Posted on 09/16/2009 7:02:22 AM PDT by AngelesCrestHighway
NATO-led forces are investigating the death of four Marines in eastern Afghanistan after their commanders reportedly rejected requests for artillery fire in a battle with insurgents, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. Tuesday's incident was "under investigation" and details remained unclear, press secretary Geoff Morrell told a news conference. A McClatchy newspapers' journalist who witnessed the battle reported that a team of Marine trainers made repeated appeals for air and artillery support after being pinned down by insurgents in the village of Ganjgal in eastern Kunar province. The U.S. troops had to wait more than an hour for attack helicopters to come to their aid and their appeal for artillery fire was rejected, with commanders citing new rules designed to avoid civilian casualties, the report said.
(Excerpt) Read more at military.com ...
They could have been any of our own Brothers, our own Sons, our own Husbands.
Here are their names:
U.S. names dead from Tuesdays Afghan ambush
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/AP/story/1227617.html
KABUL, Afghanistan Navy medical corpsman James Layton, of Riverbank, Calif., had been ministering first aid to wounded Marine Lt. Michael Johnson, of Virginia Beach, Va., when both were killed Tuesday under a volley of insurgent bullets in Afghanistans eastern Kunar province.
If we leave this house, the people in the house in front of us will shoot us, were the last words that Marine Staff Sgt. Aaron Kenefick, of Roswell, Ga., was heard calling into his radio before it went silent. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Edwin W. Johnson, Jr., of Columbus, Ga., died alongside them.
Layton was 22; Michael Johnson, 25; Edwin Johnson, 31; and Kenefick, 30...
Thanks. Heartbreaking.
Yes. It is. But it doesn't need to be. The ROE's can not stand as they are.
What is your point Obama? Give our Military the objectives and backup they need and let them shoot when necessary!
or Fathers...
You’re talking about a man who just betrayed our allies to the Russians and got NOTHING in return.
or Fathers...
I hate Obama. He is our enemy.
He is an enemy of the state and our military.
I wish upon Obama what I would wish upon any other enemy of our country.
“So, you were there on the ground watching and listening in on the decisions made? Please enlighten us with the details.”
To deal with the most contentious aspect of those shaky relations, McChrystal has already committed to try to reduce civilian casualties by issuing new orders that restrict when troops should call in bombing strikes.
The words of the Marines caught in that ambush should be more than enough to satisfy your “thirst” for knowledge, eh?
“This needs to be spread everywhere.”
Some of us HAVE been sending it, and more, everywhere we can think of.
Unfortunately, the main focus always seems to be on the POLITICS of the day. Our TROOPS need for us to keep trying to draw attention to what is happening over there before one more Marine is deployed.
Semper Fi
“I should add that Im not questioning Gen. McChrystals decisions. They may well be right.”
Not in this life. Not EVER. McChrystal has betrayed those under his command.
I’m in transit on the Ping list. Have to take care of some personal biz. Back later on it, no problem.:)
Thanks for all your work on this Kim.
Just wanted to see this back into the spotlight. You guys are doing the hard work.. Thank YOU!
Hey, lefties...
How’s that hopey-changy thing going, now?
You like having your Country systematically disassembled and turned into a Socialist, 3rd world “Nation-State”?
When it gets to be your turn to feel the effects, just remember how wonderful you felt when you pulled the lever for the usurper.
need to circulate this ....press wont cover it.
we should support our people not matter where we are.
I always support our troops. My point is that most of the wars since Vietnam that we have fought have been fought for money.
this looked like a nam situation to me.politics at its most destructive.
Ping.
Sorry if duplicated. Important topic here.
Done!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.