Marines Asked to Leave Weapons Outside During Panetta Speech; Does It Show Our Leaders Don't Trust Our Troops in the Field?
U.S. Marines in Afghanistan were ordered to disarm before attending a speech by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, just days after a lone American soldier went on a shooting rampage, killing Afghan civilians.
Does the move indicate that our leaders don’t trust our troops in the field?
Lt. Col. Bill Cowan and Geraldo Rivera joined America Live to comment on the issue.
Lt. Col. Cowan said that it appears as though their commanding general made the decision to ask these Marines to disarm, and it is far from normal protocol. He said, “Asking them to leave their weapons at the front door is like asking them to leave their right arm at the front door.”
Cowan continued, saying that he believes the order probably came from somewhere above this general, but that it begs the question, “Who do we trust? If we can’t trust our Marines, who can we trust?”
Rivera defined the real issue at play, saying “There is, I believe, some real disillusionment with the mission now in light of the Koran burning and the staff sergeant’s massacre. I think there are rumblings of some discontent … I think there’s enough rumblings, enough trouble, that they are suggesting why when you have a Cabinet-level official here, one of the most famous people in the world, the Defense Secretary of the United States, why even take a chance in light of these extraordinary, and extremely depressing events.”
Cowan suggested another option would have been to let the Marines bring their weapons into the speech, but ask them to leave their ammunition outside.
Megyn Kelly then chimed in saying, “Both of you are assuming there’s a reason to distrust the Marines!”
Watch the full discussion below.
