Article

2009-10-25 Afghanistan

Morale dips for American Marines in Afghanistan

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2009-10-25 03:12|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top
File under: Taliban

#1 Here in Bangkok, I was talking to a very impressive Marine NCO last week - he was here on R&R, before heading back to Afghanistan. He was a picture-book Marine - tall, muscular, rugged-looking. He told me that he has been in for 14 years - and he surprised me by stating that he is looking forward to getting out as soon as his present enlistment is up. He told me that he and his mates were all fed up with fighting a pointless war, for clueless political leaders.

I know that re-enlistments have been booming in recent years. If this NCO's comments were at all representative of the current state of mind of the troops, then the military may be about to see a sudden reversal of those trends - and a mass stampede for the exits.

Posted by Lone Ranger 2009-10-25 06:09|| 2009-10-25 06:09|| Front Page Top

#2 You will have no military in few years time. They will all get out and fight for America at home where the real enemies have taken over.

Posted by newc">newc 2009-10-25 07:31|| 2009-10-25 07:31|| Front Page Top

#3 Baluchi clan chief, hah? War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. I had no idea that there was a Baluchi minority in Helmand until today.

Posted by Mitch H.">Mitch H. 2009-10-25 10:40|| http://blogfonte.blogspot.com/]">[http://blogfonte.blogspot.com/] 2009-10-25 10:40|| Front Page Top

#4 Note to Obama: like we say in the military: you have to be smarter than the equipment (or in this case personnel) you're using. Or they (it) doesn't work. Many I served with bitterly headed for the exits, fed up with feeling ineffective.

Posted by GirlThursday 2009-10-25 10:51|| 2009-10-25 10:51|| Front Page Top

#5 It's a simple equation. Military personnel only function well when the following questions are answered:

1) What are we doing here? (strategic)
2) Who are the friendly and enemy forces (including "known unknowns")?
3) What is the plan of execution and its timetable? (tactical)
4) Do we have the means to execute the plan? (logistics, fire support and ROE)
5) What are the metrics for success and failure?
6) Who is in charge and how do they lead? (command and communications)
7) What are the rules of replacement, rotation and retirement? (during and the end of mission)

Posted by Anonymoose 2009-10-25 12:02|| 2009-10-25 12:02|| Front Page Top

#6 'Moose got it right.

Sending an internet via USPS, don't abuse it.

Posted by .5MT 2009-10-25 12:47|| 2009-10-25 12:47|| Front Page Top

#7 you have to be smarter than the equipment

I would not guarantee you that Obama's advisors are smarter than a sack of hair.

Posted by Frozen Al 2009-10-25 13:18|| 2009-10-25 13:18|| Front Page Top

#8 I think the equation is even simpler than 'moose's list. How can troops have good morale if their mission objective isn't victory and they aren't given the means to be victorious even if it was?

Posted by Mike N. 2009-10-25 17:13|| 2009-10-25 17:13|| Front Page Top

#9 You will have no military in few years time.

Yup that's Obama's plan.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2009-10-25 19:00|| 2009-10-25 19:00|| Front Page Top

#10 We are all Rhodesians now.

Posted by rhodesiafever 2009-10-25 21:15|| 2009-10-25 21:15|| Front Page Top

#11 no commander's intent, final result desired or end state - Obama is epic failure as a wartime pres. Sat on McChrystal's report for 7 weeks. What a loser. Typical politics above patriotism. I hope the 52% of douchebags that voted for this sack of shit are happy. Oh, but he gives a good speech and says pretty things...we are Rome 400 AD.

Posted by Broadhead6 2009-10-25 21:31|| 2009-10-25 21:31|| Front Page Top

23:56 rhodesiafever
23:48 Redneck Jim
23:43 Redneck Jim
23:33 Redneck Jim
23:15 trailing wife
23:07 rhodesiafever
22:56 CrazyFool
22:44 badanov
22:39 Barbara Skolaut
22:28 rhodesiafever
22:17 rwv
22:13 gromky
21:55 Pappy
21:48 JosephMendiola
21:44 JosephMendiola
21:39 JosephMendiola
21:31 trailing wife
21:31 Broadhead6
21:30 Asymmetrical Triangulation
21:29 JosephMendiola
21:24 Beavis
21:21 Procopius2k
21:16 Old Patriot
21:15 rhodesiafever