[2111USMC]

A little off topic, but after watching just the first segment on the ABC site, my concern was that it seemed that their targets in the firefight were an awfully long distance for those short-barreled M4s.

I know the troops like the carbines for the urban stuff, but in this more wide open stuff, my personal opinion is they would be better off with longer barreled weapons.

JMO

[maine-iac7]

A little off topic, but after watching just the first segment on the ABC site, my concern was that it seemed that their targets in the firefight were an awfully long distance for those short-barreled M4s. I know the troops like the carbines for the urban stuff, but in this more wide open stuff, my personal opinion is they would be better off with longer barreled weapons. JMO

Can't disagree with you there...May be because humping those mountains with up to 100 pounds on the back, it may be a question of weight - altho' I'd rather figure that ratio out with my more powerful rifle being a given -

Staff Sgt. Larry I. Rougle that was the first killed on the hill - he was lead Scout - point man- and he, and probably a spotter, probably had more powerful weapons.

That said. as I posted in post # 64:

"I think these two battles coming to light in the same week is growing legs - GEn Petraeus, in an unprecedented move, has just been assigned to the Pentagon to take a look at just who is commanding which units and using, unsuccessfully, 'yesterdays' war tactics in 'todays' war...and just maybe this will result in the 173rds getting some help and keeping them from being sent out to experience the same ambush MO over and over again."