[silverleaf]

When his guys on the ground had this convoy sighted, Franks deferred to a CENTCOM legal advisor on whether to order the attack- as a former CENTCOM planner, I remember reading about it at the time and remembering it

Since it could not be GUARANTEED that no civilians in the convoy would be killed, Franks called off the strike and they did not attack

Probably the fine history-changing work of some brain dead 0-6 military lawyer (and/or the POLAD) who shall remain nameless, since this whole issue now is supposed to be about trashing Rumsfeld (and Bush and Cheney)

[holden]

I gather you're saying the same hokey, troop-demoralizing Rules of Engagement that we've had to read about recently hamstringing our soldiers in Afghanistan (being not even able to return fire if there is any chance of civilian casualties (they all still look like civilians, right?)) is solely responsible for letting bin Laden get away on a day we had him in our sights?

It's long past time we abandon such ROE, in favor of winning that "necessary war" or was Soetero simply say he felt it necessary to continue having our troops there, so as to manage (slowing the snowball's growth) the American public's backlash ramping up against him?

HF