Some U.S. Troops in Afghanistan Ordered to Patorl With Unloaded Weapons

From The Audacity of Hypocrisy:

Some US troops in Afghanistan patrol with unloaded weapons


Posted by adminMay 19, 2010Commanders have reportedly ordered a U.S. military unit in Afghanistan to patrol with unloaded weapons.



Some soldiers are being ordered to conduct patrols without a round chambered in their weapons, The US Report has learned from an anonymous source at a forward operating base in Afghanistan. Our source was unsure if the order came from his unit or if it affected other units.



On war correspondent Michael Yon’s Facebook page, commenters stated that this is a common practice in Iraq, while others said that it is occurring in Afghanistan as well. According to military protocol, “Amber” status requires weapons to have a loaded magazine, but the safety on and no round chambered.



“The idea that any combat unit would conduct any operation, including patrolling and even manning a security post — in which direct action may-or-may not take place — and not having weapons loaded, borders on being criminally negligent in my opinion,” says Lt. Col. W. Thomas Smith Jr., a recognized expert on terrorism and military/national defense issues. “This is nothing more than infusing politically correct restrictions into already overly restrictive rules of engagement. And this PC nonsense is going to get people killed.”



According to Smith, “American soldiers are highly skilled in the use of ‘loaded’ weapons, and so should be trusted to operate with ‘loaded’ weapons. If someone overseeing decisions on ROE thinks not, then ratchet up training. But don’t put a man on the street and force him to go through multiple prompts when a gunfight breaks out. Remember, the situation can go from quiet to kinetic in half the time it takes to breathe.”



In an ambush situation, just how long does it take to engage a target when your weapon isn’t already loaded?





(Excerpt) Read more at theusreport.com