Posted on 07/02/2009 1:29:24 AM PDT by Publius804
Troops told to stop Taliban pursuit if civilians are at risk
KABUL, Afghanistan — Beginning Thursday, American soldiers in Afghanistan will be under orders to back down when they're chasing Taliban fighters whenever they think that civilians might be at risk.
Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal , the top commander in Afghanistan , will issue the directive as part of an effort to cut down on civilian casualties, which have enraged the Afghan government and residents. Instead of calling in air support or firing into civilian homes where Taliban fighters have sought refuge, commanders will be instructed to reach out to tribal elders or undertake other efforts to dislodge the fighters.
The order is consistent with what National Security Adviser James L. Jones told McClatchy in Washington Wednesday was President Barack Obama's concern about civilian casualties in Afghanistan .
"General McChrystal has been given instructions when he left here that, in all military operations, that we redouble our efforts to make sure that innocent loss of life is minimized, with zero being the goal," Jones said, noting that, "In one mishap you can create thousands more terrorists than you had before the mishap."
The new order, however, is likely to draw criticism from some U.S. troops, many of whom feel the rules that govern how they fight the war already are too restrictive.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
This is what liberals do and it will kill more American Soldiers.
Don’t put the fire out.....You might get burned. Stupid idiot in the Whitey House.
How long before the Taliban learn to use human shields...
They ought to be using the CIA just as they did in the months right after 9-11. They slaughtered the Taliban with 410 people in country. Thats it, and entire nation freed with 410 soldiers and agents.
Once cleared again of the infestation, then come in and actually SUPPORT the people, economy and infrastructure rebuilding that we didn’t do the first time.
Not that I believe OholyO is going to do and damned thing right in his horrific 4 years in office.
About as long as it takes to cock a pistol.
This as clown is going to get a whole lot of Americans killed.
Stupid liberal punk that he is.
Better title: “Taliban told they can stop Troops’ pursuit if they put civilians at risk”
There “IS” an advantage to CARPET BOMBING
I’m waiting for Obama to outlaw the use of bullets by our troops.
Shades of the Johnson admin and McNamara...
Ditto!
Here’s an engagement rule that will likely kill more American troops.
If the Afghan government is ‘enraged’ by civilian casualties, then they ought to get off their dead a$$es and get in the fight, for real. Let them take on the challenge of chasing after these barbaric fanatics who have no compunction against using civilians as shields.
Human shields are now legitimized.
Heck they’ll probably have a new squad position, “Designated Civilian”.
McNamara should be put up against a wall for high crimes.
Damned systems analyst in charge of a war.
Kinda reminds me of the Obama crowd — every one an amateur — Defense’s Gates excluded, but he’s taking orders now and just trying to make it work.
The CIA Agents in the field were exemplary. It was the CIA plan that led op’s in Afghanistan and the Special Ops forces that carried out the orders. The Pentagon had no plan to invade or deal with Afghanistan. And an all out build up of forces was frankly what the Taliban had planned for, not the behind the lines precision targeting the CIA and Special Ops Forces carried out so successful. Credit should be given where its due. The National Geographic channel has a good documentary on the whole thing.
Valerie Plame is NOT representative of the entire CIA.
That is a very poor assertion to make.
Interesting statement as the complaint has been that the CIA relies too heavily on satellites and other electronic toys and doesn't have sufficient HUMINT resources.
Valerie Plame is NOT representative of the entire CIA.
Perhaps George "Slam Dunk" Tenet, Bob "No Missile Threats here" Gates, Melvin "USSR is as strong as ever" Goodman aren't either.
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