"Safety and security" is not the "top priority"

bushmaster1313 · Sep 4, 2015

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

Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said ...

“We wish all the wounded soldiers a speedy recovery,” Davis said Thursday night. “The safety and security of U.S. forces remains our top priority and we are committed to taking necessary steps for their protection.” (emphasis added)

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.

Doug627 · Sep 4, 2015

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

Mule Packer · Sep 4, 2015

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

TXSWFAN · Sep 4, 2015

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

ChattanoogaPhil · Sep 4, 2015

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....

XD40inTX · Sep 5, 2015

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.

bushmaster1313 · Sep 5, 2015

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.

LVSteve · Sep 6, 2015

bushmaster1313 said:
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.

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

11B Lifer · Sep 6, 2015

Purely political

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.

"Safety and security" is not the "top priority"

bushmaster1313

Member

Doug627

Member

Mule Packer

Member

TXSWFAN

Member

ChattanoogaPhil

Member

XD40inTX

Member

bushmaster1313

Member

LVSteve

Member

11B Lifer

Member

Similar threads

Latest posts