Marines are never to be parted from their weapons

"Nothing but a direct order from the White House could have persuaded Maj. Gen. Mark Gurganus, the senior Marine in Afghanistan, to disarm his men on the battlefield, even for an audience with Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta. ...

He said he wanted the Marines to look just like their Afghan partners. ...

Marines are never parted from their weapons, whether they're on their way to the latrine, the mess tent, or to look up the chaplain. ...

The Taliban position on peace is clear and unchanging; it would behead Americans wherever it found them. So much for diplomacy. Mr. Panetta is back in Washington, the brave experiment with gun control is over and their weapons were returned to the Marines. It's not yet clear if the bullets were returned, too."

--Washington Times' editor emeritus Wesley Pruden