White House and Taliban Kill US Soldier

[Spike]

The Taliban killed Sgt. McClintock but the Obama White House failed to save him

On January 5, 2016, America lost an elite Special Forces soldier when the White House turned their back on him and his unit.

Army Green Beret Sergeant First Class Matthew McClintock lost his life, and two others were wounded, when his unit came under Taliban fire in a compound in Marjah, Afghanistan. After the unit was pinned down by enemy combatants, reports say the ground commander requested support from a circling AC-130 gunship.

Due to the Obama administration’s fear of collateral damage, the gunship was initially waived off.

The “quick” reaction force (QRF) was also delayed by hours. Although one of his fellow soldiers was able to keep him alive through the night, by the time the QRF and Medevac arrived about twelve hours later, it was too late. SFC McClintock died in the helicopter. The Taliban may have killed SFC McClintock, but the White House failed to save him.

It’s unthinkable that situations like this – where our troops are left defenseless and told not to return fire – happen at all. Even more disturbing, under this administration, these situations are the new reality. Rules of engagement matter. For SFC McClintock, it could have made the difference between life and death.

For the past several years, the White House has been forcing our troops to fight a war with their hands tied behind their backs. Troops are told they must have certainty that an individual is a combatant -- apparently a known Taliban fighter pointing a weapon at them does not qualify.

Our pilots are told to hold their fire until the U.S. gains permission from foreign governments to strike

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2016...but-obama-white-house-failed-to-save-him.html

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The blood is on Obama's hands.

 

[Steel Vanguard]

A commander in the field ****** up and now he (or more likely the press) is trying to pin it on policy.

I defy you to find, anywhere, an SOP from civilian command (ie, above the Joint Chiefs) that requires our soldiers not to fire when fired upon by hostiles.

Take your time.

 

[Spike]

Bullshit - so it was the commanders's fault on the ground now, was it?

YOU prove it.

Obama's ROE have killed more soldiers than you know - tieing their hands to prevent "collateral damage"


In the first seven-plus years of war in Afghanistan (October 2001 – December 2008) we lost 630 U.S. soldiers. In early 2009, the Obama administration authorized the implementation of the COIN (Counter-Insurgent) strategy, more focused on “winning hearts and minds” than winning a war, and over the next five years, the U.S. death toll nearly tripled.

more importantly...


Will Obama admin pay combat benefits to soldier killed in Afghanistan Tuesday?

He was Staff Sgt. Matthew McClintock, 30, and he died of wounds suffered when the enemy attacked his unit with small arms fire in Helmand province.

It is understandable that Barack Obama, Sgt. McClintock's nominal commander-in-chief, won't hold a press conference to announce his death, much less shed tears over another brave American's passing on the battlefield. Not that he shouldn't. Rather, that's no who Obama is or where his priorities lie.

A more pressing matter is whether Sgt. McClintock's survivors will receive the benefits historically paid out to the families of heroic men and women who died in combat.

So far it doesn't look good. In a news conference yesterday, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook was asked repeatedly by reporters whether U.S. forces in Marjah, where McClintock died, had been engaged in combat. Cook dodged the question.


“‘Could you explain the context of what’s going on in Marjah that required U.S. combat presence given that combat mission is over?” Cook was asked.

“ ‘Well as you know, we’re conducting ‘train, advise and assist’ in Helmand province,” he replied.


Cook was unable to clarify the mission involving the U.S. special operations troops and their Afghan counterparts.

“‘I cannot tell you with specificity at this point exactly what they were doing there at this particular time, other than this was an operation that was consistent with that ‘train, advise and assist’ mission.”


He went to on stress that ‘Afghanistan is a dangerous place’ and that the ‘fight’ was still underway in Helmand and other parts of the country.

“‘The U.S. forces that are there are doing what they can to provide support – training, advice, assistance to the Afghan forces as they take the lead in this fight."


Asked again what type of mission was underway when the firefight broke out, Cook said he did not want to jump the gun while awaiting more details.

"‘But these U.S. special operators are, as we’ve discussed before, allowed to engage, and train, advise and assist their special operations counterparts–”


"‘In active combat?’ a reporter interjected.


“‘--they’ve been in Helmand province, providing this kind of support in the past,” Cook continued.


“Is it safe to say that the combat mission continues in Afghanistan?’ a reporter asked.

“‘It is safe to say that Afghanistan is a dangerous place, and that the U.S. forces that are providing assistance to the Afghans are in harm’s way when they’re there. We’ve seen that, it’s been a painful reminder the last few weeks,’ he said.”


Shorter — make that more candid — Peter Cook: The combat mission in Afghanistan ended in 2014 because that's when Obama said it ended.

To concede now that combat is ongoing would be a stain on Obama's record and, worse, expose him for the liar and incompetent leader he is.

So officially, no, McClintock was not killed in combat. And, as with the case of Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler, who was killed in October during a commando raid on an ISIS-held prison in northern Iraq, no benefits will accrue to Sgt. McClintock's grieving relatives.

http://www.examiner.com/article/wil...enefits-to-soldier-killed-afghanistan-tuesday

 

[CharlesDavenport]

Impeachable dereliction of duty, but no biggie, right? At this point, what difference does it make?

 

[hamster]

Did the President personally refuse support for this particular case, of course not. Did the ROE by this Administration lead to this soldier's death? Absolutely. To deny it is dumbassery.

It always amazes me how a person, who couldn't lead a Brownie troop on a sleep over, is allowed leadership over the most powerful military on the planet.

 

[Elfiero]

Did the President personally refuse support for this particular case, of course not. Did the ROE by this Administration lead to this soldier's death? Absolutely. To deny it is dumbassery.

It always amazes me how a person, who couldn't lead a Brownie troop on a sleep over, is allowed leadership over the most powerful military on the planet.

Brownie leader Ronnie at your service. Can I bring my neat hat? Pleaaasseee!

October 1983 : 241 U.S. marines and 88 French soldiers killed thanks to the blinding stupidity of Ronald Reagan. Top that Bomma...you'll have to work overtime at this point.

 

[Spike]

Lookit' em come running to defend their Pharoh!

Bush's fault!

Reagan's fault!

But the buck never stops at Lord Obama - he's perfect!

Do you bind your scrotums so you can look as ball-less as him?

 

[Elfiero]

Lookit' em come running to defend their Pharoh!

Bush's fault!

Reagan's fault!

But the buck never stops at Lord Obama - he's perfect!

Do you bind your scrotums so you can look as ball-less as him?

Good answer! Good answer......

The point is we need a strong CONservative so these type things don't happen ,right?

That is the implication you're making, is it not?

I'm just showing how false your beliefs are when it comes to defense, and dem vs.rep

 

[Spike]

Good answer! Good answer......

why thank you


I do appreciate being appreciated

 

[CharlesDavenport]

False equivalence argument! No way!

 

[Steel Vanguard]

Alot of smoke, but still no fire.

WHERE IS THE ROE POLICY?

If Obama is responsible, fine. But you've yet to make this case because you've yet to post the policy, or the commander's interpretation of it. Until that happens, you're just ******** in your hand and calling it mud pie.

 

[Elfiero]

False equivalence argument! No way!

You're right, silly me.....
Reagans policy in this situation resulted in a blunder that was order of magnitudes greater.

Good catch. Thanks.