Those rules of engagement will completely ham string a military force, particularly in light of the fact that the islamic enemy in Afghanistan not only hides behind civilians, but the civilians themselves are often sympathetic to and aiding the enemy.

All we heard from the left on Iraq for years was “vietnam-like” quagmire, and now Barry is instituting military rules that will lead to precisely that.

The only thing missing from the quoted piece was the old “hearts and minds” adage.

How many more Haditha’s must our troops suffer now under Obama?

Runaway!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, this is the type of crap that I knew would come along. My son, U.S. Marine, asked me about future deployments and I warned him this would happen. I saw it when I was in from Carter and Clinton. It was just a matter of time before this came down the pike…..disgraceful.

Or does “number of Afghans shielded from violence,’ and not the number of militants killed”, sound kind of like “jobs saved or created?”

Heaven help us all.

It seems like this leaves them with BOTH hands tied behind their backs.

And while we’re at it, shouldn’t all drone missile attacks cease? Those always seem to kill innocent women and children — or at least some dead ones are always there for the cameras.

Obama and his Left Wing supporters have wanted out of Afghanistan since 2001. This is just the first step to facilitating them declaring Afghanistan “lost”, so they can completely pull out of the area.

I still suspect we (& NATO) will be entirely out by the end of 2010.

real simple stuff that a Liberal/Democrat will never comprehend.

+Surrender – Surrender Doctrine (Democrats ALWAYS cut/weaken U.S.Defense)
+Loose Lips – Loose Lips Sink Ships (Feinstein Torpedoes Pakistan)
+Iraq SOFA – Iraqi SOFA (TV next?)

One day without someone in this administration making a Monty Python-esque move!

One!

Day!

When I was an Airman attached to the First Fighter Wing, we didn’t have to worry all that much about civilian casualties. Mostly because right up until I left – we were a F-15C base. The F-15C carries no air to ground weapons. There were some occasions that an “intell body” would deploy to help the army or do another non-primary job (meaning it wasn’t Air to Air combat for us.)

While in training at Goodfellow though, it was a different animal. We did take into account where bombs would land, and how far away they were from houses, or religious or cultural sites. That was just training. The guys at Strike Eagle units or F-16 units, or B-1B’s or B-52′s I’m sure have a whole painstaking process they have to go through.

Then there’s the decision that has to be made when we have a predator or reaper in the air filming some dirtbag that kills our troops. His kid is there with him. Do we take him out, or wait for him to leave in his car/camel/scooter? Most of these dregs of humanity KNOW we don’t like killing innocents. They hide behind women and children and send duped young men to blow themselves up, many times those men not knowing they are going to blow themselves up. Then they march and mourn in the streets the moment someone is killed inadvertently, while our media bemoan these “poor victims.”

I say forget it. If you’re stupid enough to hide in your family’s house with your 4 kids and cousins and brother, then their blood is on your head. Send an F-15E with a couple of 500lbs JDAMS into the window of their house and take the whole thing down. The life of one American Soldier is far more valuable to me than that of a terrorist who hides behind his family.

Last I heard Petraeus was CINC-CENTCOM, and would have command authority over Afghanistan operations,

I can’t imagine he’d allow something like this to go on under his nose.

I spent May 07 to May 08 deployed in Kandahar Province, stationed just outside of Kandahar Airfield. We ran missions all over the province, including several Village Medical Operations, and frequent missions out to Canadian firebases Moshem Ghar and Sperwhen Ghar.

As far as I know, the ONLY time we were ever attacked by an enemy not hiding in a civilian compound or in civilian buildings, was a trip into the interior of the country, that was attacked from a ridgeline.

The worst thing that I can see coming of this new policy is that it makes it basically impossible for an Embedded Training Team to defend itself effectively. I spent about 4 to 6 weeks attached to the ETT’s at Sperwhen Ghar, and they went into Panjwai 5 days a week. We would set up security at the village police station, and the LT would work with the police captain to see what training or material aid we could provide. I have pictures somewhere, maybe even on my blog, but the village police station (we called it the district center, because Panjwai was the local district capital), while on the outskirts of Panjwai, was surrounded by other buildings.

In fact, the entire route to Sperwhen Ghar from Panjwai, led through a series of small villages and compounds. The Canadians actually lost 6 guys to a massive White Phosphorus IED just below a mosque on that route. The only place on that route where we would be able to return fire would be if they attacked from within the marijuana fields.

I don’t know whether that means the new general wants to see more foot patrols, or whether he’s disconnected from the reality of the battlespace, or whether it’s a directive from higher. I just know that if I were still there, it would give me the cold-snake willies.

‘… his measure of effectiveness will be the “number of Afghans shielded from violence,” ‘——-just how does he propose to measure that? It’s like Barry’s “created or saved” nonsense.

If this isn’t another Vietnam I don’t know what is. This is BAD policy, and only gives shelter to enemy combatants by telling them where they can take safe refuge.

Not only is it wrongheaded, but it has Obama stamped all over it. Who else wouldn’t care about number of militants killed? Why are we over there if that isn’t what it’s about. Why are we dying over there if it isn’t about killing them first?

Lets correct the policy statement: Message to Afghan civilians; If you harbor terrorist you will be killed.