need to add title here

Afghanistan: Golf Company

October 11, 2009 5:20 PM

Scott Pelley spends time with a U.S. Marine company battling the enemy in Helmand Province, sent there as part of President Obama's troop buildup in Afghanistan.

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by ldoone October 29, 2009 4:48 PM EDT
Thank you, to all the Marines who protect us, the citizens of the USA. I appreciate all you do...

Doone
mom to a U.S. Marine
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by marine_mom October 18, 2009 10:36 AM EDT
My son is in Golf Company and although he is not 2/8 but 2/3 I did get to see him briefly when they were honoring their fallen brothers. My prayers are with those who have suffered a loss and with those who continue on with the battle that has taken so many of their brothers. God bless our marines and their families for all that they have given and continue to give. Semper Fi
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by Proud_Marine_Wifey October 17, 2009 11:52 AM EDT
I am the proud wife of a marine in 2/8 Golf Co. I want to thank CBS for featuring my husband and his marine brothers in the segment. I wanted to know if there was a way I also could obtain the entire interview. Or a burnt CD.. Just email me if this is possible.
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by dugudr October 15, 2009 10:01 PM EDT
Bands of attacks? Obviously the situation is out of control. The enemies have lack of fear. We need to send a message that if they pop up it's a certain death or capture. I think the vastness of the country is not a problem because we can be everywhere but nowhere at the same time. That where the SHU and the FedEx techniques come in to play in combination with the crane, the tiger, the swooping talon techniques. We need to pull out and let each town bestow their own justice. We support them as long as they are in good standing and arrest the enemies. If they can not or turn roque we blanket them and clean up the town. This way they get it that they can not operate in any town. I believe this is the only way.
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by Lakemountainer October 13, 2009 11:49 PM EDT
While the new stategy is probably right for this type of war, the costs are too great.
Afghanistans culture is very closed and barbaric. Only at the African continent can one find countries that are just as backward and under-developped. Just as it would be insane for America to start nation building in Congo or Sierra Leone, its insane to be nation building Afghanistan. Afghanistan is too ethnically divided, too decentralised, too religious, too warriorlike in its culture to have any hope any meaningful transformation. The moral values of the Afghans are by our western standard extremely bad. 12 year old girls girls get forced into marriage, most of the people are corrupt and a lot of them are involved in drugtrade and mafia-like crime.
The mountains that go up and down all the time makes it too hard for an expensive army to fight light-footed cavemen with guns.

Its just about the time for Obama to send the army home. To bind up 40 000 more american troops at a time when Irak is a mess and Iran is flexing their muscles is just not approperiate. The troops in Afghanistan are brave men and heros, but one have to pick ones fights. It would be much better to let the afghans be the master over their own destiny, and not waste an army of 100 000 american soldiers in some remote mountains. A much better approach would be to leave no permanent troops Afghanistan, but to constantly disturb Al Qauida and its allies with drone attacks, short and quick commando raid and cruiser missiles. The point is to keep the forces safe, but occasionally using lightning attacks if its found necessary. For example, it should be relatively easy for america to do lightning strikes with airborne commandosoldiers against Al Qaida targets. Just fly in 1000 troops from a marine ship to an area for a day or two, kill as many taliban and Al Qauida as possible. Then get out of the country. Do this kind of thing many time a year if necessary. In this way the americans will suddenly be the dynamic attacker, not the Taliban. As it it now Taliban can pick time and place for attacking american troops. Lets reverse it. Americans stay out of reach from Talibans foot soldiers, only to attack them suddenly and then disapear as fast as they came.
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by paztaBill October 13, 2009 9:52 PM EDT
Boots on the ground, eliminate the fire zones and stop the political indecision. Either lead or follow or get out of the way. War is hell, there will be collateral damage that will happen.
We cannot allow another Viet-Nam, these whom have never served a day in the defense of their country are now in a position of jeopardizing the mission. It should become a legal requirement for anyone wanting to become president that they have to had served in the US military. Washington's bull crap has to stop these our son's and daughter's and you are not going to do what you did to us in Viet-Nam. Enough, is enough!!!These are men whom have been trained for one mission: fight and win, plain and simple. There is no second guessing, when you are willing to let your children go into harms way then you will feel our collective pain as parent's watching our kid's get hurt or killed, while you are out their wondering what television talk show you are scheduled to speak on. Get a clue: term-limits. Semper Fi!!
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by simeon72 October 13, 2009 1:40 PM EDT
why we don't stop this war ?
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by RAGGEE October 13, 2009 7:41 AM EDT
thank you 60 minutes and thanks to all the men&women who serve and defend this country.i hope all of you are safe out there although a war always will have casualties.god bless the fallen,the active and there families,including the spouses that i have read there comments here.GOD PROTECT OUR TROOPS,AMEN.
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by debfraser53 October 12, 2009 9:20 PM EDT
What a nice memorial right in the middle of it all. To these wonderful young men who gave the ultimate gift for our freedom. I have seen first hand a very close friend go through the loss of a very young brave and remarkable young man in the unit. We pay tribute to Greg for his dedicated commitmnent to keeping all of his American family and freinds safe. From a extremely grateful American. This needs to end soon, it's so heartbreaking to hear of these young folks each and every day. Can't imagine the empty whole these families fill and it will never be mended until they see their loved ones in Heaven.
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by MrsPark08 October 12, 2009 8:26 PM EDT
My husband is the one with his hand on the helmet (kevlar) at the memorial service, i saw him a total of three times in this segment and i have NEVER been prouder of him, he is My Love, My Life, My Hero!!!! Thank you 60minutes for sharing this story with the world.
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