We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/05/heh_ill_go_with.html Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:03:09 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification But it sure strikes me like a courts-martial for dereliction certainly should have been on the table. And possibly was. [In retrospect, and a little more infomation, that might have been an overly-harsh initial reaction on my part. I do concur with the reliefs vice a reprimand, however.] Consequences of action and inaction matter. WASHINGTON - Three U.S. soldiers slaughtered in a grisly kidnapping-murder plot south of Baghdad last June had been left alone for up to 36 hours in a poorly planned mission, a military investigation concluded. Two officers have been relieved of their commands. Neither of the officers... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/05/heh_ill_go_with.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/05/heh_ill_go_with.html Thu, 17 May 2007 08:25:37 -0600 i wasn't surprised a bit that JD relieved them. i am surprised that he didn't relieve anyone higher up the food chain. JD don't screw around. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/05/heh_ill_go_with.html#comment-60102 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/05/heh_ill_go_with.html#comment-60102 Thu, 17 May 2007 12:27:22 -0600 Every time we get ambushed/kidnapped, it seems to be in an area our military has been charged with a rape/murder charge- this past weekend included. Seems to me that the military is leaving too much to chance in these volatile areas by letting single vehicles out on patrol. Isn't the SOP in Iraq 2 or more vehicles together, at all times? Seems to me that the relief of duty reprimands in the June incident were completely warranted. 24-36 hour guard shifts, with no relief, no protection, and only one vehicle? COME ON. I may be a civilian, but damn... even I know that's just plain dumb. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/05/heh_ill_go_with.html#comment-60101 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/05/heh_ill_go_with.html#comment-60101 Thu, 17 May 2007 12:00:32 -0600 The 1SG was not mentioned in the article - which doesn't mean career-ending things didn't happen to him, simply that it wasn't mentioned. If anything did happen to anyone else - as the article suggests - it's probably covered under the Privacy Act and we're not going to know. I think Thurman did the right thing in ordering the reliefs, vice letters of reprimand. Hard conditions or no, they were not up to the rigors of the job. And, re-reading the whole thing in the cold light of day, I was leaning a little harsh on the courts-martial talk, too. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/05/heh_ill_go_with.html#comment-60096 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/05/heh_ill_go_with.html#comment-60096 Thu, 17 May 2007 09:30:58 -0600 Since I'm in a "police your own" mood today: What about the 1st Sgt (I know that's AF abreviation, but I forgot the Army one)? Doesn't responsibility for the health, welfare, morale and discipline of the enlisted corps fall squarely on their shoulders? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/05/heh_ill_go_with.html#comment-60094 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/05/heh_ill_go_with.html#comment-60094 Thu, 17 May 2007 09:20:35 -0600