Understanding a SNAFU of Epic Proportions

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama look out over the 9/11 Memorial as they visit the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's World Trade Center site for a briefing on construction progress, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in New York. / AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

Michigan Senator Carl Levin is the chairman of the Armed Services Committee. He deals with a lot of very serious issues. Yesterday, he released the results of an investigation that revealed the United States military was hiring security firms in Afghanistan with ties to the Taliban. As I was listening to Senator Levin, I kept thinking he sounds like Danny DeVito. Same intonation pitch rhythm everything. And if Danny DeVito had been revealing that information it would probably seem funny. The point being, I'm not sure if we should laugh or cry. In one incident, according to the New York Times, U.S. Forces bombed a house believed to be the home of a Taliban leader. Turns out it was an Afghan security contractor who was meeting with his nephew, the Taliban leader. The word SNAFU is an old military acronym which stands for situation normal all fouled up. And this is a SNAFU of epic proportions.

Just a minute. I'm Harry Smith, CBS News.

8 Comments Add a Comment

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skepticalJM says:: Osama ben-Laden, ten years and counting... yeah sure!; reply

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stevador39 says:: The use of contractors has been a mess since the beginning of the Iraq War. See Robert Greenberg's IRAQ FOR SALE. That film tells the story of corporate war contracting and the large amount of money involved. The U.S. government and military are either so stupid or so venal that they are paying the Taliban to fight. Paying and supplying the enemy is one way to keep the endless war going.; reply

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Observer1504 says:

The Army I was in pulled its own security details, cooked its own food , washed its own dishes and repaired its own vehicles . How did this contractor mess ever happen ? Could it be that there just aren't enough troops ...... dare I mention the word .. DRAFT ?


frankie2fing replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; You are being too simplistic. It has NOTHING to do with manpower and EVERYTHING to do with money. The republicans reward their donors with massive amounts of NO BID contracts. Any you tea baggers (get those testes out of your mouth and start thinking) vote for them. There is one born every minute...

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dronemonk says:: Is there a right way to do the wrong thing? How about a smart way to do the stupid thing?; reply

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lucifersshadow says:: Fouled? I guess you have never been in the military. They would not use such language. They would be more explicit.; reply