Michael Yon reprints a letter from an officer in the 82nd Airborne; at a firebase in remote Afghanistan, our Spanish allies are apparently O making life just a little bit miserable for our troops stationed there:
2) Qal E Naw: The Spanish are not interested in helping in anyway, and are trying to make us decide to leave based on their unacceptable treatment of Americans. Our refuelers [soldiers who refuel helicopters] that are living there have to run out, unroll the hoses, pull security, and roll everything back up. They have asked for gravel along the FLS as it is currently calf deep mud, but the Spanish refuse to make any improvements. They asked for a T barrier (just one) to put at a 45 degree angle outside the fence where the FARP [Forward Arming and Refueling Point; where helicopters land for ammo and gas] has to be set up so they can run for cover in case there is small arms fire, the Spanish say no and refuse to make any improvements. They asked for a small gate where their billets are located so they can access the FARP directly rather than going a half mile loop to get out the gate, but the Spanish said no and refuse to make any improvements.
It’s not just logistics – it’s the petty stuff, too:
They [sic] guys are living hard (we understand that) but have to do laundry by hand as all of their stuff is stolen if they turn it into the laundry, they discussed this with the Spanish, but they refuse to many any improvements.
And not-so-petty:
They refused to allow a Marine detachment that was dropped there to come into the wire or feed them overnight. Our refuelers had to fight the Spanish to bring them in and squeeze them into the two small tents that they have and give them MREs as they [sic] Spanish wouldn’t feed them. Is this how we allow our Coalition partners to treat Americans?
Well, that’ll be intersting.
Yon:
So, our soldiers and Marines, living in rough conditions at the far tip of the spear, apparently are being treated with contempt, with all basic support denied, from laundry to the conditions of the field on which our troops do their thankless job. If this report is true, and I have no reason to doubt it, the Spanish are endangering the lives of our warriors by failing to provide basic safety.
Yon is going to get his report to Defense Secretary Gates.
Go read the whole thing.
I’m surprised they’re there at all after the Madrid bombings.
Wish these fellas well, then move the US operation a few clicks down the road, let the Spaniards fend for themselves. Put up a sign that says “US military has left this base to go and do its’ laundry. How long to you think they’ll last on their own?
Wish these fellas well, then move the US operation a few clicks down the road, let the Spaniards fend for themselves. Put up a sign that says “US military has left this base to go and do its’ laundry”. How long to you think they’ll last on their own?