa taught Obama at an early age to always lie to infidels.
Assuming this is true, who’s been blocking troop funding?
Democrats...
These were the kinds of guys that sKerry had testify during congressional hearins in the early 1970s.
Thank God for the Internet. You guys exposed this BS for what it is. It shows both Hillary! and O’Bambi for the ignoramuses they are. God help us all.
Halp us Obama Hussein, we’re killing da Taliban hear with their own guns!
My daughter decided at that minute that she would not even consider an offer from that hospital.
Does a 2nd Lieutenant remain a 2nd Lt even on his/her 3rd tour in Iraq? And isn't the Army having recruiting problems?
Could it have been a Captain who was recently promoted telling a war story from a previous tour?
Why haven't we captured bin Laden after 5 YEARS?! Especially when we did find Saddam in the Spider hole early on...(Whoopi Goldberg: 'Git out dat hole, Sad-damn')...
Are we REALLY fighting a war in Iraq or has it become more like a Police Action...door-to-door, keeping the peace-type thing?
Did Ronald Reagan know a lot of detail about military life, tactics, etc.? But didn't we in the military LOVE him as Commander In Chief? Why was that?
Obama was talking here about JUDGMENT...and his point may well resonate among a majority of Americans...
The Military Industrial complex will NEVER want Iraq to end...
Careers at stake!
Profits at stake!
Think about it...
Wow. I knew somebody would latch onto it.
Ummmm Captains, at least in the Marine Corps, don’t lead Platoons...they find themselves as Company Commanders....fine Commander in Chief he would be....wonder if he even knows what the rank insignia for a Captain looks like..bet he thinks it is a gold bar.
ping for later
Sounds very much like the 'up or out' system of the Air Force (which I was in long ago). Thanks for the info...and thanks for your service!
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