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 ...
"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."
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus
“New Obama Military Rules of Engagement:, Dont shoot back”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2384383/posts
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT REVISITED
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2346439/posts
OBAMAS RULES OF ENGAGEMENT IN AFGHANISTAN COSTING OUR TROOPS LIVES
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2335891/posts
THE RULES MURDERING OUR TROOPS
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2347085/posts
Then there is this:
No Rush to Escalate (war kills off great reform movements)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2355050/posts
____________________________________________________________
http://www.nato.int/isaf/docu/official_texts/Tactical_Directive_090706.pdf
...I recognize that the carefully controlled and disciplined employment of force entails risks to our troops...
...The Taliban cannot militarily defeat us - but we can defeat ourselves...
This is all that comes to my mind when I read that:
We are pinned down. We are running low on ammo. We have no air. Weve lost today, Marine Maj. Kevin Williams, 37, said through his translator to his Afghan counterpart, responding to the latters repeated demands for helicopters.
Were pinned down: 4 U.S. Marines die in Afghan ambush
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2335142/posts
If your going to keep them over there Obama&Co.. NOW, can we PLEASE have some Troop-centered and protecting ROEs! And give them the equipment and manpower they need to back them up!
__________________________________________________________
11-11-09
NUMBER OF WOUNDED TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN INCREASING
WASHINGTON Far from winding down, the numbers of U.S. soldiers coming home wounded have continued to swell. The problem is especially acute among those fighting in Afghanistan, where nearly four times as many troops were injured in October as a year ago.
Amputations, burns, brain injuries and shrapnel wounds proliferate in Afghanistan, due mostly to increasingly potent improvised bombs targeting U.S. forces. Snipers bullets and mortar rounds also are to blame...
They are killing our brave troops. Are these ROEs from McChrystal or from CIC ?
At least they don’t have to tie one hand behind their back and hop on one foot.
But I hear those terms are being negotiated as we speak. The sticking points are whether a skip is allowed between swapping which foot the GI’s have to hop on; or whether they simply are limited to only using one foot for the duration of the day.
A big ‘AMEN’ to that Jeff.
“Are these ROEs from McChrystal or from CIC?”
If we had a MSM worth anything, that would be an excellent question to BOTH of them.
Ping. More news on Obama’s ROE’s from the Troop’s perspective.
McChrystal.
More Political Correctness bull risking our Troop’s lives and making them vulnerable to an attack.
It’s time to review the ROI - Rules of Impeachment.
“The Times compiled an informal list of the new rules from interviews with U.S. forces. Among them:
No night or surprise searches.
Villagers have to be warned prior to searches.
ANA or ANP must accompany U.S. units on searches.
U.S. soldiers may not fire at the enemy unless the enemy is preparing to fire first.
U.S. forces cannot engage the enemy if civilians are present.
Only women can search women.
Troops can fire at an insurgent if they catch him placing an IED but not if insurgents are walking away from an area where explosives have been laid.”
Are you KIDDING me!
"ISAF will have to change its operating culture to pursue a counterinsurgency approach that puts the Afghan people first."~Gen. McChrystal
Our guys are sitting ducks with this kind of talk. No wonder the KIA and wounded are increasing ever since Obama took office. He emboldens the enemy.
If the ROEs are from McChrystal and not from anyone above him,
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
then he is a bigger fool than I had thought and is not a leader
to be followed.
No. McChrystal, piss be upon him, should be relieved of command and court martialled. I think the man is a lunatic. He reminds me of Captain Queeg in THE CAINE MUTINY.
“When is madness visible in leadership?”
Captain Queeq in The Caine Mutiny
Thanks but I think I shorted out my keyboard.
" Troops can fire at an insurgent if they catch him placing an IED but not if insurgents are walking away from an area where explosives have been laid."
Uhhhh...doesn't that give the enemy the opportunity to get away and strike again?
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