My understanding is that ROEs preclude soldiers from firing on any “civilian” structure, which basically means no return fire on any building in Afghanistan. Add that to not being anle to fire on those who toss down their rifle only to move to another plus many other absurdities...and the stupidity of COIN as a military strategy..partnering with child raping Pashtuns...training Taliban moles who turn their weapon on American soldiers...its a far cry from the days of Iwo Jima.
My understanding is “no fire unless FIRED upon”
And so, incredibly:
If through binoculars you directly see men planting an IED, you cannot fire on them, as you are not under fire from them.
Also, armed men know they can simply through down there weapons as a defense, as they cannot be fired upon if unarmed.
Also if they prefer to remain armed but unmolested they know to immediately enter any structure, as they then cannot be fired upon, “no firing into structures”.
Basically this is the ‘stan version of Obama’s air-war on ISIS:
Fake.