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'We're pinned down:' 4 U.S. Marines die in Afghan ambush
McClatchy ^ | 9/8/2009 | Jonathan S. Landay

Posted on 09/08/2009 8:26:52 PM PDT by Saije

We walked into a trap, a killing zone of relentless gunfire and rocket barrages from Afghan insurgents hidden in the mountainsides and in a fortress-like village where women and children were replenishing their ammunition.

"We will do to you what we did to the Russians," the insurgent's leader boasted over the radio, referring to the failure of Soviet troops to capture Ganjgal during the 1979-89 Soviet occupation.

Dashing from boulder to boulder, diving into trenches and ducking behind stone walls as the insurgents maneuvered to outflank us, we waited more than an hour for U.S. helicopters to arrive, despite earlier assurances that air cover would be five minutes away.

U.S. commanders, citing new rules to avoid civilian casualties, rejected repeated calls to unleash artillery rounds at attackers dug into the slopes and tree lines — despite being told repeatedly that they weren't near the village.

"We are pinned down. We are running low on ammo. We have no air. We've lost today," Marine Maj. Kevin Williams, 37, said through his translator to his Afghan counterpart, responding to the latter's repeated demands for helicopters.

(Excerpt) Read more at mcclatchydc.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; ambush; fallen; marines; nsp; nss; oef
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To: 1035rep

And the wrong General in Afghanistan:

“Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal said in a radio address to Afghans today that “nothing is more important than the safety and protection of the Afghan people.”

http://www.centcom.mil/en/news/mcchrystal-promises-full-accounting-of-kunduz-strike.html

We really need to go to bat for our brave soldiers on this or it’s only going to get worse!

We need to call every member of the SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE and tell them this is unacceptable in no uncertain terms!

http://armed-services.senate.gov/


81 posted on 09/08/2009 10:24:26 PM PDT by penelopesire ("The only CHANGE you will get with the Democrats is the CHANGE left in your pocket")
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To: n2dubes; All

Get a screen shot of this article or it’s going to be scrubbed or edited! I don’t know how to do it or I would.


82 posted on 09/08/2009 10:25:51 PM PDT by penelopesire ("The only CHANGE you will get with the Democrats is the CHANGE left in your pocket")
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To: penelopesire

“We need to call every member of the SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE and tell them this is unacceptable in no uncertain terms!”

I’ll be making those calls in the morning.


83 posted on 09/08/2009 10:26:30 PM PDT by 1035rep (The Second Amendment is in place in case the politicians ignore the others.)
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To: bd476
Prayers are definitely up for the families of those Marines. This might have been an avoidable tradgedy had they had the proper backup and that is infuriating.

I am rather raw right now and thus my blunt speech. I don't know that anything else will reach the current group of hacks running the war under 0, and I have a sick sense many more of these situations will come as the result of their policies.

Having seen the story of the picture of Lt. Cpl. Bernard over the weekend (which should have never had the clearance to be published) I am still disgusted over that.

I met a Marine a couple weeks back who had suffered severe burns over most of his body, the result of an IED attack. He had all the scars to prove it but when I thanked him for his service he responded in the usual way a Marine usually does with a simple “You are welcome, Mam.”

Someone has to speak up for these brave warriors and try to get through the thick wall of B.S. that is currently surrounding the Obama camp.

We owe it to our warriors who will not speak up for themselves. Only serve and do their faithful duty as always. We OWE it to them!

84 posted on 09/08/2009 10:30:28 PM PDT by 444Flyer (Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.-Ferris)
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To: penelopesire
...We really need to go to bat for our brave soldiers on this or it’s only going to get worse!

Without question, Penelopesire!

85 posted on 09/08/2009 10:32:49 PM PDT by 444Flyer (Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.-Ferris)
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To: 1035rep

Me too...printing out this article so I can have the main talking points down when I do too:

“U.S. commanders, citing new rules to avoid civilian casualties, rejected repeated calls to unleash artillery rounds at attackers dug into the slopes and tree lines — despite being told repeatedly that they weren’t near the village.

“We are pinned down. We are running low on ammo. We have no air. We’ve lost today,” Marine Maj. Kevin Williams, 37, said through his translator to his Afghan counterpart, responding to the latter’s repeated demands for helicopters.”

Obama should be shamed for this... loudly and in public!


86 posted on 09/08/2009 10:36:32 PM PDT by penelopesire ("The only CHANGE you will get with the Democrats is the CHANGE left in your pocket")
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To: 444Flyer
444Flyer wrote: "He had all the scars to prove it but when I thanked him for his service he responded in the usual way a Marine usually does with a simple “You are welcome, Mam.”
Prayers day and night for all of our Soldiers.


87 posted on 09/08/2009 10:37:53 PM PDT by bd476
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To: STARWISE

He is destroying our economy and is also trying to have as many American soldiers die as possible. Deliberate...he wants to demoralize our troops as was done with Nam. Will we allow this to happen again......no HELL NO.


88 posted on 09/08/2009 10:40:29 PM PDT by shield (A wise man's heart is at his RIGHT hand;but a fool's heart at his LEFT. Ecc 10:2)
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To: 444Flyer

Just amazing. When you go to the senate Armed Service page and click on Mccain’s picture your directed to a form to fill out with your question. On the form is a ‘subject’ drop down box with a list of subjects-including- Iraq but not including Afghanistan. Such things as Animal Welfare, Global Warming, and PHOTO REQUEST make the list.


89 posted on 09/08/2009 10:42:07 PM PDT by n2dubes
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To: bd476

Amen bd476. Amen to that.


90 posted on 09/08/2009 10:42:52 PM PDT by 444Flyer (May God Bless and protect our boots on the ground!)
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To: celtic gal

He wants the public’s attention diverted to his idiotic healthcare crappola while our men and women are being murdered.


91 posted on 09/08/2009 10:43:35 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8 (I am Jim Thompson............................Please pray for our troops....)
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To: Saoirise

Ping.


92 posted on 09/08/2009 10:44:03 PM PDT by 444Flyer (May God Bless and protect our boots on the ground!)
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To: Saije

A pox upon the house of OBAMA


I stand and salute these Marines....may they find the heavenly gates wide open.


93 posted on 09/08/2009 10:46:55 PM PDT by Halgr (Once a Marine, always a Marine - Semper Fi)
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To: Alamo-Girl

May God welcome them home, and may He provide comfort and peace for their families. May they somehow feel the love of a grateful nation.


94 posted on 09/08/2009 10:47:59 PM PDT by Faith
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To: STARWISE

“OMG .. the sick and twisted rules of
engagement are utter depravity and
unspeakably vile .. and to my core, I’ve
been so afraid of this and hesitant to say
why.”

I have also been afraid of this and have said so repeatedly on this forum. Some of the old timers said I was crazy.
Obama is sacrificing our troops for political expediency and sympathy for the taliban who he wants to “negotiate” with. It is treason.
McChrystal has betrayed the troops he was sent there to command and should be Court Martialled for his malfeasance. This CAN NOT STAND!!!
May GOD bless and protect our Troops from all enemies...foreign AND domestic. The enemy within has sold us out.


95 posted on 09/08/2009 10:54:05 PM PDT by MestaMachine (One if by land, 2 if by sea, 3 if by Air Force 1.)
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Comment #96 Removed by Moderator

To: STARWISE; bd476

Please remember that God is hearing our prayers, he knows our anger and hurt...


97 posted on 09/08/2009 11:04:16 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8 (I am Jim Thompson............................Please pray for our troops....)
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To: Admin Moderator

Comment #96 Removed by Moderator

I hate it when you do that...


98 posted on 09/08/2009 11:06:40 PM PDT by MestaMachine (One if by land, 2 if by sea, 3 if by Air Force 1.)
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To: Saije

This particular method of waging war is unique to Democrat administrations.....
They care not for the loss of our troops.....


99 posted on 09/08/2009 11:12:35 PM PDT by antceecee (Bless us Father.. have m ercy on us and protect us from evil.)
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To: antceecee

o is not waging war. He has surrendered. One dead soldier at a time.
Hell awaits him.


100 posted on 09/08/2009 11:14:58 PM PDT by MestaMachine (One if by land, 2 if by sea, 3 if by Air Force 1.)
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