quote:
Originally posted by: Timster
Too bad we don't have a team memeber that's in the service deployed in Europe, because I'm betting the US soldier/ airmen lockdown wan't only restricted to the immediate attack area. I bet shore leave was cut short in other ports and troops in Germany were also restricted to stay near their bases. If it were a larger, much more coordinated effort towards getting US tourists and servicemen (unkown at the time,) it was possible to be caught anywhere off guard in Europe.
This is a bit overblown.
Speaking as a military vet that served several years in Europe, this is nothing but standard protocol.
It does several things..
-keeps service members out of the area considered to be high risk, and at quick recall in the case of an elevated risk at the military installations,
-keeps service members' family out of the area considered to be high risk, and in close proximity for evacuation in the case of an elevated risk at military installations and/or housing areas.
These measures are taken in many types of situations, including issues that do not make the front page of your local rag. Had a bombing like this happened anywhere near where I was stationed, our whole base would have been in lockdown, and off-post faminly members would have been moved to post (for pre-evacuation) until the situation was sorted out and the all-clear given.
Remember that instances like this can be the begining of a large scale conflict and not reacting at all would be the absolute worst thing a command could do.
Thats just the way it works.
