U.S. Troops Told To Leave Their Guns Outside Of Panetta's Tent In Afghanistan

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta speaks with U.S. Air Force Col. James Jacobson, and David McCormick, U.S. Embassy acting deputy chief of mission, after arriving on Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, March 13, 2012. Panetta is scheduled to meet with counterparts and troops during his visit in the country. Jacobson is commander, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

Troops In Afghanistan Told To Leave Guns Outside Panetta's Tent -- L.A. Times

This post has been updated. See the note below for details.

U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers were ordered not to bring their weapons into a tent where Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta was speaking Wednesday.

The extra security precautions, apparently in response to the shooting Sunday of 16 Afghans, allegedly by a U.S. soldier, were announced abruptly as a crowd of several hundred Marines awaited Panetta's arrival.

Read more ....

My Comment: Maj. Gen. Marc Gurganus, the Marine commander, was the one who gave the order. His reason .... Afghan soldiers were given the order to leave their weapons outside, and he did not want them to be treated differently from their U.S. counterparts.

Hmmm ....