[mbynack]

U.S. commanders, citing new rules to avoid civilian casualties, rejected repeated calls to unleash artillery rounds at attackers dug into the slopes and tree lines — despite being told repeatedly that they weren't near the village.

Shades of Vietnam and Beirut. No targeting enemies unless they were within 25 meters of the Ho Chi Minh trail. In Beirut the Marines couldn't fire on an enemy until they were fired on first and then they could only use similar weapons to prevent escalation. In Somolia during the "Blackhawk Down" mission they couldn't use the AC-130 gunships even though they were in-country and ready to go.

Stupid rules kill troops.

[verity]

“...No targeting enemies unless they were within 25 meters of the Ho Chi Minh trail...”

In Phuoc Long Province in MR III, The District Chiefs’ political clearance were required before artillery could be fired....pissed off a lot of folks in the Fire Support Base.

[Alberta's Child]

Interesting reference to Beirut.

I was in high school when the Marine barracks was bombed, and I was being courted heavily by one of the U.S. military academies at the time. The bullsh!t surrounding that whole military campaign in Lebanon was the single biggest reason why I refused to apply to the academy -- or even consider a military career.

And this was during the REAGAN administration, mind you.

[Ro_Thunder]

I always liked the SEAL’s warfare ways.

Respond with overwhelming and unceasing force.