Posted on 05/05/2010 7:18:37 PM PDT by Bulldawg Fan
FORWARD OPERATING BASE RAMROD, Afghanistan -- NATO commanders are weighing a new way to reduce civilian casualties in Afghanistan: recognizing troops for "courageous restraint" if they avoid using force that could endanger innocent lives.
The concept comes as the coalition continues to struggle with the problem of civilian casualties despite repeated warnings from the top NATO commander, U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, that the war effort hinges on the ability to protect the population and win support away from the Taliban.
Those who back the idea hope it will provide troops with another incentive to think twice before calling in an airstrike or firing at an approaching vehicle if civilians could be at risk.
Most military awards in the past have been given for things like soldiers taking out a machine-gun nest or saving their buddies in a firefight, said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Hall, the senior NATO enlisted man in Afghanistan.
(Excerpt) Read more at military.com ...
Why doesn’t NATO just do the manly thing and leave?
Any news on recruitment stats?
At some point, even with high unemployment, men are going to stop enlisting.
Waging war by political correctness...scary for the brave troops going in harm’s way.
How about medals for not shooting the enemy??
Oh right, thats basically the same thing.
One of the most basic principles of “just war theory,” which has developed in the Christian West for more than a thousand years, is that you should never start a war you don’t intend to win.
NOTHING can excuse fighting a war without that basic intention. Otherwise, every life that is spent, both yours and the enemy’s, is completely pointless.
That’s the moral position. And the Machiavellian position is the same. Never start a war you don’t intend to win.
This is the kind of “courageous restraint” that is appropriate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTs6a0ORdQU
‘Courageous Restraint’ a.k.a. playing chicken
Anyone here remember “Winning the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese?”
That worked sooo well!
Ah, folks - is it possible you are unaware that this has been in place foe our troops since last spring - from the TOTUS (T=traitor) - along with, I kid you not, if they capture a terrorist, they have to read them their Miranda Rights -
These oybummer ROE (new Rules of Engagement) have resulted in a doubling, per month, of losses for our troops.
Here's a grim example: Even when they were pinned down and being killed - and assured command there were no civilians (and what if there had been, if the shooters were in the midst of them - I don't know what's happened to the original video with the actual voice of the radio man desperately trying to get air cover - that was refused - and 4 died - there’a video here - but not the original one - more of the administrating demanding a scrub “for security reason” - but the story is here - and it it NOT the only one! Our troops hands are tied and they are little bu Judas goats now
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2009/09/08/75036/were-pinned-down-4-us-marines.html
I wouldn't be surprised if not many of you are aware that these same rules have been in effect for a year - I notice that, as a rule, when threads are posted regarding our troops - very few FR bother to read or remark.
This is disgusting. NATO troops will die and Muslim murderers will increase their contempt for those that they are determined to destroy us by any means necessary. Our troops already suffer because of pressure by U.S. military brass to avoid so called civilian casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq.
It is an astonishingly stupid policy because the Taliban deliberately surround themselves with civilians. Some of those civilians are probably forced into their role. It is possible that some are there willingly. I don’t think it matters. We are not responsible for those civilian deaths. The decision to put them in danger is not ours.
I don’t know how many of our young people are going to be killed and maimed before the decision is made to either win the war or withdraw from all of these conflicts and bring our young people home. If that happens we will certainly need them here because there is no doubt that withdrawal will signal weakness. The Muslim lunatics will follow us home to join those already here.
I loved that thing about when you get them by the ba*ls their hearts and minds will follow.
No games, no poll-watching, no focus groups, none of that crap. Play to win or get out.
Few have military experience and many have no faith in what we can accomplish there. Thus, many people love and admire the men, but have nothing helpful to say.
any one who posts a thread on the troops - you need to put “O.J.” or “Paris” or “Tiger” etc in the headline if you want it any attention to it. Put one of those names in the headline and you're guaranteed hundreds of hits -
about the troops - yawn
Gen. Patton, God rest his soul, would spin in his grave if he knew this.
I think when our soldiers come home they should all run for political office. That’s how the WWII guys got some power.
HMMM? Just wondering if Our bomber boys in WW2 over Germany showed any restraint? Opps NOT! They are the enemy..
Madness.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.