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To: elmatador who wrote (44747)	1/15/2004 8:17:50 AM
From: Oblomov	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 74559

OK, but what does this have to do with the US Armed Forces in Iraq/Afghanistan?

To: elmatador who wrote (44747)	1/16/2004 11:01:19 AM
From: AC Flyer	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74559

Your ego has no limits. You are an expert on everything. Now you are a military expert, as well as an expert in all technology, economic and political matters. >>During WWII the experienced German soldiers dreaded a new commander. Due to lack of experience he would put the platoon in a lot of danger to show results.....Once the platoon discovered this type was going to send them to their deaths they would cause an 'accident' to get rid of thim......A good commander was protected since he was experienced and having him there minimized the risk of having a green horn to send the men to death.<< The only possible source that I can discern for this kind of crap is a handful of Hollywood B movies. And what the hell any of this has to do with Iraq is beyond me. The US Army is an all-volunteer army, unlike the Second World War German Army, and is in a totally different situation to that at say, Stalingrad. And yes, I know what I am talking about, having been a platoon commander in the Parachute Regiment. Outside of the movies, I have never met or heard of the kind of suicidal glory-hound that you describe. The primary function of junior officers in combat is the exact opposite of that which you suggest. Junior officers have little or no discretion beyond implementing standard infantry fire-and-maneuver tactics. They are, however, required to exercise the leadership that is required to get men to expose themselves to hostile fire, which is why, in all modern conflicts, the casualty rate for infantry platoon commanders has been several times higher than that for infantrymen. The German Army of the Second World War was a particularly rigid command-and-control organization, with no discretion at all provided to platoon-level commanders.