U.S. troops told to stop Taliban pursuit if civilians are at risk

Miami Herald/AP ^ | 7-2-09 | Nancy Youssef

[STARWISE]

Beginning Thursday, American soldiers in Afghanistan will be under orders to back down when they're chasing Taliban fighters whenever they think that civilians might be at risk.

Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top commander in Afghanistan, will issue the directive as part of an effort to cut down on civilian casualties, which have enraged the Afghan government and residents. Instead of calling in air support or firing into civilian homes where Taliban fighters have sought refuge, commanders will be instructed to reach out to tribal elders or undertake other efforts to dislodge the fighters.

The order is consistent with what national security adviser James L. Jones told McClatchy Newspapers in Washington Wednesday was President Barack Obama's concern about civilian casualties in Afghanistan.

"General McChrystal has been given instructions when he left here that, in all military operations, that we redouble our efforts to make sure that innocent loss of life is minimized, with zero being the goal," Jones said, noting that, "In one mishap you can create thousands more terrorists than you had before the mishap."

[SunkenCiv]

Whoops, and thanks STARWISE.

[hiredhand]

you took the words RIGHT out of my mouth!

[radu]

I’m at a loss for words.
Well, no I’m not, but what comes to mind would get me banned from FR. >:-(

[STARWISE]

I feel the same ... it’s insanity.

[Katarina]

Oh NO! This is terrible, horrible!!!!!!

[Allegra]

Dear God, please protect our troops.

From all enemies, foreign and domestic.

[DirtyHarryY2K]

Amen!