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PC War in Afghanistan (Comments)
Posted on 11/08/2002 7:13:37 PM PST by Dallas
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To: El Gato
Provided the Tukish military doesn't relax it's previous policy.....
21
posted on
11/08/2002 8:57:38 PM PST
by
Dallas
To: El Gato
Not all the troops had to turn their backs. I'm sure the female troops were watching the female "indigs" like eagles.You're assuming there are no armed Taliban inside the huts. I don't think we have the choice to do it any other way, but the risks........geeze
22
posted on
11/08/2002 9:03:08 PM PST
by
Dallas
To: silmaril
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.
23
posted on
11/08/2002 9:10:29 PM PST
by
Dallas
To: 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.
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?
To: Dallas
You might consider that
someone is watching the soldiers' backs
since you're looking at a photo of the scene.
And yeah, Christian Science Monitor ran a story a few weeks back on how SF personnel were getting way more info and killing lots more terrorists when our non-SF personnel were behaving with a measure of respect toward the locals....who often know where the terrorists are.
25
posted on
11/08/2002 9:33:22 PM PST
by
silmaril
To: silmaril
It's only natural that some Afghans are responding to respect/kindness, and are willing to cooperate. That's just human nature...
But if you think we're earning their loyalty, that's just nuts.
26
posted on
11/08/2002 10:00:56 PM PST
by
Dallas
To: Dallas
I am absolutely positive that the soldiers are entirely sure that they won't get attacked when they turn their backs. They most definetely did not just turn their backs with the possibility of them being taken by surprise. You can surmise and conjecture as long as you want, but there is no way that the soldiers are stupid enough to put themselves in such a situation. And if you think they are, then I suggest finding a country with a competant military.
To: psychoknk
And if you think they are, then I suggest finding a country with a competant military.WTF, is that supposed to mean ?
28
posted on
11/08/2002 10:07:25 PM PST
by
Dallas
To: Dallas
Loyalty is nice, but cooperation is what matters.
29
posted on
11/08/2002 10:09:00 PM PST
by
silmaril
To: silmaril
Loyalty is nice, but cooperation is what matters.We've come full circle,....but not at the risk/expense of American lives.
30
posted on
11/08/2002 10:17:31 PM PST
by
Dallas
To: Dallas
Little things make people mad...
Eating in front of people fasting is politeness, not political correctness.
And having GI Jane search for hidden stuff among shy women is a good thing... it doesn't upset people who still protect their women against barbarians, and it also upsets the barbarians, to see our strong women being equal and as tough as our men...
31
posted on
11/09/2002 7:52:26 AM PST
by
LadyDoc
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