Army of Occupation

[Davis Knowlton]

I would have posted this in Issues, but have no link to post as I can no longer find the article I read this morning.

The US Army in Afghanistan has now set up a new system called "Guardian Angels". These are American soldiers who stand guard over their sleeping comrades at night.

So what, you might well ask - other than the gay name?

The Guardian Angles are NOT deployed to protect their comrades from external enemies, BUT from US allies - those members of the Afghan Army and Police who share quarters with American troops in what were formerly known as 'safe zones'.

I think it's time to go home......

[jingoist]

For full story click the link -

APNewsBreak: New security for US troops - Yahoo! News

U.S. military commanders in Afghanistan have assigned "guardian angels" — troops that watch over their comrades even as they sleep — and have ordered a series of other increased security measures to protect troops against possible attacks by rogue Afghans.The added protections are part of a directive issued in recent weeks by Marine Gen. John Allen, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, to guard against insider threats, according to a senior military official. And they come in the wake of a spike in attacks on U.S. and coalition forces by Afghans, including the point-blank shooting deaths of two U.S. advisers in Afghanistan's Ministry of Interior.
Some of the changes have been subtle, others not so much.
In several Afghan ministries, Americans are now allowed to carry weapons. And they have been instructed to rearrange their office desks there to face the door, so they can see who is coming in, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the internal directive.
While Allen did not detail the new measures in a briefing earlier this week, he acknowledged that changes had been made.
"We have taken steps necessary on our side to protect ourselves with respect to, in fact, sleeping arrangements, internal defenses associated with those small bases in which we operate," Allen said, adding that now someone is "always overwatching our forces."

[Davis Knowlton]

^That's it; thanks.

[bsnub]

It is definitely time to go home. The war there is in a death spiral downwards. I have talked to some active duty soldiers who just returned from there and they have said that it has been getting worse and worse with regards to the people. The ANA is absolutely useless and many of them are drug addicts who openly refuse orders, the people almost always refuse to cooperate etc etc..

This is shit they told me BEFORE the koran burnings and the massacre. They guy who committed massacre that happens to be stationed at the same base as these guys I know (Fort Lewis aka JBLM)

[robuzo]

Can't be trusted, simple as that. Bigger joke than the ARVN:
Afghan Soldiers Told to Come Unarmed to Panetta Meeting - Bloomberg

[SEA Traveler]

Good move to set measures to protect our own soldiers from the supposed allies and host country nationals that are worthless and can not be trusted. There are no friendlies in Afgan... always have to maintain situational awareness even in safe zones and always guard your back. not to different than posting on TD sometimes... 555!

[bsnub]

Good move to set measures to protect our own soldiers from the supposed allies and host country nationals that are worthless and can not be trusted.

Yes this is true but it doesn't change the fact that we need to leave there asap. Like I mentioned in a previous post I speak with many active duty soldiers and they all agree that the whole country is FUBAR and that we need to get out yesterday.

[SEA Traveler]

I had one of my own there in Afgan as well as Iraq bsnub so know what it is all about. Personally I was also in the ME multiple times conducting missions so had a first had glimpse of the geography, people, etc to determine that we have accomplished all that we need to in that part of the area. Concur with FUBAR if the reference is "FU by all recognition". But understand that it was FUBAR even before the Coalition Forces even got close to that part of the world. That God forsaken area has always been a hell hole.

[bsnub]

But understand that it was FUBAR even before the Coalition Forces even got close to that part of the world. That God forsaken area has always been a hell hole.

I have never agreed with you more brother. Well aware of that.

[koman]

I think the last military guy to do well there was Alexander the Great. Maybe send in the Greeks again.....there's lots of them unemployed right now....and they could use the extra money....

[bsnub]

^ Militarily the US has done just fine. That is not in question. It is with regards to the occupation that they have failed.

[Mid]

maybe these Angles can stop the likes of Bales going out twice ?

[bsnub]

^ Care to elaborate on that one?

[Marmite the Dog]

Strange that the indigenous people want to kill soldiers from an invading force. Who'd have thunk it?

[bsnub]

Strange that the indigenous people want to kill soldiers from an invading force. Who'd have thunk it?

Yes you are so well aware of that being that you are a limey. You lot invaded more nations than anyone in world history. The sun always sets on a very small patch of the earth..

[koman]

^ Militarily the US has done just fine. That is not in question. It is with regards to the occupation that they have failed.

Yes the US military has done pretty well in many ways....but ol Alexander did quite a successful occupancy as well.

Those boys just did not put up with any BS from the local warlords..... and people like Karzai would have lasted about 5 mins with Alex and his outfit.

All this nation building and attempted democratization is just not sound policy in stone age shitholes where they are determined to remain as stoneage shitholes...

[Hampsha]

Interesting stuff here. Sounds pretty bad. Guess those guys will be coming home sooner.

[Rural Surin]

I would have posted this in Issues, but have no link to post as I can no longer find the article I read this morning.

The US Army in Afghanistan has now set up a new system called "Guardian Angels". These are American soldiers who stand guard over their sleeping comrades at night.

So what, you might well ask - other than the gay name?

The Guardian Angles are NOT deployed to protect their comrades from external enemies, BUT from US allies - those members of the Afghan Army and Police who share quarters with American troops in what were formerly known as 'safe zones'.

I think it's time to go home......

Shouldn't have been involved from the start.

[Hampsha]

Isn't it about the oil and wasting tonnes of dosh on military spending?

[Rural Surin]

Strange that the indigenous people want to kill soldiers from an invading force. Who'd have thunk it?

Yep, imagine that.

Such resistance activities have been going on forever - wherever you'll find foreign imperial/occupation/colonial intentions.

[raycarey]

I think it's time to go home......

and to think it only took you 11 years to come this earth shattering conclusion.

[Smug Farang Bore]

Strange that the indigenous people want to kill soldiers from an invading force. Who'd have thunk it?

Yes you are so well aware of that being that you are a limey. You lot invaded more nations than anyone in world history. The sun always sets on a very small patch of the earth..

True but the problem arose when we gave them back and let the locals have a go.

[robuzo]

Strange that the indigenous people want to kill soldiers from an invading force. Who'd have thunk it?

Yes you are so well aware of that being that you are a limey. You lot invaded more nations than anyone in world history. The sun always sets on a very small patch of the earth..

Ask him about the retreat from Kabul. My favorite account is in Flashman.
Massacre of Elphinstone's Army - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

People usually point to the fiasco at Tora Bora for the US' biggest cock-up, but I still think Siege of Kunduz with the Airlift of Evil http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airlift_of_Evil is the greatest victory squandered. You really have to wonder what happened there. The US military and their Northern Alliance allies did just fine; the Taliban were finished, but we literally let them go. . .back to Pakistan. Mustn't upset Pakistan.

[DrAndy]

Militarily the US has done just fine. That is not in question

oh right, they really beat those Taliban to death

mind you, if they had, who would they negotiate with?

[Rural Surin]

Strange that the indigenous people want to kill soldiers from an invading force. Who'd have thunk it?

Yes you are so well aware of that being that you are a limey. You lot invaded more nations than anyone in world history. The sun always sets on a very small patch of the earth..

They tend to have a lapse in memory towards their imperial conquest.
Today, the Brits will team up with and support any such equivalent that the Americans dream up....

It still exist today, under the guise of NATO, UN, coalition peacekeeping occupation.