[pabianice]

"Everybody smile!" shouted the platoon commander as he told his baffled men to kneel down and point their weapons at the ground, in a surreal act of submission.

Too much sensitivity training crap. This man just reached the end of his career path. American servicemen in uniform are expressly forbidden to bow or kneel.

[kms61]

This man just showed good judgement and defused a hostile situation without firing a shot.

Your problem with that is?

[RoseofTexas]

NO, he absolutely did the right thing! The word of God says that we have to be gentle as doves and CUNNING as serpants! This was cunning in my opinion, we'll be back some other day, let them have their precious mosque for now. This wasn't the right time, we have to play our cards right and I totally agree with the commander! WE'LL BE BACK... just you watch!

[LS]

I think it was brilliant.

[discostu]

Fox had the footage on this morning, he saved lives including those of his guys. This wasn't a handful of civilians this was a potential mob and they were EXTREMELY agitated, looked like a riot was starting right then and there, by having his guys back down he difused the situation quickly and without bloodshed. We can setup a perimeter to get the bad guys when they leave and go around the mosque. Much better than pitting a dozen marines against a thousand civilians already in close contact. The guy was very smart.

[PoisedWoman]

I saw it on tv.....the troops were just squatting down facing the crowd, not the shrine. Not kneeling or bowing, just doing a deep-knee bend kind of movement to demonstrate that they were not going into the shrine and had no plans to shoot up anyone or anything. The crowd didn't understand English, but they understood the benign gesture. It was effective, the mob stopped shouting and threatening them. No big deal.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Too much sensitivity training crap. This man just reached the end of his career path. American servicemen in uniform are expressly forbidden to bow or kneel.

Sensitivity training my a$$. This guy defused a bad situation without firing a shot. The didn't bow, they "hit a knee" with their weapons at the ready. If that's against Army policy I know about 2,000 guy's that need to be brought up on charges.

[nanny]

Too much sensitivity training crap. This man just reached the end of his career path. American servicemen in uniform are expressly forbidden to bow or kneel.

Given the current atmosphere in this country from our administration - he will get a medal and a promotion. We must make them 'love' us - we can't deport any muslim illegal - we must be 'tolerant'.

I don't like it - but who am I - just an old dinosaur.

[NittanyLion]

Too much sensitivity training crap. This man just reached the end of his career path. American servicemen in uniform are expressly forbidden to bow or kneel.

The man defused a dangerous situation, without firing a shot, on camera. Had this scene turned into a riot there would've been a serious impact upon our overall goals. I suspect his superior officers praised him for his quick-thinking response.

[Britton J Wingfield]

The common military command is 'take a knee'.

[DudleyDoright]

American servicemen in uniform are expressly forbidden to bow or kneel. Oh really? Care to provide us with a regulatory or policy cite on this? Or do you just want to provide us with your unsubtantiated and unsupported opinion?

[AngryJawa]

Watch the video. The squad "took a knee", bbls down. It was not submissive - just less threatening. They would have easily been able to raise and fire if the SHTF. Their LT defused the situation quickly and saved bloodshed on both sides. I think it was a good call.

[Poohbah]

American servicemen in uniform are expressly forbidden to bow or kneel.

Since when did IGNORANCE become "a point of view?"

Your statement here is absolutely false.

The guy turned off a riot before it got started.

[Junior]

Sometimes ya gotta do what the situation calls for. You don't win their hearts and minds by running roughshod over them.

[P-Marlowe]

American servicemen in uniform are expressly forbidden to bow or kneel.

Where is this stated in the Military Regs?

[Stone Mountain]

American servicemen in uniform are expressly forbidden to bow or kneel.

How does that work? Are there circumstances that dictate this, or is it a hard and fast rule? It seems to me that I've seen servicemen kneeling in prayer before...

[honeygrl]

"Too much sensitivity training crap. This man just reached the end of his career path. American servicemen in uniform are expressly forbidden to bow or kneel"

Guess it would've been better to let the crowd of people kill some of his soldiers just to avoid looking sensitive to their religion.

[bert]

Your bias is showing.

The crowd was fearful that one of the most sacred and architecturally beautiful places in all Islam was to be desecrated. They went in the streets unarmed to face troops armed to the teeth and known to be capable of dealing fearful vengence. The crowd had its adreneline up but be that as it may, they bravely faced the most awsome army there is.

There is no holy place in America as sacred as the mosque being defended

Would you have the courage to stand in the street in front of the Capitol building or the White House in front of such force?. .

[Hila]

What was that kneeling all about? No way!

[FrogMom]

Too much sensitivity training crap. This man just reached the end of his career path. American servicemen in uniform are expressly forbidden to bow or kneel.

If the report I saw was accurate, they weren't told to kneel they were told to "take a knee" - a position, in the Marines, of ready-to-spring-into action rest. They could bring their weapons to bear in a flash. The reporter witnessing the situation sounded (maybe in spite of himself) impressed.

The commander will probably be commended for defusing what could have been an ugly situation.

[Gamecock]

"American servicemen in uniform are expressly forbidden to bow or kneel."

Tell that to Catholic soldiers.