And please note, I use Sir as a mark of respect. I have grown used to the fact that you are an officer and I realize we think along different lines.
But for me, I see a lot of errors being made at all levels of the command. For instance, the topping up of canteens and the wearing of the back plate of the personal body armor.
To me, I can understand- as an enlisted man- how these things happen. But, also as an EM, I realize that the little gaps in leadership is where the problems are magnified.
It is convenient for us to blame Clinton. But Clinton didnt' tell those guys not to fill their canteens.
Personally, I see the mission as a success. PR-wise, no. But they accomplished what they set out to do and did it under very adverse circumstances. For me, it's a little bit personal because I bunked next to the guy in basic that made the 'we kicked ass' comment. You can only blame your commanders so much. This soldier, even after having been shot, still saw the mission as a success.
I think the entire mission could have been better arranged. But at the end of the day, the guys on the ground are still the ones responsible for making do with the situtation they've been handed. I think Task Force Ranger aquitted itself well.
Those three lines are the best wrap-up I've ever read about that operation.