Posted on 11/16/2009 10:49:20 AM PST by 444Flyer
KASHK-E-NOKHOWD, Afghanistan | Army Capt. Casey Thoreen wiped the last bit of sleep from his eyes before the sun rose over his isolated combat outpost.
His soldiers did the same as they checked and double-checked their weapons and communications equipment. Ahead was a dangerous foot patrol into the heart of Taliban territory.
"Has anyone seen the [Afghan National Army] guys?" asked Capt. Thoreen, 30, the commander of Blackwatch Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment with the 5th Stryker Brigade. "Are they not showing up?"
A soldier, who looked ghostly in the reddish light of a headlamp, shook his head.
"We can't do anything if we don't have the ANA or [the Afghan National Police]," said a frustrated Capt. Thoreen.
"We have to follow the Karzai 12 rules. But the Taliban has no rules," he said. "Our soldiers have to juggle all these rules and regulations and they do it without hesitation despite everything. It's not easy for anyone out here."
"Karzai 12" refers to Afghanistan's newly re-elected president, Hamid Karzai, and a dozen rules set down by Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the commander of U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan, to try to keep Afghan civilian casualties to a minimum.
"It's a framework to ensure cultural sensitivity in planning and executing operations," said Capt. Thoreen. "It's a set of rules and could be characterized as part of the ROE," he said, referring to the rules of engagement.
Dozens of U.S. soldiers who spoke to The Washington Times during a recent visit to southern Afghanistan said these rules sometimes make a perilous mission even more difficult and dangerous.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
And, how's that working?
(snip)”We walked into a trap, a killing zone of relentless gunfire and rocket barrages from Afghan insurgents hidden in the mountainsides and in a fortress-like village where women and children were replenishing their ammunition.”
(snip)”...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.
‘We're pinned down:’ 4 U.S. Marines die in Afghan ambush”
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/75036.html?storylink=MI_emailed
“Fallen Marine’s father wants change in Afghanistan”
It was the last way John Bernard would have wanted his voice to gain prominence in the national debate over the war in Afghanistan. The retired Marine had been writing to lawmakers for weeks complaining of the new rules of engagement he believed put U.S. troops at unacceptable risk in the insurgency-wracked country. He got little response.
Then Bernard’s only son, 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard — a Marine like his dad — was killed in an insurgent ambush in Afghanistan’s volatile Helmand province, the latest victim of a surge in U.S. combat deaths.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2361697/posts
__________________________________________________________
Congressman Mike Michaud 7/09/2009 08:01 1724 Longworth HOBWashington, DC 20515-1902
Dear Sir;
I am writing to you today as an American citizen, 26 year veteran of the United States Marine Corps, committed Christian, Husband, Father of two and a businessman. I am also writing to you as the Father of a Marine who is, as all of his brothers in arms are, in harms way. That by itself is not a cause for concern for me because as a Warrior I understand two things:(1) it is the very nature of the calling to which we have been called that we will be thrust into dangerous, even life threatening situations to fight the enemies of our country and (2) that there could not possibly be a safer place to be than in the company of fellow Marines. In any case, that is the nature of the business and those who serve in this capacity have long since dealt with the realities of life in uniform.
There are, however, certain expectations, an unspoken trust within the ranks of those of us who serve and have served in this capacity. One of those is that we have a belief that as Americans, our leadership will not frivolously spend our blood on unworthy pursuit. To those of us who serve, let me be very clear to those of you who hold our lives in your hands; this means that the reason we may die can ultimately be defined as protecting homeland, family and fellow American lives (spelled US citizens). We also assume we will not be used as pawns in some personal vendetta or worse some career building scheme; that we will not be asked to spill our blood in a foreign land to defend the indefensible. We expect we will be able to do that for which we were trained; export violence with ferocity and drive our enemies to their knees with the ultimate goal of ending the conflict by forcing them to do our will. Such are the dreams and aspirations of the Warrior. Men like this seek to serve side by side with like-minded men prepared to meet their destiny on the field of battle; living a life of honor while testing personal courage in the forge of combat. Our nations Warriors have no other expectations, no visions of grandeur, no careers to bolster, no kingdoms to lord over, no sovereignty to subvert. These men just seek to serve their country.
Now that you have ever so basic an understanding of the intrinsic nature of the Warrior; I hope to encourage you to show them at least the dignity of thoughtful and painstaking decision-making when considering when and where to thrust them into the fires of hell. My demand is that you emphatically understand that this decision will have eternal consequences for the men involved and their families. I also expect this decision to be for the simple reason of defense of country and countrymen (again spelled United States Citizens).
If any part of you still understands that you were sent to Washington DC for the sole purpose of defending these shores and to defend the ‘life, liberty and pursuit of happiness’ of the citizens of this nation; and if you still believe you are first a servant of all, then you yet may possess the ability to understand the immorality of what I am about to share with you and the necessity to change this policy NOW.
President Obama has seen fit to replace the sitting ISAF commander with a General McChrystal (see Bio at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_A._McChrystal). Suffice it to say that Gen McChrystal’s understanding of the Warrior ethos is somewhat askew from the mainstream. Also let us cut to the chase and identify him more as a political mouthpiece than a field commander. Add to this the dubious addition of General James L. Jones (see bio at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_L._Jones), who unlike McChrystal has actual combat experience but still shares the same ultimate goals and one world vision as both McChrystal and Obama. What you have here is an unholy trinity injecting their shared philosophy of ‘spare the civilians at all cost’ – even though those civilians are not US citizens and are in fact complicit in their own misfortune. The new ROE presented by McChrystal and under which operation Khanjar was mounted is nothing less than disgraceful, immoral and fatal for our Marines, Sailors and Soldiers on the ground. The Marines and Soldiers that are ‘holding’ territories of dubious worth like Now Zad and Golestan without reinforcement, denial of fire-support and refusal to allow them to hunt and kill the very enemy we are there to confront are nothing more than sitting ducks. Denying them even the ability to fight, which is their only purpose for existing, to defend themselves in a foreign land that sees them first as agents of the devil is detestable to the secular world and immoral to the rest of us. And for those of us with ‘vested interests’ thrust into that foreign land; it angers us. The links I have provided will give you some indication of the insanity of the current situation and the suicidal position this administration has placed these Warriors in. I admonish this administration and all those currently in public office whom we have entrusted with our security, well-being and the very lives and well-being of the best of us, our Warriors to start acting like you actually care or even understand the consequences of ludicrous decisions like this one. I then hold you responsible to actively seek to change this immoral policy to one that allows our Warriors the opportunity to do what they were trained to do; destroy our enemies and protect our citizenry.
http://www.militarytimes.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1578049
http://www.captainsjournal.com/2009/07/07/no-excuse-marines-losing-legs-in-now-zad/
http://www.captainsjournal.com/2009/07/03/afghanistan-the-wtf-war/
To those who would suggest that COIN (counter insurgency) is complicated I say hog-wash. This has become the mantra of the one-world ideologues. This has become complicated because leadership has lost its way. It is not the responsibility of the leaders (servants) of this country to re-build a country that has not been destroyed by us nor does the leadership of this country have any intrinsic right to spill the blood of this country’s finest for this cause. I’ll lay it out for you; bad guys entered this country, unannounced and unwelcome and killed Americans on American soil. Bad guys continue to harass and threaten to kill Americans here at home and abroad. Bad guys continue to train in foreign lands and continue to plan to carry out these plans against sovereign American citizens. They have no rights or guarantee of protection under the Constitution of the United States because they are not United States citizens. They are not protected by the Geneva Convention because they don’t fight under any Nation’s Flag. We however, have the right – and responsibility, with historical and Biblical precedent to export violence to crush these Bad guys, wherever they may live and in whatever lair they may hide – relentlessly! If the civilian populations in those areas lack the intestinal fortitude to expel them from their midst or they quietly support them or they actively support them; they are not innocent and may well suffer ill consequences for their cowardice and their complicities.
For those of us who have served in uniform and for those of us who have family forced to serve under these immoral conditions the time to quietly observe and pray has ended. There is a new activist emerging; not like the cannabis induced flailing of the sixties and seventies but one with the discipline, training and tenacity of a Warrior. Those of us who have a history in this Warrior culture and a vested interest on the battlefield will be a lot more vocal from this point on. Those in this culture who do not yet know about this immoral ROE change will soon all know as well as the families of those who are imperiled by it. Those who have actively supported this policy of immorality or are not engaged enough to know of it; they will be re-introduced to your constituencies for their failings. Public service is precisely what it portends to be; service. If there are those among your number who have failed to remember that I can promise you we will make that known within our spheres of influence.
This letter is making its way through the halls of every national news agency as well as the local ones in Maine, as you read this. I have contacted your office by phone, e-mail and now letter to give you a chance to get out in front of it. Consider this a wake-up call.
John J. Bernard 1stSgt USMC ret
http://letthemfight.blogspot.com/
I'm outraged at this Perfumed Prince of the Pentagon ! I knew that McChrystal had never seen combat Blessings on you and yours for this.
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
as he sports an EIB and not a CIB.
Thanks for keeping this front and center. Thanks for the ping too. Been gone a few days, so playing catch up off and on today.
“General McChrystal is more a political mouthpiece than a field commander” General Petraeus doesn’t seem to agree. A few more stories like this using McChrystal as a hammer to beat the UnDecider in Chief and Obama will come out smelling like a rose. Meanwhile here’s some U.S. soldiers teasing and mocking some Afghanis. http://www.floppingaces.net/2009/11/16/americas-aggression-against-muslims-confirmed/#more-30475
The buck stops with Obama as CIC, and he’s put people like Rosa Brooks in the Pentagon to contribute in coming up with policy. She has no business having the position she was assigned to. Keep in mind this is only one radical of most likely many who are now influencing policy on Afghanistan. Terrifying for our troops and their safety.
“Pentagon official blames U.S. for al-Qaida attacks”
April 20, 2009
Pentagon official blames U.S. for al-Qaida attacks Worked for George Soros, argued for government control of media.
She believes al-Qaida was an “obscure group” turned into a massive threat due to U.S. policies.
She’s referred to former President Bush as “our torturer in chief” and a “psychotic who need(s) treatment” while comparing Bush’s arguments for waging a war on terrorism to Adolf Hitler’s use of political propaganda.
She’s worked on behalf of George Soros’ philanthropic foundation.
Meet Rosa Brooks, the Obama administration’s new adviser to Michelle Fluornoy, the undersecretary of defense for policy, a position described as one of the most influential in the Pentagon.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2234175/posts
“Rosa Brooks: A Disaster at Defense”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2236615/posts
“Putting her in the policy shop is like Lyndon Johnson making Jane Fonda a senior adviser on Vietnam...”
_________________________________________________
Here’s one more:
“Brooks’ new boss Fluornoy holds one of the most powerful posts in the Pentagon, and is already playing a key role in shaping the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan as well as the wider war against al-Qaeda. She will also be a central figure in shaping U.S.-UK defence cooperation and Washington’s policy towards NATO. As an adviser to Fluornoy, Brooks will wield an extraordinary degree of influence in helping shape U.S. policy. Her extreme views should therefore be closely scrutinized”
(snip)“... She further argued that “with so many thousands dead, and so many thousands more embittered, ‘winning’ isn’t really on the table anymore....”
(snip)“...The only question now is whether we can mitigate the damage.”~Rosa Brooks
So this is her thought process? “The only question now is whether we can ‘mitigate’ the damage”?
How is she currently putting that into policy at the Pentagon?
(”mitigate” to make or become less severe, intense or painful.” (Random House Webster’s Dictionary))
Rosa Brooks is described as “...someone who appears to have no relevant national security qualifications for the position.”
You can see based on this example the direction Afghanistan could take if people like Brooks are involved in decisions on policy, including the ROE’s. You can only imagine what her input and ideas might be based on her ultra radical views. How many more like her are working in the shadows directing policy on this war.
It would be interesting to know exactly who wrote the new ROE’s and exactly those who contributed in the process of writing them up. Again, of course the buck stops at McChrystal’s desk and Obama over him.
WHY has it taken so long for the press to tell the f****n TRUTH about what is going on there!!! I am sick to death of hearing how GWB abandoned Afghanistan and that is why we are seeing it spiral out of control!!
I am so effin angry right now!!! With these ROE we are the biggest and best propaganda tool for all Jihad! The Taliban taking down the Great Satan, the Infidel!! And ya know what? It is true, because our troops can’t fight back! We train them to fight and then send them to be targets!!!
This is not acceptable! I don’t know how we can wait until 2010, how many more will be arriving at Dover? How many more will be at Walter Reed and Bethesda? These are our children, grandchildren, husbands, wives, cousins, best friends, etc.
If this is the way it is going to be then bring them home! A million more troops cannot fight under these circumstances. Hell, they are not even allowed to fight!!
I understand that people will die in war. I have respect for all of those who serve. I get a little sideways when I hear people on the left say that they are so sad about the deaths of those in the military. I have family in the military, they are not stupid, they were not floundering through life without any options, they joined because they WANTED TO, THEY WERE AND ARE PROUD TO SERVE. They feel it their duty. I won’t pity them, I will salute them and thank them and pray for them everyday! However I will not stand by and watch them die defenselessly.
I know this article to be 100% TRUE! From the Marines that I have spoken to since Obama has been in office. And I am sick to my stomach reading it!
Sorry for the rant!
What you have here is an unholy trinity injecting their shared philosophy of ‘spare the civilians at all cost’ – even though those civilians are not US citizens and are in fact complicit in their own misfortune. The new ROE presented by McChrystal and under which operation Khanjar was mounted is nothing less than disgraceful, immoral and fatal for our Marines, Sailors and Soldiers on the ground.
What? WHY ARE WE THERE
ROGER DAT!
We all need to be ‘ranting’ a lot more. Obama could give a rat's behind about our Troops! He demonstrates that every day in his actions. He doesn't have any want or desire to be a good CIC to them. He just doesn't give a darn and it's all reflected in his pee poor policies!
Hmm, would I follow the “Karzai 12” or the USMC “4’ = RTFA.
ready-team-fire-assist, RELOAD
bye bye bad guy
Technically, shouldn’t that be ‘RTFAR’ then? ;-)
I know this article to be 100% TRUE! From the Marines that I have spoken to since Obama has been in office. And I am sick to my stomach reading it!
Sorry for the rant!
No need to apologize, we need to ratch this up as high and as loud as we can!
Our Guys are being slaughtered over there and we won’t stand for it.
I added the reload part, it just seems fitting.
Q. What do you feel when you fire your rifle?
USMC Sniper - A. recoil
Then I like your version better.
Seriously, what the hell are they thinking?
PC + and incompetent, dithering CINC, not good. Win quickly, or bring them home.
Tagline
We need to get out our troops until obambi is gotten out of the White House. Once obambi is out and a non POS is in, we can then proceed. We also need to remember that Gen. McCrap is supporting the handcuffing of our troops, he should be tried for having no spine, no loyalty to his troops, helping the enemy,....
Not only is it a travesty it is cruel. We train these people to fight and then we put them in a situation where they are know they have a great risk of being killed, then they are ordered to sit back and take it!
The left is so worried about torture? They think putting a bug in a room is mental torture? Listening to loud music is torture? How about watching your brother in arms die in front of you and you are helpless. How about spending every waking moment of your day waiting for the booby trap? How about arriving at the scene of an IED explosion and picking up the body parts of the guy you ate dinner with last night!
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