[Marine_Uncle]

RE: "And did you know this?
If our brave soldiers are walking along in a “designated hostile area” and feel their lives are in danger, they are to wait to be fired upon before defending themselves"
Yes. I have been painfully aware of the changes in the ROE in Afghanistan and Iraq.

[seekthetruth]

When our Florida Congressman John Mica made a visit to our troops, he asked them what he could do for them. What he got as an answer, prompted Congressman Mica to sponsor an Amendment to the Defense Act.

Here is the Mica Amendment that passed the House and, as I write, still remains in the Senate Armed Services Committee for action.

AMENDMENT DESCRIPTION: Amendment requires that the rules of engagement allow any military service personnel assigned to duty in a designated hostile fire area to have rules of engagement that fully protect their right to proactively defend themselves from hostile actions.

AMENDMENT PURPOSE: An amendment numbered 38 printed in House Report 112-88 to require that the rules of engagement allow any military service personnel assigned to duty in a designated hostile fire area to have rules of engagement that fully protects their right to proactively defend themselves from hostile actions.

On agreeing to the Mica amendment (A018) Agreed to by recorded vote: 260 - 160 (Roll no. 354).

This amendment did pass the House, and of course those against the amendment were mostly Democrats. Of the 160 NO votes, 143 were Democrats and 17 were Republicans. I am sorry to say we had TWO REPUBLICAN House members from Florida who voted NO. Congressman Andre Crenshaw and Congressman Dan Webster voted AGAINST our military! I STILL want to know WHY?

Friends, the fact that an amendment like this was even needed tells us the Rules Of Engagement our military are bound by MUST be changed! Our young heroes are not allowed to defend themselves unless fired upon first??