Obama: Ill equipped US Soldiers resort to using Talbian equipment in Afganistan

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/21/debate.transcript/index.html ^

[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.

[BGHater]

In certain circumstances a Captain will lead a ‘platoon’.

Those are limited and specific.

In Aviation, it is not uncommon for a Captain to lead a platoon. However, that is so not a ‘Rifle’ platoon.

[mass55th]

"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."

Where did he get this info from...a Taliban member? Gee, can you imagine that? Our troops are capturing the enemies' weapons? Isn't that what they're supposed to do in a war zone? How, if they are short of ammo and humvees to conduct their activities, were they able to capture all these weapons and ammo from the enemy? It doesn't make sense.

[Soliton]

Platoons can vary in size, but are led by a lieutenant. Captains lead companies. 39 would be the number of junior enlisted men typically 3 squads of 12 and their corporals or seargents. There is usually a platoon seargeant and a commanding Lieutenant.

[roses of sharon]

Ummmmm, it is 11am Eastern, and no response?

This is his area, no?

His only battleground with the Dims?

[NY.SS-Bar9]

3 x 9 = 27 ± 4

[MNJohnnie]

Can this country really be considering someone this naive and ignorant to be the next CIC?

To start with, Army Captains do not command Platoons, Lieutenants do. No platoon is ever going to be split up among multi-able fronts.

If they don’t have adequate supplies and equipment, how are the capturing the Taliban’s equipment?

Looks like Obama Campaign has been taken in by another one of the Anti American movement’s phony soldiers.

Raises seriously disturbing questions about the Democrats. This guy is a US Senator for crying out loud and his staff cannot do a better job of vetting his sources then this?

[Old Sarge]

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.

He probably would have said the same thing to FDR in 1941...

"... going into Europe originally, I didn’t just oppose it for the sake of opposing it. I said this is going to distract us from Japan; 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."

He'd have been in Alcatraz...

[gunservative]

Here's Obama's "Captain":

[Jaded]

Just plagiarizing something from a movie script. Move along.

[catman67]

Seems about right. Fire team = 4 soldiers (2 rifle, 1 grenadier, 1 SAW). 3 fire teams = 1 squad, 3 squads = 1 platoon ( plus support/ command elements).

Lieutenants command platoons, captains command companies

Maybe the captain in question was Jesse Macbeth.

[No Surrender No Retreat]

The soldiers could have used some heavy armor in Somalia, but klintoon was to pre-occupied with interns and his friend “Les “Let Not” Aspin failed to respond to our soldiers needs/lives.

Funny how the marxist dems conveniently forget the debacles klintoon and staff made during 8 years of treason/reign of terror.

I hope (The Mac) jumps on osama and his momma’s chest with both feet.

Obuma would not be allowed to enlist in the Military of a few years back, due to his “Down-N-Low lifestyle on the old enlistment questionarre.

I hope (The Mac) goes on the attack against (dumb&dumber)

Respectfully,
NSNR

[MNJohnnie]

No, a platoon would be commanded by a LT, Capts command companies.

[Travis McGee]

What crap! To thnk that this charming dufus might actually be our next CinC!

[edpc]

Generally, a lieutenant leads the platoon with an NCO as his second in command. A Captain would lead the company with a 1st Sgt as his second in command.

The story is anecdotal and fits his template for Iraq being a distraction. This captain and Harry Reid's friend "Tommy" are probably the same person.

[Godwin1]

In my day, rifle platoon had 44 men, commanded by a lieutenant and a platoon sergeant. Captains commanded companies, with each company having four platoons. But it’s been a long time.....
One thing, I suspect has not changed; I never heard of platoons being canninabalized to the point where have half the men sent to one country and half to another. Yes, platoons were often raided to have men go on special details. But not like this.

[SwankyC]

Usually a Lt but I dont think Capt is unheard of. When I first joined, my arty battery (two full platoons) was commanded by a 1st Lt.

[Right Wing Assault]

I just talked to the same captain and he told me Oprabama is lying. ;-)

[Turborules]

#1 a Captain 03 does not command a Infantry Platoon, he commands a company, (Special Forces a Cpt commands a A Team Detachment of 12-14 men)and in todays Army unit cohesion is very important for moral and fighting strengths that you never have with replacement troops just rounding out a unit...lessons learned from VN

A Platoon is made up of 4-5 squads 9-12 men...you do not break up a company and send to different Areas unless they have critical skills needed for a special mission...this whole Obama thing as commander in chief is worse than the thought of Hillery as CIC

[Trailerpark Badass]

AK’s are much more weather and sand worthty . I’m pretty sure the ammo is interchangable with ours ( 5.62 mm.?)A lot of guys scavenge the enemy’s AK’s because of this very reason .

Uhhh...no.

[Travis McGee]

AK’s are much more weather and sand worthty . I’m pretty sure the ammo is interchangable with ours ( 5.62 mm.?)A lot of guys scavenge the enemy’s AK’s because of this very reason .

Oh boy, are you misinformed! Yes, AKs have an edge in sand worthiness, but M-16s work fine too if kept clean. As far as ammo interchangeability, NO! This is like saying, "I'm pretty sure BMW engines are interchangeable with Toyotas."

But to match up AKs vs M-16s, you must above all compare accuracy. At 100 yards and beyond, there is no comparison at all. A taliban with an AK who is 200 meters away from an American soldier with an M-16 is dead meat. He'll never get close enough to demonstrate the AK's great reliability.