The Briefing Room
General Category => Military/Defense News => Topic started by: mystery-ak on October 21, 2013, 02:03:15 pm
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Revealed: Medal of Honor hero's anger that his request for backup was denied TEN TIMES by officers sitting kilometers away from where he single-handedly fought for seven hours against 60 Taliban
Former Army captain, William Swenson, 34, received the nation's highest award the Medal of Honor at the White House on Tuesday
Rewarded for his selfless bravery in fighting more than 60 Taliban during an ambush in September, 2009
Risked his life three times returning to the 'kill zone' to recover injured comrades
His repeated calls for assistance were ignored by his commanders who feared involvement would lead to civilian causalities
In the aftermath, Swenson complained to more senior leaders in Afghanistan and he quit as a result
On Tuesday Swenson revealed that he now wants to return to the Army
By James Nye and David Mccormack
PUBLISHED: 12:45 EST, 20 October 2013 | UPDATED: 02:59 EST, 21 October 2013
The American hero awarded the Medal of Honor earlier this week for his bravery in fighting off 60 Taliban almost single-handedly for seven hours has spoken of his anger that repeated requests for backup during the ordeal were ignored by his commanders back at base.
Retired Captain William Swenson was awarded the nation's top military medal by President Obama at the White House on Tuesday. The President said that when Swenson’s comrades needed him, he 'was there for his brothers'...'we thank God he was there for us all.'
But now Swenson, 34, has spoken out about his frustration that his repeated – as many as ten - requests for backup were ignored by commanders who feared involvement would lead to civilian casualties.
(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/10/20/article-0-18D2F51200000578-365_634x430.jpg)
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2469191/William-Swenson-Medal-Honor-heros-anger-request-backup-denied-TEN-TIMES.html#ixzz2iMhV5ADu
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From the Daily Mail:
Swenson believed the judgment of the officers who denied his calls for fire support had been clouded by pressure from headquarters in Kabul, at the time headed by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, to restrict the use of artillery in an effort to reduce civilian casualties.
(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/10/15/article-2461751-18C2019B00000578-301_306x423.jpg)
This must have been difficult for Capt. Swenson.
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Be all you can be in the new PC Army!
:hard crying: :#@$%:
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Correct me if this is incorrect; it was David Petraeus' Field Manual for Counter-Insurgency that 'fathered' the rules of engagement currently putting our troops in the cross-hairs of the enemy (perpetually).
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But now Swenson, 34, has spoken out about his frustration that his repeated – as many as ten - requests for backup were ignored by commanders who feared involvement would lead to civilian casualties.
I could not serve in today's Army. It's not just this which impresses me as suicidal for our own troops, but also the administration's response to the Hasan killings and the way Obama & Co. treated the families of our fallen during the "shutdown". Why Capt Swenson wants to reup is simply beyond me.
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I could not serve in today's Army. It's not just this which impresses me as suicidal for our own troops, but also the administration's response to the Hasan killings and the way Obama & Co. treated the families of our fallen during the "shutdown". Why Capt Swenson wants to reup is simply beyond me.
I'm so seethingly MAD right now I can't even talk about this coherently!