[silmaril]

Come now. At some point you have to trust that no American officer or NCO is going to "respect local sensibilities" to the point that they violate common sense and get someone killed.

You can't really advance a coherent argument that this behavior degrades the mission -- in fact, there's plenty of evidence that it enhances it. I think you're mostly just annoyed that US soldiers are respecting Muslim mores.

[okie01]

"I think you're mostly just annoyed that US soldiers are respecting Muslim mores."

By George, I think you've got it.

Some people would buy trouble...

[Dallas]

You can't really advance a coherent argument that this behavior degrades the mission -- in fact, there's plenty of evidence that it enhances it.

Would you care to expand on that ? Or perhaps comment on the fact that U.S. special forces were used to help build Mosques in Indonesia. Are they our friends now, too ?

I think you're mostly just annoyed that US soldiers are respecting Muslim mores.

If you'll read further up, I said I had no problem with respecting Ramadan observances/prayer/etc, but I take issue with these search procedures.

[Jarhead_22]

Come now. At some point you have to trust that no American officer or NCO is going to "respect local sensibilities" to the point that they violate common sense and get someone killed.

Remember the USS Cole, where the sailors on watch were not allowed to aim in with deck guns on approaching fast boats? Remember the Marine Barracks, Beirut and the ROE that wouldn't allow the guy on the gate to insert a magazine in his rifle?

Respecting local sensibilities is key in winning hearts and minds, but bringing your squad back to the hooch in one piece at the end of the mission should be ahead of that in the list of "Things to do today." How many hearts and minds are you going to win in a village where they're hiding mortar shells, RPGs and plastic explosives, anyway?