Posted on 09/18/2009 7:03:20 AM PDT by big black dog
This is what happens when we wage lawfare instead of warfare.
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NATO-led forces are investigating the death of four Marines in eastern Afghanistan after their commanders reportedly rejected requests for artillery fire in a battle with insurgents, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
Tuesday’s incident was “under investigation” and details remained unclear, press secretary Geoff Morrell told a news conference.
A McClatchy newspapers’ journalist who witnessed the battle reported that a team of Marine trainers made repeated appeals for air and artillery support after being pinned down by insurgents in the village of Ganjgal in eastern Kunar province.
The U.S. troops had to wait more than an hour for attack helicopters to come to their aid and their appeal for artillery fire was rejected, with commanders citing new rules designed to avoid civilian casualties, the report said.
Morrell said the helicopters were not hampered by any restrictions on air power but had to travel a long distance to reach the Marines at the remote location near the Pakistan border.
“I think that it did take some time for close air support to arrive in this case, but this is not a result of more restrictive conditions in which it can be used,” he said.
“It was the result, as is often the case in Afghanistan, of the fact that there are great distances often between bases where such assets are located and where our troops are out operating.”
Morrell could not confirm whether appeals for artillery fire were denied by commanders.
**
I’m all for avoiding civilian casualties. I am never, however, in favor of hanging out troops out to dry while their commanders try to comply with the ridiculous rules of engagement foisted on them by the politicians.
this is hearbreaking .....obama has gone vietnam .american lives are worthless while terrorists are valued to is society
This WILL be another Vietnam if our president and high command do not let our soldiers eliminate the enemy with extreme prejudice.
All enemy deaths in Afghanistan are civilians, for the simple reason that the enemy does not wear uniforms.
All civilian deaths are therefore the enemy’s fault.
Deja Vu...Vietnam redux.
I’m going to keep on repeating this . . . . the Taliban, and all Islamic fanatics that use bombs and bullets to create terror and death, are CIVILIANS!!! No matter what touchy-feely idiotic rules of engagement we force on our troops, we will always be killing civilians in the Arab press. Get over it! Do the job right!!
Didn’t all the idiot libs call for impeachment when troops died under Bush ??
Will PMSNBC cover this outrage?
Sadly, we’ve been through this before.
It’s political manipulation to destroy all support at home.
0bama is hell-bent on civil unrest in the streets of America.
It’s disgusting.
Remarkable how QUIET the MSM is. This same organization was keeping a body count and demanding pictures of flag-draped coffins a short while ago. OOOPS! That’s right. The evil George was president then. Makes all the difference, it seems.
“Will PMSNBC cover this outrage?”
*Crickets Chirping*
We are a military family..all retired now. When I see what is happening to our troops just breaks my heart.
What exactly is going on?
Like the quote from “Breaker Morant” about the Boer War, “It’s a new war for a new century, George.”
Well said!
Everybody call your reps and take it to the streets.
Congress sets ROE, the President follow their lead.
On behalf of my country, I sincerely apologize to them for those Americans who voted for Obama. I tried to warn people - many of us did - but obviously we didn't do enough.
There are times I wonder whether the rest of America is truly worthy of our military’s sacrifices.
What was good, for Dresden, should be good, for Afghanistan. ................... See, I said that like the President does with a teleprompter.
You are right on the money.
There needs to be a reckoning. Every government type and MSM trash hole needs to be held accountable.
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