Green Berets story and Gates slamming the troops
Secretary of Defense Bob Gates slammed the U.S. armed forces in a speech today, which must surely have been prompted by an episode last night on 60 Minutes featuring Green Berets in Afghanistan relating their account of an incredible battle with the Taliban. In addition to describing their courageous and heroic efforts in the perilous battle, the Berets were unequivocal on their perspective of Afghanistan — the Taliban is winning decisively.
One could easily predict the fury that would emanate from the White House, John McSame, and other Republicans if a Democrat, or even worse, a Democratic presidential candidate gave the same speech as Gates:
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates chided the U.S. armed forces today for not providing enough intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance help to troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying it has been "like pulling teeth" to get the services to change old habits.
Addressing student officers from the U.S. and foreign air forces at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base in Alabama, Gates expressed frustration with conventional military thinking that he said has been slow to adapt to current threats. He suggested that the U.S. Air Force has not moved fast enough to meet a need for unmanned aircraft, which often can hunt and target enemies more efficiently than piloted planes.
It is hardly coincidental that Gates’ criticism of the military comes the morning after 60 Minutes aired Green Berets emotionally telling their story of being surrounded and embattled by Taliban forces for two days and the futile efforts of the most powerful army in the world to extract them.
CBS: "Not since ‘Black Hawk Down’ in Somalia have we heard a story of a small band of elite American soldiers who were so badly outnumbered and fighting for their lives."
"We’re completely surrounded by Taliban," Ford remembers, hearing the recording. "Every position, the patrol base, the compound."
"So you guys were in real trouble at this point," Logan asks.
"Yes, we were," Ford replies. . . .
After nearly two days of fighting, two men lost and one seriously wounded, the Green Berets were almost out of ammunition. . . .
"The Taliban want to take Afghanistan back. They want to install their government, their system of life," Ford says.
"But, bottom line, a force that was defeated in the invasion is no longer defeated," Logan asks.
"Not at this time," one of the soldiers replies.
"But people will watching this how - wondering how did we get to this point? When this is the army that literally ran from U.S .forces. And now we’re fighting them on this scale?" Logan asks.
"They’ve hid. And they’ve trained," Ford says.
"The kind of training that you use," Logan remarks.
"Right. Absolutely," Ford acknowledges.
"And now I’m sitting here and you’re talking about a force that not only uses American style combat and infantry tactics, but is able to engage America’s finest warriors," Logan remarks.
"That’s correct," one of the soldiers replies.
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