Marines Disarmed For Panetta Visit, “Somebody Got Itchy”

“Somebody got itchy, that’s all I’ve got to say. Somebody got itchy”

Strange afoot in Afghanistan

Yahoo News has reported on a “security scare” that has greeted Defense Secretary Panetta. Just as Penetta arrived at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan, a stolen truck sped onto the airstrip ramp his plane was using.

The truck “entered the ramp at a high rate of speed” before it crashed into a ditch and caught fire, according to Pentagon spokesperson Capt. John Kirby. Before the crash, the truck reportedly struck a member of the U.S.-led International Security Assistance Forces who was injured.

Pentagon has reportedly said they are not considering the episode an attack on Mr. Panetta. Right. George Little, the Pentagon press secretary, said the stolen truck never exploded, counter to some early reports.

Another odd thing happened when the Defense Secretary went to address the joint U.S. and Afghan forces. The N.Y. Times is reporting: “Marines and other troops among the 200 people gathered in a tent at Camp Leatherneck to hear Mr. Panetta speak were abruptly asked by their commander to get up, place their weapons — M-16 and M-4 automatic rifles and 9-mm pistols — outside the tent and then return unarmed. The commander, Sgt. Maj. Brandon Hall, told reporters he was acting on orders from superiors.”

Sgt. Maj. Hall said: “All I know is, I was told to get the weapons out.” Asked why, he replied, “Somebody got itchy, that’s all I’ve got to say. Somebody got itchy; we just adjust.”

The NY Times article explains that American forces in Afghanistan normally keep their weapons with them when the defense secretary visits and speaks to them. The Afghans in the tent were not armed to begin with, as is typical.

From the NY Times article:

Later, American officials said that the top commander in Helmand, Maj. Gen. Mark Gurganus, had decided on Tuesday that no one would be armed while Mr. Panetta spoke to them, but the word did not reach those in charge in the tent until shortly before Mr. Panetta was due to arrive. … General Gurganus told reporters he wanted a consistent policy for everyone in the tent.

If they are really that nervous about the Marines, why don’t they just slap some of those mind-controlling helmets on them? Or aren’t they ready just yet?

SEE: Soldiers’ helmets to control brain activity