Please tell me they weren't serious

[mrog]

On the TV news last night there was footage of US troops on exercise (the voice over said they were marines prepareing for Afganistan- but I'm not sure).

The thing was that they were in combat gear with cam-paint on their faces- but the backs of their hands were bare and many had gleaming watches clearly visable on their wrists!

 

[G-Man]

Maybe they'll use gloves

 

[mrog]

I hope so! But when on exercise they should be simulating combat as closely as possible- no point getting comfortable with the conditions bare handed and suddenly donning gloves whrn its for real.

 

[joespaniel]

It was probably a dog and pony show for the media. Just to scare the Taleban some more.

 

[G-Man]

I think a cruise missile in their living room will do a better job on scaring the Taliban

 

[Eli]

Wrong.
They will think that the Americans are cowards, afraid from a face to face battle and from casualties.

This is one of the disadvantages of the western world when fighting with them, we are afraid of casualties.
This doesnt mean that I think that we should go to an invasion ala USSR, i'm just bringing a fact.

 

[jiml_63]

I disagree...we are not afraid of casualties...in fact dying in the name of freedom has been a staple of our nation since it's inception.

Our nature is such that we do not wish to inflict damage to innocent civilians....don't mistake that for being afraid...

 

[joespaniel]

I liked the cruise missle through the window idea.

:rocket2:

 

[CornMaster]

Originally posted by jiml_63
I disagree...we are not afraid of casualties...in fact dying in the name of freedom has been a staple of our nation since it's inception.

Our nature is such that we do not wish to inflict damage to innocent civilians....don't mistake that for being afraid...

So...how about we send your entire town over to fight. Knowing that no one will come back. And you would be OK with that??

I think not.

 

[joespaniel]

You don't want to die for your country. You want the other guy to die for his country.

 

[jiml_63]

Corn,

Don't presume to know what I think. I served in the military for ten years and I risked my life for freedom. I served along side many others who shared the desire to defend freedom. I dare say that if my "town" was called to arms to preserve the freedoms which we enjoyed before 9/11 there would be no hesitation whatsoever...and I would be at the head of the line.

 

[Glaurung]

i think what corn was trying to say is that the american people as whole do not like, and are afraid of casualties, in a real war. therefore, the generals etc will try to keep them out of harms way as much as possible. the fact is, most people now a days are just fat and lazy, and dont care about our country.

 

[scorch]

I agree with Eli.
If america just ran in guns blazing, and didn't **** around for so long, people would be more hesitant to attack america.

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Originally posted by scorch
I agree with Eli.
If america just ran in guns blazing, and didn't **** around for so long, people would be more hesitant to attack america.

I am not so sure. Remember these are terrorists and they are not really sane rational people. Also they have nothing that they want to protect or preserve; having no country, no infrastructure, no military, nothing. They are destroyers and are even willing to throw their lives away in the name of their whatever dumb cause.

 

[allan]

And people who have nothing to lose can be the most dangerous....

On another note, if it were China or Russia that were attacked like we were, Afghanistan would quite likely be bombed back to the invention of the brick--which is why they will probably never be targets of such things. However, I am proud that my country is choosing the more deliberate path--revenge is best served cold, and with precision....

What disturbs me is that we are allowing Syria into the coalition (and at the expense of Israel)--what we need to do is fight EVERY terrorist nation and group. September 11th was a logical catalyst to commence a thorough and brutal crackdown on ALL terrorism, even those groups not involved with that particular attack. Civilized nations must forge and enforce an effective international law against deliberately targeting civilians. All we can do is create deterrence, since these atrocities can be done in so many ways that they are unpreventable really.... It may suck that it has to be that way, but it is....

 

[starlifter]

The thing was that they were in combat gear with cam-paint on their faces- but the backs of their hands were bare and many had gleaming watches clearly visable on their wrists!

LOL... I don't know what you saw, where it came from, or what context it was in but.... we (the US military) are fully trained (those of us that need to be) in how to dress for battle, including (yes) gloves. This even includes noise suppression, odor suppression, camoflage, evasion, unit tactics, etc... Most even remember to bring a weapon or two when they deploy to the fight .

I've hauled Seals, SF, and others into and out of many real life Ops... and can assure you they don't wear big neon "Shoot me, I'm over here" signs, either. So don't worry . Maybe the enemy will be confused because they can't find the shiny watches they're "expecting" ...

 

[mrog]

OK Starlifter and others- I am offcially reassured!

It just reminded so much of the Vietnam era- you know a GI in olive drab battle dress but with a big Malboro packet on his helmet, or bare arms exposed etc.

 

[Glaurung]

"What disturbs me is that we are allowing Syria into the coalition (and at the expense of Israel)--what we need to do is fight EVERY terrorist nation and group. September 11th was a logical catalyst to commence a thorough and brutal crackdown on ALL terrorism, even those groups not involved with that particular attack. Civilized nations must forge and enforce an effective international law against deliberately targeting civilians. All we can do is create deterrence, since these atrocities can be done in so many ways that they are unpreventable really.... It may suck that it has to be that way, but it is...."

just wondering, when you say every nation that participates in terrorism, does that include ireland/the IRA? if not, you are just as bad a suntzu, etc, with their hatred/blanketstatements to arabs.

 

[Smash]

There is a difference between being afraid of casualties and caring about casualties.

The "war" should also include groups that produced McVay as well.You can move on Idaho and other places immediately.

 

[Archbob]

Its a press show.. has to be, they are trained better than that.