But there should have been guards posted with live ammo. Apparently some were nearby because they were able to chase them down and dole out some justice. I'm sure these people knew this would be the best opportunity to take one or two big bad Americans out, when they were training without live ammo.
We all understand the basic fundamentals of the exercise. This particular exercise is being carried out in a foreign country, where many people do not like us, in a time that has terrorists striking nearly at will.
Military thinking is that we have zero ammo, because that is the way it has always been done, regardless of time and circumstances. Just perhaps the military does need some re-thinking. I refuse to believe that our marines could not be trusted to act accordingly as ordered, if given ammo for emergencies. Yet it appears that is the case as stated by others on this thread.
Just a reminder, am I correct in remembering that on the U.S Cole, there was no ammo allowed or am I mistaken????