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U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 12:29 am
by skeetshot
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta asks his Marines to disarm in Afghanistan before addressing them.
http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20 ... tta-speech
Maybe he doesn't trust his own men ?
Re: U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:20 am
by Sakobav
skeetshot
Not sure whether such posts belong here - look at the complete picture the local general asked his marines to leave weapons outside just like the Afghan troops and played it safe because a stolen truck did break through the cordon at the airport where his C 17 landed. So wise decision keeping in mind the craziness going on there better be safe than sorry ..BTW check Indian security procedures too they follow more stringent rules..Dont understand what this post has to do with IFG - there is no need to fan such political fires on this board try others !
Re: U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:58 pm
by skeetshot
ngrewal wrote:skeetshot
Not sure whether such posts belong here - look at the complete picture the local general asked his marines to leave weapons outside just like the Afghan troops and played it safe because a stolen truck did break through the cordon at the airport where his C 17 landed. So wise decision keeping in mind the craziness going on there better be safe than sorry ..BTW check Indian security procedures too they follow more stringent rules..Dont understand what this post has to do with IFG - there is no need to fan such political fires on this board try others !
Mr ngrewal,
We here in India are struggling to uphold our constitutional right to possess firearms for our legitimate needs. And just like that Defence Secretary, so too there are thousands of cases here where our officials exhibit actions by which the general populace and ultimately those same wretched officials are put at risk by disarming their own people.
As you rightly pointed out an attempt was made by a truck, but had a perpetrator already been in the venue where the Secretary was to address his men, the situation could have been different.
The point being if you cannot trust your own people, be they your Marines or your fellow countrymen, then you are not worthy of being their leader.
Hope now you are able to understand this post in its context and what it has to do with IFG.
Re: U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:43 pm
by goodboy_mentor
The point being if you cannot trust your own people, be they your Marines or your fellow countrymen, then you are not worthy of being their leader.
I agree. Exactly, this is the reason why the "leaders" want to disarm the people. If we read our history beginning from times immemorial to this day, no true leader ever wanted the people to be disarmed.
Re: U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:28 am
by xl_target
Navi has a point. The difference is that soldiers have taken an oath to obey the orders of their superiors. If their superiors order them to lay down their arms, they will. Ultimately, just like the Indian Army, the US Army is subordinate to the civilian leadership of their country.
The questions of constitutional rights would not come up in this case.
Re: U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 12:48 pm
by skeetshot
Gentlemen,
the point of the post was not about disobeying orders or fanning any political fires.
The point here is to show how casually authorities take for granted their own people to the extent of putting them at a grave risk and violating a whole bunch of rights in the process.
Re: U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:14 pm
by nagarifle
i remember a similar situation in soudi arabi after the gulf war, the usa top man was coming to inspect the joint armed service that is usa and uk troops, the sercet service had the usa troops remove the firing pin in the rifles then asked the UK troop to do the same and was told to sod off pretty fast,
Re: U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 7:17 pm
by Sakobav
Right to own guns etc and the situation in Afghanistan are totally different scenarios. Decisions made in war zones are imperative of commanding officers we cant take situation there and generalize that.
I agree with Skeet that Indian politicos and officers are obsessed with red beacon cars guards for themselves and deny the same basic gun ownership rights to general public. Thats sense of entitlement and now being mixed with plutocracy its a pretty volatile brew in making
Re: U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 3:08 pm
by ckkalyan
Gentlemen,
Sad situation narrated - but...here I must say that I have to agree with skeetshot and goodboy_mentor. A true leader worth his salt should not be a in a position where he has to ask his team / men to disarm, prior to addressing them, fearing for his own safety. It simply, can't happen - unthinkable!
Re: U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 5:46 pm
by Hammerhead
Will go with ckkalyan in this case but will not comment on other people's post ...... some are discouraging
I was told long time before that if hokey team loses the coach has to go .....
I would apply same argument here that if it comes to that that leaders have to fear their own protectors , leadership fails - Haji