The Month of June:10 Americans have died in Afghanistan this month

[Clutch_Cargo]

Maybe BHO can kick somebodys ASS and stop the daily killing of young American men in Afganistan. Just spouting here,I’ve had enough of Operation Enduring Freedom.We are coming up on ten years in Afghanistan and I see no end in sight.
I’m a Red White & Blue guy.My grandfather,father,me &my son served in the Navy and Army.
That’s all carry on,the smoking lamp is lit,liberty call.

Marine Sgt. Zachary J. Walters June 08, 2010
24, of Palm Coast, Fla.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died June 8 in He… Read More] Marine Sgt. Derek L. Shanfield June 08, 2010
22, of Hastings, Pa.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died June 8 in Helma… Read More] Marine Sgt. John K. Rankel June 07, 2010
23, of Speedway, Ind.; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, I MEF, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died June 7 while supporting combat operations in H… Read More] Army Spc. Brendan P. Neenan June 07, 2010
21, of Enterprise, Ala.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Jun… Read More] Marine Cpl. Donald M. Marler June 06, 2010
22, of St. Louis; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died June 6 while sup… Read More] Marine Lance Cpl. Derek Hernandez June 06, 2010
20, of Edinburg, Texas; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died June 6 whi… Read More] Marine Sgt. Brandon C. Bury June 06, 2010
26, of Kingwood, Texas; was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died June 6… Read More] Army 2nd Lt. Michael E. McGahan June 06, 2010
23, of Orlando, Fla.; assigned to the 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 187th Infantry Regt, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Camp… Read More] Army 1st Lt. Joseph J. Theinert June 04, 2010
24, of Sag Harbor, N.Y.; a New York Army National Guardsman assigned to the 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light In… Read More] Army Spc. Jonathan K. Peney June 01, 2010
Army Spc. Jonathan K. Peney; . assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.; died June 1 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wound… Read More]

[Rodred]

RIP Warriors
.

[jime]

I agree, I’ve had enough, get them all the fuck out now. I don’t care about anyone except my fellow Americans anymore. We have to get out now, this is bullshit. These people dying for fuck all nothing. It’s insane! Get them out now Obama, wake the fuck up and get them out now!!! I’ve reached my breaking point. I’m done. I want them all home.

[Former_User]

It’s insane! Get them out now Obama, wake the fuck up and get them out now!!!

But most Americans supported the surge in troops so wasn’t it anticipated that more troops would equate to more deaths?

It’s going to get far worse as the years go by as other countries who attempted to fight in Afghanistan realized long ago.

[Rodred]

It’s insane! Get them out now Obama, wake the fuck up and get them out now!!!

But most Americans supported the surge in troops so wasn’t it anticipated that more troops would equate to more deaths?

It’s going to get far worse as the years go by as other countries who attempted to fight in Afghanistan realized long ago.

I know this is your pet theory but more troops does not equal more deaths. Sometimes it can but too few troops and expanding operations demand more troops and if we had continued with the game plan that was settled on with the original amount of troops the numbers would be higher. ( we had a couple of outposts nearly overrun which hasn’t been covered in the news. There is never an excuse for that with the amount of firepower we possess) Of course they didn’t get what they wanted as far as numbers and we have to play touchy feely which causes us to lose warriors. Unleash them, let them do what they do best, take care of our interests and then finish the mission.

[Bone_Idol]

I don’t care about anyone except my fellow Americans anymore.

I understand, and I hear that a lot.

Be aware though, even if you don’t care, that 2 Australians, Sapper Darren Smith and Sapper Jacob Moerland were killed in Afghanistan this week.

Australia is the US’s most loyal ally - the only nation to support the US in every major armed conflict, including Iraq, without reservation. It is costing us dearly. Knowing that most Americans don’t know and don’t care is starting to have an impact too. If support for the alliance is eroded, then ultimately the US might become even more isolated in foreign policy, and that might not be in the interests of the fellow Americans that you do care about.

[jime]

You know what I mean don’t be a jo.

[jime]

That’s bullshit! “Most Americans” Who told you that? Where’s your proof? Nobody asked me and besides most Americans are assholes who don’t give a shit about anything unless it affects them. I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I want them out now. You know in your heart it’s wrong to continue so lets get them home today!

[Brandon_W]

How 'bout you cool your jets.

Most troops support our mission in each theater. They want to see this thing through. Yes, the mission is hard and the only reward is another mission, but this is something that has to get done.

Before you start in on me, I have ten years service(including special operations) with four deployments to both theaters, so I’ve got some ground to stand on.

[Rick_pcfl]

That’s bullshit! “Most Americans” Who told you that? Where’s your proof? Nobody asked me and besides most Americans are assholes who don’t give a shit about anything unless it affects them. I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I want them out now. You know in your heart it’s wrong to continue so lets get them home today!

I just thought those two sentences were kind of amusing when put together.

[jime]

I have nothing but the utmost respect for anyone in the service of our country. This rant is not about them or you. I’ve just had enough. I don’t care about polls, opinions, democracy, politics, politicians, religions, or governments. I just can’t take hearing about another American being killed over there. It’s a total waste of life. I understand the troops want to stay and “finish” the job. But you know as well as I do, there is no end in this game. I really can’t take seeing all of us over here going about our day without a fucking care in the world while these guys are being killed. I can’t take it anymore. I’m done with it. I give up. I don’t give a shit about some other people 7000 miles away who don’t give a shit about us. Sorry if this doesn’t fit into your world but I’ve reached the breaking point. After seeing more pictures and reading more obits about my dead neighbors I just have had enough.

I want my people home …now.

[Brandon_W]

I understand your feelings toward this, I really do. Nearly ten years in Afghanistan and eight in Iraq is a long damn time. When I got back the first time, you could not have convinced me otherwise that I would ever be back again, let alone multiple times. But we cannot let emotions dictate the pace or end-game. It just has to get done.

Will terrorism or anti-western sentiment be ridden of once we’re through there? Very unlikely, but I’m glad to know that we stood against those who would wish us ill will.

It is my greatest hope that our troops would be allowed to finish this thing their way.

[jime]

I hear you…I just can’t deal with it tonight. I’m going to bed.

Thank you for all you have done for us. I really appreciate it. Goodnight.

[Former_User]

I know this is your pet theory but more troops does not equal more deaths. Sometimes it can but too few troops and expanding operations demand more troops and if we had continued with the game plan that was settled on with the original amount of troops the numbers would be higher. ( we had a couple of outposts nearly overrun which hasn’t been covered in the news. There is never an excuse for that with the amount of firepower we possess) Of course they didn’t get what they wanted as far as numbers and we have to play touchy feely which causes us to lose warriors. Unleash them, let them do what they do best, take care of our interests and then finish the mission.

It’s not really a pet theory since I’ve never stated it before but when the surge was occurring in both Iraq and Afghanistan, both parties went out of their way to say that increased troops will result in increased deaths. In fact, during the Iraq surge, most here defended the increased deaths with comments such as “of course there will be more deaths, there are more troops.”

Anyway, that is not my point. My point is that people were applauding the increase in troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan for years. Now, there are 10 deaths in June (a very small fraction of what happened in Iraq for years) and suddenly there is an outcry to get out?

I don’t get it. What happened to the “let’s fight them there so we don’t have to fight them here” mentality and “we are there to give people freedom” refrains repeated over and over.

Nothing has changed, both wars have been unwinnable for 7 years and those supporting them were consistantly vocal in saying you were doing the right and only thing and now it’s a mistake and you should go home???

[Former_User]

**You know in your heart it’s wrong to continue so lets get them home today! **

---

I’ve known in my heart it’s a pointless mission since 2003, ditto for Iraq but for all those years, people have defended the need to go there to keep America safe.

A few questions. Do you support Obama’s decision to increase the troops in Afghanistan and did you support Bush’s decision to increase troops in Iraq? Do you think you should also leave Iraq and if not, what do you think you are accomplishing there?

And, no need to use profanity.

[jime]

I did support both presidents based upon the recommendations of the people on the ground in those two countries. I now see that pulling out right now will have no effect on national security and will save American lives. That’s my problem. Americans ( and allies ) being killed for no reason. I don’t know how old you are but I have been through this before and I see the writing on the wall. Forty years from now I can hear people saying, “What a waste it was to lose Amrerican lives over there. It accomplished nothing.”

Two years ago I worked for a local family that had just lost their 19 year old son in Iraq. The mother cried every day we were there and the father was out of it most of the time. If you can go to them and explain why it was woth it for their son to be killed over there, then I will listen, if not, get out of the way. Bring them all home right now.

[Former_User]

**I now see that pulling out right now will have no effect on national security and will save American lives. That’s my problem. Americans ( and allies ) being killed for no reason. I don’t know how old you are but I have been through this before and I see the writing on the wall. Forty years from now I can hear people saying, “What a waste it was to lose Amrerican lives over there. It accomplished nothing.” **

---

I am 48 years old and felt that Iraq was a waste of time since day 1. Having lived in the Middle East, I knew the people and the history and the idea that the U.S would create a democracy (by force) that would sweep the region was and remains complete nonsense. Prior to the invasion, there was little planning for what happens if you were not treated as liberators or what happens with the various political factions once Hussein is gone. I think Bush really believed that freedom and democracy would spread but he was just naive and his staff let him down for not advising him of the risks involved. You don’t have to wait 40 years to know that nothing will be accomplished, we know that now and many of us knew that 7 years ago.

As for Afghanistan, that is a different story as there was wide support for the fight both within the U.S and abroad. The mistake was to once again, not plan for the stabilization so instead of focussing there, you went to start another war. The problem is that you can’t leave. You promised the people there that you would stabilize the country, you have lost a lot of lives and you have spent a lot of money and leaving now will allow the Taliban to sweep back into power. All those people who fought against the Taliban will be crushed and the U.S would be a target for all extreme groups, seen as a country that is not willing to stay the course and fight for the people they vowed to protect.

It’s just another example of staying out of other countries unless you are prepared to stay for the long haul. You have got yourself in this and you can’t cut and run just because you had a bad month. There are many more bad months ahead and I don’t see anyway to get out with your heads high but that should have been thought about a long time ago.

[trail]

I know this is your pet theory but more troops does not equal more deaths.

I see your point. But part of the “new plan” was shifting from purely hunt-and-kill missions to counter-insurgency where a large number of troops interact with civilians on a daily basis. That interaction is always going to be dangerous in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Most deaths don’t come in conventional firefights, bases getting overrun, etc. They come from IEDs, which are unpredictable and can strike anywhere at any time, which suggests that the more people you have running around, the more are going to die. Unless they can actually succeed at ruining the IED production capability. But that just isn’t happening, and may be impossible to do.

On another note you’re right about the bases almost being overrun not being in the news. Which was weird. I was talking to some Army infantry who were at one of them, and they said about a dozen guys should be up for major medals because they single-handedly held up several hundred Taliban about eight hours until the Air Force finally arrived. But nothing. Probably because publicity would be embarrassing to the higher-up officers who allowed the situation happen.

[jime]

I don’t care how we are perceived. I’m not willing to spend one more American life on someone else’s problems. Fuck perception, I want my people home. Ever hear of Somalia?

[Former_User]

**I don’t care how we are perceived. I’m not willing to spend one more American life on someone else’s problems. Fuck perception, I want my people home. Ever hear of Somalia? **

---

You Liberals are all the same, cut and run when the going gets tough.

Why can’t you be more like the Conservatives of the Bush administration where you go to war to spread freedom and democracy. Freedom isn’t cheap.