US Marines facing reality

clipped from www.timesonline.co.uk Morale dips for American marines in Afghanistan In a remote part of Helmand troops are dismayed by the ambivalence of locals and a sense that the Taliban can outlast them A mile from South Station, an outpost of US marines in Helmand province, the tribal chief was openly hostile. “The Americans threaten our economy and take our land for bases. They promise much and deliver nothing,” he said. “I’m not much for this war. I’m not sure it’s worth all those lives lost,” said Sergeant Christian Richardson as we walked across corn fields that will soon be ploughed up to plant a spring crop of opium poppy.

They ought to read this blog, they and their inept and idiotic political masters.
I had a US former Marine Sgt work for me in Namibia. He could not understand that his two year enlistment did nowhere equate to that of a 15 year regular soldier. Very few of the lessons in soldiering can be gained from the library of military literature. They are gained in the field, from those who have experienced all that service has to offer.
The British made an enormous mistake when, after the Falklands, the major slice of experienced senior nco's were forcibly retired. That single instrument allowed second class senior officers to kowtow to their political masters, with disastrous procurement of everything essential from personal weapons to food, through footwear to transport.
When General Jackson and his cronies were feathering their pension pots, the skills and loyalty of the squaddie were evaporating on a maelstrom of political correctness and Health & Safety. I heard not a beep out of the Brass about ranks children’s’ education, housing, servicemen’s injuries, lost pensions and a host more. Even the mental health of the bravest of British manhood was left to the Charities.
And so many of the major charities failed miserably. Bless Help for Heroes.