[1stindoor]

IAW MSNBC...
http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news...panetta-speech

In an incident that underlined just how high tensions were running during Leon Panetta's trip to Afghanistan on Wednesday, around 200 Marines were asked to leave their weapons outside the tent where the U.S. Defense Secretary was set to speak, reporters there said.

"All I know is I was told to get the weapons out," Sergeant Major Brandon Hall told The New York Times. Asked why, he replied, "Somebody got itchy, that’s all I’ve got to say. Somebody got itchy; we just adjust."
According to the newspaper, the Marines who were waiting were abruptly told by their commander to get up, leave weapons, including M16 and M-4 automatic rifles and 9 mm pistols and return unarmed.Hall said he was acting on orders from superiors, the Times reported.

Disarming in this way was noteworthy, according to NBC News' chief Pentagon correspondent Jim Miklaszewski.

He told NBC's Chuck Todd that the move was "highly unusual" and that Marines in a combat zone are always supposed to have weapons within their reach.Msnb.com staff contributed to this report.

I am utterly speechless. It's time for me to go home...and retire.