Father of Slain SEAL: Who Made the Decision Not to Save My Son?

[AlpsStranger]

Considering that the "liberal Kenyan Muslim" I helped elect was barely not-Bush I shudder to think what we'll get with another Republican government.

Boots on the ground in Iran, you heard it here first.

 

[FriendlyFire]

This is the most disgraceful thing that has happened in our nation's history.

At that point, they called again for military support and help because they were taking fire at the CIA safe house, or annex. The request was denied. There were no communications problems at the annex, according those present at the compound. The team was in constant radio contact with their headquarters. In fact, at least one member of the team was on the roof of the annex manning a heavy machine gun when mortars were fired at the CIA compound. The security officer had a laser on the target that was firing and repeatedly requested back-up support from a Spectre gunship, which is commonly used by U.S. Special Operations forces to provide support to Special Operations teams on the ground involved in intense firefights. The fighting at the CIA annex went on for more than four hours -- enough time for any planes based in Sigonella Air base, just 480 miles away, to arrive. Fox News has also learned that two separate Tier One Special operations forces were told to wait, among them Delta Force operators.

WOW Obama did have gunships, special forces, Cia special operation teams on site, Delta forces, after all, with so many assets available and lets not forget the MARINES at the US Libya Embassy as well.
wait a second ....

 

[MobBoss]

Based on your comment, I think you have that backwards as usual. What words did I misuse above?

Mercenary.

 

[Hygro]

Definitely way worse than the killing and expelling the native Indians, slavery, racism, concentration camps for Japanese, the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi's after the second gulf war or Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
Seriously, the USA has done way worse things in the past. And probably a whole bunch more (even worse) stuff that will never come out.

This is still quite a (terrible) recent event so there are always more rumours than facts around. It would be better to wait until clear facts become known.

You miss the point completely. Those were things white people did to nonwhite people. Those aren't bad things.

 

[Phrossack]

Mercenary.

There isn't always a clear distinction between mercenaries and soldiers. Both perform military service and expect payment in return. Most (American) soldiers don't see pay as the main factor for enlistment, but some do. In many countries and throughout history, however, soldiers have served and do serve mainly for pay. Likewise, many mercenaries have had other reasons for serving. For example, the many foreigners in Rhodesian service during their war received the same pay and benefits as Rhodesian soldiers, minus some rights of citizens. They were motivated mainly by ideology, like most of today's American soldiers.

So yeah, Form was probably just using the term for political reasons, but I just want to point out that the line between merc and soldier is blurrier than many think.

 

[MobBoss]

There isn't always a clear distinction between mercenaries and soldiers. Both perform military service and expect payment in return. Most (American) soldiers don't see pay as the main factor for enlistment, but some do. In many countries and throughout history, however, soldiers have served and do serve mainly for pay. Likewise, many mercenaries have had other reasons for serving. For example, the many foreigners in Rhodesian service during their war received the same pay and benefits as Rhodesian soldiers, minus some rights of citizens. They were motivated mainly by ideology, like most of today's American soldiers.

So yeah, Form was probably just using the term for political reasons, but I just want to point out that the line between merc and soldier is blurrier than many think.

As a soldier of 26 years I cant disagree with you more. The concept of loyalty, honor and duty to ones country are completely foreign to you if you think your above comment is true.

 

[civver_764]

As a soldier of 26 years I cant disagree with you more. The concept of loyalty, honor and duty to ones country are completely foreign to you if you think your above comment is true.

Let's be honest with ourselves, you guys get paid to kill people so large corporations can make bigger profits. There's nothing honorable about it.

 

[woody60707]

Let's be honest with ourselves, you guys get paid to kill people so large corporations can make bigger profits. There's nothing honorable about it.

I miss being called baby killers when I was active.

 

[civver_764]

I don't mean to insult any soldiers(I feel sorry that they got sucked into such a horrible profession), but I don't see why we're trying to sugarcoat what are essentially hired killers.

 

[strijder20]

"come above [the area] and completely carpeted area,

And killed many more Libians than three, including innocent ones.
But of course lifes of Lybians are worth less than Americans

 

[Phrossack]

As a soldier of 26 years I cant disagree with you more. The concept of loyalty, honor and duty to ones country are completely foreign to you if you think your above comment is true.

Did you notice what I said about American soldiers?

1. If yes, there is no disagreement.

2. If no, read again.

You really think that every soldier of every country everywhere throughout all of history has served purely for ideological reasons? Really?

 

[MobBoss]

Let's be honest with ourselves, you guys get paid to kill people so large corporations can make bigger profits. There's nothing honorable about it.

The only thing that is honest about your comment is how utterly clueless it is.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Mercenary.

That is the proper word for a highly paid thug who has taken the place of military personnel and legally sworn government officials ever since the Republicans decided to "privatize" such roles.

What is the difference between a government employee who makes $40K protecting the lives of US ambassadors and a $150K mercenary? No rich Republicans get even richer off the former, and their fathers don't whine to far-right talking heads on Fox News and elsewhere when they apparently screw up and die as a result.

 

[MobBoss]

That is the proper word for a highly paid thug who has taken the place of military personnel and legally sworn government officials ever since the Republicans decided to "privatize" such roles.

What is the difference between a government employee who makes $40K protecting the lives of US ambassadors and $150K mercenaries? No rich Republicans get even richer off the former.

Wait a second. Who's in the Oval Office right now?

This just occurred, and yet somehow you manage to blame republicans here?

Amazing.

This guy wasnt a mercenary, let alone a thug. A merc is someone typically hired by a foreign government to make up for shortages in its military. That simply isnt the case here.

 

[Formaldehyde]

The subject bar of this absurd thread says it all. It speaks volumes that you are actually trying to rationalize and defend such despicable and clearly partisan comments only weeks before a presidential election.

And, yes. It is no secret that it was Republican congressmen who decided to hire and retain mercenaries in place of government officials, and to "privatize" other governmental functions so their rich supporters could become even richer off the US taxpayers. To claim otherwise is highly disingenuous, as usual.

 

[DinoDoc]

So you think throwing in troops when you do not know what they will be facing is the smart way to go about things? GW Bush must be your favorite person ever.

Real time video and intelligence from forces on the ground provide no information on what reinforcements might be facing in your opinion?

 

[Cutlass]

Real time video and intelligence from forces on the ground provide no information on what reinforcements might be facing in your opinion?

It's not my opinion. It's the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

 

[DinoDoc]

The intelligence (real time video and reports from forces on the ground) they did have is the reason I find that claim a little suspicious.

 

[Cutlass]

So neither of us were there and you're just going to dismiss the advice of the generals. Why aren't you a general then?

 

[DinoDoc]

Panetta isn't a general and never rose above the rank of 1st lt.