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Subscribe to RSSGeneral Martin Dempsey was not on board at the time of the rocket attack, but the damage forced him to use another plane for Tuesday's flight to Iraq. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
Updated at 6:40 a.m. ET: An aircraft used by U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Martin Dempsey was damaged by rocket-fire at an airbase outside Kabul, Afghanistan, NATO said on Tuesday. The general was not on board at the time and no one was injured.
At around 1 a.m. (4:30 p.m. ET) on Tuesday, insurgents fired rockets or mortars into the base airfield, a source in Bagram Air Field told NBC News. Two landed in the air field, with one of them hitting the plane used by Dempsey, the source added.
Massoud Hossaini / AFP - Getty Images
Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey (C) poses at NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters in Kabul on Monday.
Meanwhile, NATO's mission in Afghanistan confirmed that the plane had been damaged by incoming fire, saying it had been hit by "shrapnel from an indirect fire round."
"The round was one of two that impacted Bagram last night. An ISAF helicopter was also damaged," the ISAF statement added.
Photos: Afghanistan: Nation at a crossroads
"(Dempsey) was nowhere near the aircraft. We think it was a lucky shot," NATO senior spokesman Col. Thomas Collins told Reuters.
A new plane was brought in for Dempsey and he and his crew departed later in the morning.
The aircraft was only being used temporarily by Dempsey and his staff.
Bagram targeted
Dempsey had been in the country on a two-day visit for talks with NATO and Afghan commanders on a string of recent rogue shootings.
Bagram is occasionally targeted with rockets and mortar shells fired by insurgents from surrounding hills and fields.
What's leading Afghan troops to turn on coalition forces?
Sporadic attacks also occur at NATO's other main airbase in Afghanistan, Kandahar Airfield, in the volatile south, although they rarely cause deaths or major damage.
Before leaving Afghanistan, Dempsey met his Afghan counterpart, General Sher Mohammad Karimi, who raised the issue of insider attacks by rogue forces that have killed 10 American troops in the past two weeks.
"In the past, it's been us pushing on them to make sure they do more," he said on Monday. "This time, without prompting, when I met General Karimi, he started with a conversation about insider attacks -- and, importantly, insider attacks not just against us, but insider attacks against the Afghans, too."
NBC's Atia Abawai explains what's behind the worsening attacks on U.S. military personnel by Afghan security and military to NBC's Andrea Mitchell.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Sad that the article neglects to mention the ground crew that were injured by shrapnel. The General was there to try to address his concerns about attacks perpetrated by the forces that we train and barely gets out of theater on a C-17 marked as a spare. Crazy...
After 11 years of war, thousands of dead and seriously wounded Americans, trillions of dollars spent, we have achieved almost nothing in Afghanistan. Out now! Enough of this criminal foolishness...
I forgot. Why are we there?
(shrugs shoulders) Maybe now General Martin Dempsey Chairman U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, US Politicians, US Public, etc. will finally realize that Afghanistan is (has been) an Asymmetric War (aka Special Warfare), specifically Insurgency, Counter Insurgency, etc. as NOT trained to the 99% Conventional Warfare Military Forces and NOT a Conventional War (named after the Conventions of Civilians to make War "Civilized", 1907 Hague Convention (result WWI, Trench Warfare, and the "honorable death" of running into machineguns; 1949 Geneva Convention, result later on "honorable deaths" of running up hills into machineguns to take and hold hills during the Korean "Conflict"). Forgot to mention something important about Asymmetric Wars versus Conventional Wars, Asymmetric Wars have been known to last Decades to Centuries, unlike the Conventional Wars, example: American War of Independence (1774 to 1784) started as an Asymmetric War with the Individuals (no uniforms) as the "Minutemen".
The United States of America is a member of the United Nations; therefore, the US Military is used as the United Nation's Military B!tches during the UN Mission of Nation Building of Afghanistan. Just like previous UN Nation Building Missions of UN Mission Somalia I and UN Mission Somalia II (and Operation Gothic Serpent aka Blackhawk Down), UN Mission Nation Building Iraq, etc. (majority paid for by US Taxpayers).
There IS a way to end our war in Afghanistan: outsource it to China and have them bring in 250,000 UN sanctioned Peace Keepers who will disarm the country, seal the borders, burn the opium crop, end the insurgency, and turn the heroin-dependent Afghan economy into an economy based upon the rare-earth minerals in NE Afghanistan.
China is Afghanistan's next-door neighbor and the only country with the skills to put down the Afghan insurgency.
Besides, China won the war in Vietnam. It's time they won a war for us.
The militants need t be better at hitting their targets!
They are hitting their targets. They aim at aircraft because they are so large.
Commonsense: "I forgot. Why are we there?"
As I recall it was to get binladen. Well they got him didn't they? Now let's quit dumping billions into that hell hole. Bush also said something similar about Iraq and Hussian. We're still there and wasting billions while our country goes down the toilet. In a strange way the muslim wacko's are winning.
Max 108, how can you say we have achieved almost nothing, look at those accomplishments you pointed out.
Wonder if MR. Hope & Change will promise to get us out of there, if he is re-elected or will he just escalate it even further as he has already.
Obama, why don't you start getting our guys out now, buy votes with something real and backoff the smut that shows who you really are.
the headlines, did not match the facts, it should have said, Taliban attacks air base, generals plane damaged.
Vietnam.............................
Doesn't the American military understand that because we are pulling out, the Afghans that are supposed to be on our side, are forced to commit violent acts against us, because when we leave and the Taliban takes over, the people that helped us will be executed. But, if they killed Americans, they will be honored instead of executed. The US has no "friends," in Afghanistan. We should get out NOW, TODAY!
Where do they get those rockets? From Syrian activists or rebels in Lybia?
There's no combat going on in Afghanistan. Obama has said so. Why do you doubt the Messiah?
Unfortunately both parties are full of whores of the US military industrial complex and nothing will change regardless of who is elected in November. Ron Paul was the only candidate worth voting for IMO.
Max-What is it about Ron Paul that you support?
I can't answer for Max about why he supports Ron Paul, but I can tell you why I do. He believes in less spending and smaller government. His stance of foreign policy is one of consistent non-intervention and putting a stop to massive, unaccountable foreign aid. He believes that it's ridiculous that the US spends so much money policing other countries' borders while leaving its own borders unprotected.
He also believes that business shouldn't be regulated and health insurance companies shouldn't have to provide coverage to people who are born disabled and the government should provide healthcare to them either.
david-475776 dont forget operation restore hope...that was the prelude to black hawk down...you know the last big one from H.W. Bush. sorry but im proud of my husband he served and survived being shot there in Somalia
Correction: shouldn't provide...not should.
These knuckle draggers are never going to give up. They kicked commie Russia's ass and it's going to be the same now. Funny thing. In the 80's the U S was supplying them with weapons to fight Russia and now Russia is supplying them with the weapons to fight the U S. What goes around comes around i guess.
Paul-2539759
Paul do you really think the other option for president (Ryan/romney) wont start and even bigger war? I do
Obama is truly the winner on this front because I do believe the Right loves war...I just do...most of them own/run/control/harbor...did i miss any....most of the companies that produce stuff for war...contracts...etc.
I cant say that in my life a Lefty actually took the steps to work a war into his term...but that's not to say i don't know all the fact, that I don't put it past a Lefty to do it...and I'm sure they have special contracts for their buddies companies, er best interests...but I do think its war war war if the Right gets commander in chief.
Ron Paul is anti-war and anti-big government with all of it's wasteful spending. He is the only honest and non-special interest beholden candidate for the president. that is why he has my support. And if Israel starts yet another war - Ron Paul is the only man who will tell them to go f-k themselves.
whoops think i mixed some comments up sry^
Charley Wilson. :))hehe
Freedomofspeech - there are always going to be some things about every candidate that are not going to be in line with what you believe in. What candidate do you support and why?
10 years ago, after winning the war, we were in the best spot to negotiate peace with Taliban. Instead, we created a puppet government of Karzai-the-crook and his gang of 40,000 thieves. We are now paying for this colossal stupidity.
Now that this big general muckity-muck got his ass shot at maybe we'll start pulling the @!$%# out a little quicker!
@David....The Geneva Convention etc were written for Wars with a state sponsored actor ie. another country, not rogue groups with deep pockets who won't follow it regardless. You're right that they take time, on average about 10-15 years for a successful counter-insurgency. As far as the Military being trained for it, they are now, at least on the Army side. The problem was there was a lack of lessons learned from Vietnam, because up until now the Army was bad at them because they only wanted to fight the big fight.
As far as the Marines go, they've always been well versed in small wars and have had a manual on it since the early 20th century....In fact they were very successful in Viet Nam.
Also, a Counter Insurgency is very Intelligence driven especially using sources. Which is why Special Operations are more effective at it. They are better at running sources and informants, whereas Conventional Military Intelligence is very slow and deliberate.
What do we expect? We are invading a country....if we were being invaded, we would do the same thing! After 11 years..its time to get the F YOU C K out of there! What are we doing there ..we are protecting their opium....(well its ours now...we stole it!)
I support the Democrats because they are the most likely party to care for our most vulnerable citizens...the sick and disabled...the elderly..the poor. One thing you have to understand about the poor is that they often have a couple things working against themselves. They were brought up in chaos and abuse and have a hard time rising above it. Some can, some can't. People have different personalities and abilities and often the psychological effects from their childhoods damage them forever. Second, a lot of them just weren't given the gift of intelligence from God. Those are gifts you were born with. A lot of them were poor students from first grade. It's just how they were born. I worked in Social Services and saw it with my own eyes everyday.
Democrats also don't try and shove their religious beliefs down everyone's throats. I'm talking about gay marriage and abortion. Two things that aren't right for me, but who am I to tell anyone else how to live their own life. That's not up to me.
Democrats are less likely to spend money on War. They are more likely to spend on Education. The are less likely to allow businesses to take advantage of the average citizen. I could go on but I think I hit the main points.
If you want to bring up the economy, I will just answer that now. It hasn't affected anyone in our family or group of friends. I think it's over exaggerated. Then again, we have marketable skills and stay employed and we don't over extend ourselves financially so we have been smart and lucky that way. As a 2 income household we have always lived as a one income household. But again, we got the gift from God of intelligence and have been able to work in careers that pay well. We don't think we are special. We think we are lucky. I don't have a problem paying taxes to help those less lucky. Do some people on assistance abuse drugs. I'm sure they do. But I look at it like this....they must be really hurting inside that they can only make themselves feel better by getting high. We aren't huge consumers and rarely shop. Some people having financial hard times truly got there through no fault of their own and we should help and support them until they get back on their feet. Others, got their because they made bad choices in life. Unfortunately, it's hard to determine which group each fall into so we are stuck helping them all. Oh well. That's what society is all about. Working together for the good of all and not being a selfish human being.
So..for these reasons I will always support the Democrats. Do I agree with everything they stand for? No. Do I think they lie? All politicians lie. But given the 2 party system in this country, I'm left to decide on which party is going to do the least damage. And that..is...the Democrats!
This is a deadend war and it is time for our Govt to bring our troops home! Bring them all home immediately before another innocent bystander gets killed
There is no reason why we should still be there in an attempt to change an ancient mindset, BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW AND USE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THAT DEADEND WAR ON HELPING IMPROVE OUR OWN COUNTRY!
Who knows what's truly going on. The government lies and hides things. Sometimes for the good of national security.
So glad you nor your family wasn't hit with the economy but you think it's over exaggerated????? I guess the unemployment numbers, the massive amount of people on some sort of government assistance is over exaggerated. Maybe the reason you and your family wasn't hit with the economy is because you and your family ARE on government assistance thus you'll keep voting democrat. Nice going leach, keep living off the taxpayers (incase you're too ignorant to understand I'll explain to you -- government assistance is due to the largess of the taxpayers -- not the government themselves because like you they live off the taxpayer as well!)
Dotties girl-
I will break it down for you. This includes the brother's and sister's and spouses. Here's our occupation list.
5 self employed-4 in the food industry. One in communications.
3 teachers
1 Engineer
1 IT Industry
1 Physical Therapist
1 Captain of a Ship
Out of us 12, only 1 doesn't have a college education.
If it makes you feel better to assume any of us are on Gov. Assistance. Be my guest!
And since the general was not on the craft when hit this is news?
Quite frankly, who cares, all while our Troops are on the ground, being killed and maimed EVERY DAY! The fact is, the General HAULED AZZ out of town, and far away from the killing zone!
PUNK, COWARD and a TOP NOTCH WIMP! Send his azz back there and let him dodge the bullets and bombs like the Troops on the Ground!
I am FED UP with the Politicians in Washington putting our Troops in harms way, when the MAJORITY of those SUPPORTING and APPROVING this Occupation, their CHILDREN or sorry Azzes are FAR AWAY in the Comforts of their Homes!
We need to elect a Congress and Senate, whereby we can change the Rules, whereby when THEY approve of Invasions and Occupations, that there MUST BE a FAMILY MEMBER or TWO from their HOME, on the FRONT lines with our troops! And that is to INCLUDE Family members for Big Oil and Corporate America, since they are the ones whose CONTROLLING and RUNNING our Government!
Just ponder on this last Invasion; Cheney DODGED the Draft five (5) times; GW played hookie while in the Air National Guard, and Romney, talking stuff, he avoided the draft, and NOT ONE of his five (5) son's have VOLUNTEER for anything being MILITARY! How Americans continue to drink this toxic Kool-aid is profound!
We put these Rules into Law, I bet you would NEVER see another Invasion, nor Occupation, when their family member lives are on the FRONT LINES!
One of Obama's campaign promises was to end these wars and bring our troops home!
LIAR!
At Earthie - Amen to that. GWB sent these young people to die while his own kids are having huge weddings and partying it up, just like he did during Vietnam. I'm sure everyone with family in harms way would much rather see their kin doing the dougie at the olympics.
Well, I see the Wimps are out today, The Candy Azzes that won't do a thing for their country,Sit at home, in their old rooms, Can't get a job, won't get or take a job Sad Sack, won't get out of their parents home, Sorry Azzes excusses for a human being, Hooka sucking do nothings, Who don't realize when 9/11 happened that war on your soil and you didn't like that, but think that what? The 1,000s that were killed are not worth anything crowed are pecking their keyboards spewing about we shouldn't be there. If you don't like it pack your SH!t and leave. I don't recomend Canada as they don't like you, try Mexico, and don't let the door hit you on the AZZ on the way out.
@Earthie
What about the warmonger in chief Obama? I noticed the anti-war demonstrations from the left have all but stoped ever since a democrat was elected to the White House. Hypocrites.
@jeff-2757332
Actually the one who sent most of our troops to die in Vietnam was none other than that liberal scumbag Lyndon Johnson. I'm not defending Bush, just correcting your very selective memory.
I can solve this for everyone, instate a 5 year mandatory military service for all Americans to begin sometime between their 18th - 30th birthday.
Yes, forced military service for the government in a country that prides itself on being "free". What a joke.
Where would you have them put troops that are trained and paid to kill, Disneyland? I hate the Wars as well, and think the insider attacks are chicken@!$%#, but don't be so naive - harms way is their office.
@ Flatiron
I see nowhere in my comment anything about who started Vietnam or my support of any political party. What I do know is that my uncle came home (lucky to come home at all) from Vietnam after being wounded on 3 separate occasions and watching most everyone he served with suffer and many die. I also know the heartache another family member has suffered when her fiance never came back at all, not even in a bodybag. I am a true independent in politics as I know for certain I don't consider any Harvard Lawyer to share my views either in politics or life. Any political system, which in America is based on who has the most cash, will never be a government by the people or for them. So until you know what is in someone's "memory", you should probably keep your BS to yourself.
Yes, Rockyroad, Obama last time campaigned to end the wars, the high price of gas, save social security and decrease unemployment. Fact is a Republican president would have done little to address these concerns. One man cannot control these issues.
@ Flatiron
Just so you know, I agree with you about LBJ.
He's not a politician he's a general, he's earned rank and he follows orders. To answer who cares, I'm sure his family does just like the families of every soldier overseas serving their country. If he had stayed in the "killing zone" he went into he would have put everyone on that base at risk because he would be a major target. As a civilian who does not take his hat off for the national anthem as an exercise of my first amendment right even with the threat of bodily harm from our military servicemen I find it incredibly ironic that I'm saying this but your personal attacks on the general are sad and unAmerican. I hope you are not in the military.
We should not have been in any of the recent wars including Iraq. Its ironic that someone thinks this method will fix anything considering the 911 attackers were the product of other wars we shouldn't have been involved in. We are a war mongering nation which picks its battles not on the ethical value but on political motives, dollar signs and personal vendettas. A blatant fact backed up by the polarized handling of Libya and Syria. Attack the policy not the people who signed up and serve our country.
Flatiron....I used to think that to....but i've changed my mind over the last few years...I wouldn't want any of these keyboard warriors sharing a foxhole with myself or my son.or grandsons....
Just like all the communist nations let's be more like them. <SARCASM>
At a recent family reunion I had a relative complain about Obama promised and all the costs of the war. The bast@#d relative never voiced those comments about debt when the bushwhacker got us there and kept us there for 8 years. Only now as Obama has us down to 76,000 troops remaining does he open his lying mouth!
FlatIron72
What wars did Obama start during his administration? Can you be so kind as to list all of them out? Obama did NOT start this war and he followed the guidance of our military leadership on a timetable. It's NO different than what BUSH did, except BUSH started this one.
Actually, if you did YOUR homework. Vietnam really started under EISENHOWER.
http://personal.ashland.edu/~jmoser1/usfp/morris.htm
Next, more troops were deployed to VIETNAM during NIXON's administration than LBJ:
Troop deployment by year: http://www.americanwarlibrary.com/vietnam/vwatl.htm
Let's see McPain wanted us to get involved in Libya and we stayed out. Kadaffi is gone and not one American died their. Now McPain is talking about getting involved in Syria. Is that all republicans are good for is starting and calling for wars and throwing trillions into our debt?
A waste of a story. The general was not inside the aircraft. Mainstream media is crap, it basically has nothing to report except for cheap entertaiment, bias and elitist ordered propaganda.
It is logical that someone who thinks he is exercising his freedom of speech by trashing the National Anthem hectors the previous president and worships this poor excuse we endure now. One thing about this wonderful nation..you are free to leave it anytime you want. What do you see here that keeps you from leaving? The fact that you can rationalize not serving it while others risk their all for you ? The comfort, prosperity and safety provided by others willing to die for those of your ilk? The false intellectual superiority your attitude shows?
FYI,
The US Involvement with "French Indochina" (aka Vietnam) started after WWII, with the United Nations (aka League of Nations) demanded US, Canadian, etc. holding "French Indochina" until the French could reoccupy their former French Colony after the WWII Japanese Surrender and withdrew.
The covert US Involvement with French Indochina occurred with the US supplying the French with US Military Equipment (Tanks, etc.) and actually US Pilots flying Transport Supply Aircraft and Ground Attack Aircraft during the French at Dien Bien Phu, 1954.
This US involvement eventually escalated after the French formally left French Indochina after the defeat at Dien Bien Phu, while the French Colonists remained at the French Rubber Tree Plantations. President Kennedy as Commander In Chief orders US Military Advisors to French Indochina (aka Vietnam), this eventually escalates under succeeding US Presidents. This escalation, today known as "War Creep" is why the US Congress demanded limiting the US Presidential War Powers with US Law, 1973 War Powers Resolution to stop any potential "War Creep" or any US Presidential Unilateral starting of Wars without complete US Congressional Approvals (both Houses of US Congress Manditory) and US Congressional Appropriations (a means for US Congress to stop the US President).
FYI, at the point in time when many US Military Officers become Flag Officers (Generals and Admirals); instead of being the Representative of the US Citizens of the US Military the stated written duty of the US Congressional US Military Officer's Commissioning Certificate (Contract of Office) , they become obligated to the US Politicians and basically become Politicians; the days of Generals and Admirals "Leading from the Front" (Basic US Military Leadership 101) ended after WWII, "Sharing the Hardships" (Basic US Military Leadership 101) ended after Vietnam.
Yes, he did earn his US Military Officer Grade (not Rank, rank is for Enlisted and NCOs). As far as following orders as a definition or trait of a US Military Officer, that is NOT what he is hired employed or required for. Following Orders with no intiative is a trait of a previous USSR Military, WWII NAZIs, President Hussein's Iraqis Military, etc. as mindless easily defeated robots.
What he, and most US Military Officers MUST do, is define the implementations of broad US Policies (Goals) as stated by the US President; as US President states his Policies, Secretary of Defense (US Civilians at Pentagon) turns these US Policies into DOD Directives (National and International), US Military Flag Officers (Generals and Admirals) create War Plans and Contigency Plans (if they are smart) based on the input from the subordinate Commands and US Intelligence, subordinate Commands (Theater Commands, Major Military Commands) provide input (from "On the Ground") to the Higher Commands and write their own more detailed Theater (Operational War Plans, Policies, Directives, Standard Operating Procedures, etc.) pertaining to only their Theater of Operations. Eventually, the Operational Commanders write their own Operation Orders for their specific Area(s) of Operation(s) and Missions. Eventually, this becomes a Unit Level Commander's Operation Order (even more detailed to specific Companies, Platoons, Squads, etc. Area(s) of Operation(s) only). The lowest level of Operations Order is the Frago (Fragmentary Order).
In all cases of Orders this is a two way communication, from the top going down, and from "on the ground" going up as to what is working and what is not (valid reason for NOT obeying Orders issued from Higher Commands, as unnecessary deaths as the decision that US Military Officers are held responsible and accountable for as their appointed Office).
Well tom, because you bring up the national anthem, I'm going to assume you are attacking me. I didn't mention either president in my post so I'm honestly not sure what the hell your talking about. I don't worship either one of them. My family has served almost every war since the colonization of this country. At 18 the recruiter I spoke with jerked me around and tried to make me be a nurse after I had completed all the testing... I didn't want to be a nurse, he wanted to fill his quota, I gave up after the man lied to my face. I was more then willing to serve.
What makes this country great is the freedoms that it gives us all, freedoms hard won in wars of the past. Wars during times when men, including our forefathers, risked their own death burning the union jack in protest. You are delusional if you think wars are about "comfort, prosperity and safety", they are not and have not been since WWII. Get over the brainwashing mantras.
If you can't respect my rights I think YOU need to get out of MY country because that is what generations of my family put there lives on the line for, not a song which is sung to an English tune adopted 140 years after the fact and not a flag. There are plenty of NAZI-like nations out there that would be more suited to your concept of freedom. No flag, song, non-living object should ever take precedence or have more value over human beings and the freedom those songs and flag represent. Your tired played out notion of people who don't agree with you need to leave is unAmerican and unpatriotic, CHINA WANTS YOU! go there. Maybe Putin needs a golf buddy, just watch out for those uranium pills. I have a right to argue, state, speak my mind, and make my points. That right was dearly fought for, is well documented, and a founding premise of this country. If your only counter is to tell me to leave and to attack my intellect then you post is the one lacking intellect.
david-475776
I sincerely learn more from you then any other vine poster. Thanks for the education.
Actually, if you did YOUR homework - - EISENHOWER said "Never get involved in a ground war in Asia."
We (US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces (aka Special Warfare)) attached to the CIA's SAD/SOG) do not want to go back there again (we just got back a few weeks ago after years of consecutive tours living with the Afghans) as we (the few of us that survived) have been involved with the "Middle East" since the 1980s. (It is someone elses turn, of the thousands of us that started as the US Military Training Teams to US Ally Iraq during the Iran Iraq Wars, rotated to Operation Cyclone, Kuwait, Desert Storm, Somalia, Operation Desert Fox, Redacted , Operation Hotel California, etc. there are only less than a hundred of us that survived.). It is my hope that someone learns from our firsthand experience as not to repeat the same mistakes and expect different results during the life or death school of hard knocks.
Honestly, do your REALLY believe anything a US Politician says?
In 1954 President Eisenhower as Commander In Chief Ordered US Military Involvement in the Support of the French Military at French Indochina (aka Vietnam) as part of the US Mutual Defense Assistance Act.
You might also research when Air America (Pilots, Aircraft) was started.
If you are wondering WHY, I know about all of this (French Indochina). After the Vietnam "Conflict" (renamed War), I wanted to know why it was that I ended up with a Selective Service Card after High School Graduation, ending up as Field Artillery, and then as a LRRP/Ranger calling in Airstrikes at Plei Can (the Ho Chi Minh Trail (super freeway)) to slow down the NVA, Viet Cong advance so that the rest of the US could escape. So later on while attending College under the Vietnam GI Bill and attending ROTC, I did the research and wrote a US Military History College paper about the French at French Indochina (aka Vietnam).
@ david - 475776
I have always been amazed at the similarities between the battles of Khe Sanh and Dien Bien Phu. Thanks for sharing your research/knowledge.
President Obama has NEVER LIED! He has been put to task from the Generals over this Occupation! Obama does NOT know any better, he is DEPENDENT on his Generals to tell him WHAT IS UP, and as usual, they LIE!
President Obama is NO military person, he DEPENDS on his Generals to TELL HIM THE TRUTH ... OBVIOUSLY they are not DOING THAT!
President Obama does NOT RUN, nor CONTROL what goes on in America; I am positive MOST KNOW THIS BY NOW! Obama is nothing but a puppet, SAVING HIS life AND THOSE OF HIS FAMILY, and EXTENSIVE FAMILY MEMBERS!
For I firmly believe, if President Obama did NOT do as Big Oil and Corporate America INSTRUCTS him to do, he would be ASSASSINATED in the Bink of the eye!
Quite frankly, I WISH he had NEVER ran and became President of these CORRUPT UNITED STATES! For his azz is FRIED, if he attempted to do good for the People whom voted him into office!
Now its our JOB to make sure NO MORE TEA BAGGER'S or reTHUGlicans are elected to SCREW AMERICA, deeper!
2 rockets were fired at the Bagram Air Base (vast) the shrapnel of one rocket hitting the door of C-17 plane used by Gen.Martin Demsey while it was parked on the runway. 2 maintenance crew were injured in the rocket attack.GenDemsey's spokesman Dave Lapan (Col) stated Gen.Demsey not in the plane at the time and he left the Bagram Air Base in another plane. There has been sporadic attacks with 'lighter'ammo but not like the rockets used at this attack. Securing Bagram Air Base and its environs adequately should be the question of the day.
mimi jacques
Especially in light of our Afghan "allies" knowing the plane for Dempsey would be there. Just remember, the bad guys only have to get lucky once. With the possibility of inside information from their confederates, the bad guys probably had the ETA/ETD of the plane in order to launch the rocket attacks in the first place.
Sorry to hear 2 maintenance personnel were injured.
Truly, truly I say unto thee: the bad guys are those who INVADE other peoples country. Invade means " To enter for conquest or plunder" and kill or be killed in the process. Check Webster's Dictionary.
@ D.Gabriel...The US doesn't get any plunder. The US pays to be in other peoples wars, and then pays for the clean up and rebuilding. And, "Conquest?" Not since the United States of America came to be. We have conquered, but gained no new land.
@ jack from Jax...... your dead on about the "insider info" Those people are only using us for all they can get , in lives and money.
@UncleBen-3793367 .. for your reading pleasure! American Empire, Irresistible Empire , The New Imperialism , The Sorrows of Empire, The Folly of Empire, Inco-herent Empire, The Sands of Empire, America’s Inadvertent Empire, Among Empires, and Habits of Empire.
Niall Ferguson, who wishes that the United States wore the mantle of empire proudly, captures the national delusion best: "The great thing about the American empire is that so many Americans disbelieve in its existence . . . . They think they’re so different that when they have bases in foreign territories, it’s not an empire. When they invade sovereign territories, it’s not an empire."
So much for roving patrols, or anyone in uniform at all to provide a deterrent. I have been in and out of several bases in the Middle East, and would love to know just how this happened! What type of delivery system was used for this rocket? Laser? Aim and shoot? How far away? I know an early warning system would not have prevented this, but wth soldiers?
Why can't we just get out? The hell with Afghan and it's people. They will never stop fighting, it's all they've known for centuries. Just leave and let them kill each other off.
I agree. China got all the oil deals in Afghanistan, let them send their troops in to protect it. All we got out of this are the loss of our troops and high gas prices.
China has no deals of any kind in Afghan. In Syria they have 80 Bill or so invested ontheir Oil Intrastructure.
Largest Copper in Afghanistan
Let the bronze-age bastards go back to tearing at each other as they always have...
Most of you NEED to do more Research (Wikipedia does NOT count, see "Wikipedia Disclaimer"):
Because the US is part of the United Nations. The UN Mission at Afghanistan has been UN Nation Building.
Research "Little America" US Ally as built up into a 20th Century US Ally from the 1950s to 1979 (USSR 40th Army Invasion).
Wrong Nation.
After President Obama's March 2009 Iranian Policy allowed the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran to do anything without US Interventions; the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic pressured the US Ally Government of Afghanistan into negotiations with their Ally, the Chinese for the High Tech Mineral Wealth of Afghanistan in 2011, the Chinese got the High Tech Mineral Wealth of Afghanistan; this High Tech Mineral Wealth is what is currently required for most of the "Alternative Energy" of the US, especially the Lithium deposits (electric car batteries). The China Metallurgical Group is currently at Northern Afghanistan. The Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran also pressured the US Ally Islamic ShiaGovernment of Iraq to no longer negotiate withPresident Obama and SOS Clinton for the US to remain at Iraq, and to negotiate with their Iranian Allies, the Russian Federation and the Chinese for the Northern and Southern Iraqis Oil Fields, 2010; or the "Proxy Fighters" (Islamic Jihadists) of the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran as trained by the Iranian Special Forces, Quds, would Overthrow the Iraqis Government. In 2011 the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran pressured the US Ally Government of Pakistan to get the US out of Pakistan or be Overthrown.
In 2010, the "Proxy Fighters" (Islamic Jihadists) of Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran as trained and armed by their Special Forces, Quds, at the Fundamentalist Islamic Autonomous Kurdistanis Region of Northern Iraq, go back to their Nations to conduct Asymmetric Warfare (Insurgency Warfare) to start Civil Wars (get the people to fight for their Cause(s) for perceived or real injustices).
Since shortly after President Obama's March 2009 Iran Policy the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran overtly supports the Fundamentalist Islamic Jihadists Worldwide, their Special Forces training them at the Fundamentalist Islamic Autonomous Kurdistanis Region of Northern Iraq, fully funding from the Mandatory Islamic Tithes (Trillion USDs per year) of 1.5 Billion Islamic Believers Worldwide, arming and equipping with modern 21st Century weapons from their Allies the Chinese and Russian Federation, providing Fundamentalist Islamic Sanctuary, etc.. This is why we saw a significant increase at Afghanistan of Fundamentalist Islamic Jihadists shortly afterwards; and why after President Obama appointed General McChrystal, General McChrystal was In Briefed (shown) the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran involvements with Afghanistan and General McChrystal announced this to the New Media, so because this was against President Obama's March 2009 Iran Policy General McChrystal received a Letter of Reprimand (as well as a arse chewing in front of all his subordinates during the video conference).
examples: The Libyan Islamic Fighting Group aka "the Libyan Rebels" go back to Libya to Overthrow former US Ally Gaddaffi so that the Libyan Oil can be negotiated with the Iranian Ally the Chinese by Qatar so US European Allies lose their Strategic source of Oil, the Iranians get a Strategic MediterraneanPort (attack the US European Allies, aka the Crusaders), the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group releases the President Obama Islamic Jihadists transferred from Guantanamo to Gaddiffi's Prisons, the Strategic Iranian "Sphere of Influence" Increases. The Fundamentalist Islamic Muslim Brotherhood negotiates with the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran for the Overthrow of the US Ally Government of Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood gets Egypt, the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran gains access to the Strategic Suez Canal.
Just a couple of suggestions: You NEVER ever negotiate anything from a position of weakness (like President Obama's March 2009 Iran Policy. "Empty Words" - the Ayatollahs of Iran video response to President Obama's March 2009 Iran Policy Video).
AND, most of you better start learning how to live in a Fourth World Standard of Living like Somalia, as the US used up most of the High Grade Crude Oil after the early 1900s "Black Gold Oil Rushes", and only has high sulfur content oil left as proven during the 1970s "Oil Crisis" (US forced to use high content sulfur oil, resulting in "Acid Rain" (Sulfuric Acid)).
AS, it has been a long time Strategic Goal of the Chinese and USSR (now Russian Federation) to get the US and US Allies out of their Backyards (Resources). So the Chinese and Russian Federation uses the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran as their "Proxy Fighters", and the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran uses the Fundamentalist Islamic Jihadists Worldwide as their "Proxy Fighters".
before someone says something, most of the opium ends up with the Russian "Mob" or the Chinese via the Old Silk Road; not the US, most of the US comes from closer South or Central Americas.
Geeze...See what happens when we announce to the world that he's going to the armpit of hell to address these barbaric attacks in advance?
We shouldn't be mentioning the attack either as I'm sure the news is celebrated by our enemies.
agree! TMI being put out there - we should not have heard of this attack, or any of the others that have happen recently, etc. It's only setting up our forces for more attacks.
Get 'em with a drone strike! IEEEH !!!
Howmanyfingers
I thought we read a few days ago about the blimps/dirigibles that hover over Afghanistan areas - and I thought Bagram airbase was one of those locales. Perhaps, the cameras on the blimp were pointed in the other direction? However, a great back up would have been the Predator type drone you speak of.
Dirigibles were invented after WWI and were used for transportation (air ships) before the rise of the Nazis. I the begining of the bombing attacks on England it was found they made very stable stations for Bomb Attacks on London. Since they were slow moving, leaving after the attack wasn't to successful and the Germans stopped using them in Warfare.
This message is for the not to bright Kenya Boy Obama , Get all the troops out of Afghanistan and the surrounding of those terrorist countries. You are killing our soldiers. What are you blind. Let me give you a piece of my mind. If i were in the position to be in Afghanistan in country and the Afghan soldiers are killing our soldiers i would turn my weapon on all of Afghan soldiers and leave that country. They don't want us there. How many more American soldiers you are going to kill. Resign you don't know what you are doing.
So not-so-bright (joe c-1794287), "if you were in the position," which tells me you have never served, what qualifications do you have to give your wimpy opinion? Maybe you should be an actual veteran before your make such a statement!
Grow a pair, join the our armed forces, go to war, then give us your qualified opinion! Otherwise, your nothing better than an arm chair general that only coaches after a Monday night event and never throws a bullet down range.
You are pathetic to turn this into a political circus!
Raise your right hand and repeat after me...
Oh wait, you're just talking tough.
Joe -c. here you go trying to blame your pathetic life on Obama and trying to stirr up this political non-sense. Troops are slowely being taken out of Afgan, Just like things happen in Iraq. Don't you every bring yourself to blame Obama for us being at war in any country. DO YOU KNOW WHY I SAY THAT? Because Historically Republicans are the war first compromise later type individuals. Bush brought us to both wars and as of right now before Romney went to the top of the clown fest. You didn't have a candidate that didn't have war war war first on their mind. We still aren't out of Afgan but with your next appointed man of office we will be in Iran faster then the speed of light. I didn't mean to come of like a left winged patriot, but the truth is the truth. I agree with getting us out of there though. USMC Iraq vet at your service.
GEEZE...See what happens when you announce Dempsey's itinerary to the world...albeit, Obama's failed efforts to address this insanity...or, ulterior motive?
We should have left by now. It is just plain stupid that we are still there. Bin Laden is dead and it's time to move on already.
I feel so much safer these past 4 years. Isn't everyone glad to hear we will be in Afghanistan until at least 2024?
We should feel good to know that at least another generation of American children will get their chance to go to there also...
Do you think Obama's kids will volunteer to do their duty???
Bushs girls are old enough , and how about someone from the Mitt clan . NOT
Carl - you're an idiot with amnesia. The Republicans had visions of indefinite empire in Iraq, springboarding to a complete transformation of the Middle East. With bonus oil fortunes in Iraq. (how did all that workout...) Do you not recall predictions that we would need to be in Iraq and likely Afghanistan for decades. Some said at least 50 years. And now you want to put all of this on Obama the last four years. Thank God you're not writing history books for American children. Geez
... Carl.... how about you joining the Army,,, The Army needs some brave Republicans on the front line.......
Must be a conservative thing , Don't the religious conservative Taliban send other peoples kids out to do their fighting
@Carl, Understand this, pick on Obama/biden, pick on Romey/Ryan. It is not right to pick on family. They can't help who their parents are. Just like you. Now, IF, in the future they want to run for a public office that they putting themselves volunteeraly in the line of fire for such attacks on themselves.
What is really irritating here is most of these people throwing out such retoric have not served this country themselves. What's that Biblical saying about casting stones?
Obama did say 2024 not 2014 glad someone heard that.
@Carl and Seemsoobvious, the last time I checked everyone in the military are there because they chose to be there. Also the last time I checked the POTUS is the commander and chief of the military not because he has a military background but because it is part of the Presidency. It is his job to command all those wonderful people to do what they signed up for. I have a feeling that none of them are surprised that once they signed on the dotted line they had to go Afghanistan or another country to fight. I also don't believe there has been a POTUS that has enjoyed putting our kids in harms way - Republican or otherwise. God bless our troops.
My car was hit by a garbage truck but I was asleep in the house...same,same. No new news here.
We should never have entered that crap-hole.
We should have been out of there by now.
We should have elected a different President.
Coulda-shoulda-woulda, The real shame is for the soldiers that are in a no-win situation.
And you wanted Bush.
ALTERNATE HEADLINE: "In a raid on an airfield the PLANE that WAS CARRYING the Chairman of the Pentagon's Joint Chiefs of Staff was hit by rocket fire." Sorry to hear about the sodiers hit by shrapnel in the attack; Thanks "Vet 1969", I agree with your assessment. (a 1968 vet)
Didn't read anything about going after the source of the rocket fire. Is this a partial story or are the efforts of the military's hands tied by political involvement ?
It's time to turn the guns on all muslims and be done with it!!!
Kevin, your showing your ignorance, many good Americans are Muslim , including service members.
Yeah, that major down in Texas for one...........
Time to turn the guns on all muslims?? Pure American Racism at its finest lmao hahahaha thats why this Obama vs Romney debate is pathetic and pointless lol We know who 90% of Romneys base is made up of. It doesn't matter what Obama has done or is trying todo. Only that matters is that he is black. I'm off of here for today lmao hahahaha
...... probly not insurgents at all , but the Afgan Police who dont mind gunning down American servicemen ( you know our allies)
No reporting, in this article, about going after the source of the rocket fire. Are we hamstrung by politicians not to do so, or it just didn't make the article ?
That's just the problem nowadays, Half Azz reporting and no Follow up.
A cargo plane hit by shrapnel in a war zone - Really? Much to do about nothing! If there was a real war to report about there might actually be a News Story to report about!!!
It is funny that those stupid jihad monkeys think they are really acomplishing something, yet our military brushes them off like they are some sort of mildly annoying mosquito. Take a head count ragheads, your down by a lot! Go U.S. Troops my thoughts go out to you. Sand monkeys have fun, your days are numbered.
Take a head count. Gee, just like Nam. General Giap was told by an American at the truce talks that the North never won a major battle. I forget his exact answer but it he did agree although pointing out that the North had won the war. Call them all the derogatory names you want, as long as they fight a guerrilla war, we will leave just like the Russians did. The people at home do not want this war that is only being fought to make some people wealthier. This is one reason that the American economy is kept in bad shape. If our economy improved to the point that young men and women could find well paying productive jobs, we would not have enough volunteers to fight these wars.
Lets all vote for Gary Johnson and end these wars. Romney and Obama both plan to stay in these wars and want to bomb Iran. Stop the war, lets try peace for a change. www.garyjohnson2012.com
President Obama is far to busy flying from town to town trying to convince us that he as done a great job and deserves to be re-elected to actually sit down with his Generals and try and change this losing direction to the war in Afghanistan.
That would require him to actually go to work...
Why don't you join the Military? You're just what this country has far to many of, Armchair Soldiers, Armchair Generals, and Armchair Presidents. Armchair Know it All.
you sound just like the people you are condeming!!!!!
Hows that apology B/S working President Obama?
Actually "Earthie" a better solution would be to force those who vote that a continued war like this is a good idea to serve on the front lines themselves with a gun. A 2 year, back to back, duty posting ought to just about do the trick. If the cause is just, they should clearly believe that laying their own selves on the line, in the dust and fleas, is well worth while, and act on that belief They can take the lobbyists from the defense industry right along with them as far as I am concerned.
Carbargain
I suspect we will see you there as well?
Just a fyi...we have a all volunteer military in the USA and it's no secret that if you join you will find yourself in a war zone. You may not remember, but I do, all the draft demonstrations in the 60's and early 70's and I for one think the current system is far better.
Don't forget to send us pictures...
I also saw the 60's and 70's anti draft demonstrations but I saw them with a USAF uniform on. I strongly disagree that the current system is better than it was then, at least we can look back and see who "opted out" with many deferments. Today there is nothing that requires people to serve in the military so there is no record to look at to tell why some of these "chicken hawks" refused to serve.
100% voluntary, and yet still one of largest armies, means only one thing.
100% Dumb people those Americans. Half brains on the power trip.
Can we get the hell out of there? Please?
If people had real power in this country like we should, we would have been out of there 10 years ago.