This thread is not about the particular mission at issue in the news article.

It is about the tension between the primacy of a mission and the importance of keeping our soldiers safe.



At this website: 'Nothing to stop ISIS': Attack underscores threat facing US force in Egypt | Fox News


Don't get me wrong, every hair on the head of every American soldier is precious beyond measure. But safety and security does not come before the Mission. If a Mission, any Mission, is not worth risking safety and security -- the Mission is not worth doing.

__________________
Buy American
Vote Responsibly

First, there has to be a Mission. Is there a Mission or just a presence?

...uh...guys, I'd kinda watch where you're goin' with this.

__________________
Pack light and cinch tight.

Never mind. Posted before I saw the post above mine. He's right.

__________________
Smith & Wesson beat four aces

Keep some CIA spooks lurking in the shadows for intel, but get the 650 soldiers... uh "monitors" out of there. They're just targets.

Israel doesn't need us or anyone else to enforce the peace with Egypt. My guess is that if we had left things be in the 70s the official language of Egypt would be Hebrew today....

For you guys who aren't old enough to remember it--Vietnam started the same way back in the early 'Sixties. We had troops there as "advisors." The U.S. troops were specifically targeted by the North Vietnamese/Chinese forces, until we had no choice but to either leave or retaliate.

This thread is not about the particular mission at issue in the news article.

It is about the tension between the primacy of a mission and the importance of keeping our soldiers safe.

__________________
Buy American
Vote Responsibly

Welcome to our new world that has become so risk averse it is almost paralysed.

__________________
Release the Kraken

Politicians and their appointees makes these statements-because, fortunately, as a society we value the lives of the lowest ranking soldiers-(and other ranks as well)-Our military has values that are considerably different from those of other countries-
Yes, mission is first-but leaders whose descisions needlessly cause casualties are dealt with pretty harshly.
In summary: as a rifle company commander my most valued asset is the rifleman-I'm responsible for that kid 24/7- the soldier knows this and in turn is loyal- we, as a team can do anything asked of us.
Operationally, we analyze missions, conduct threat and vulnerability assessments, and ensure sustainment of combat effectiveness- most politicians don't have a clue- and that is why when politicians "run" military operations we experience problems.