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| Afghanistan |
| Petraeus To Make ROE Twice As Hard |
| 2010-08-04 |
| General David Petraeus has issued new rules to troops in Afghanistan, telling them to "redouble" efforts to avoid civilian deaths -- seen as a crucial issue in winning the increasingly unpopular war. The head of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan told commanders he believed the counter-insurgency strategy was bearing fruit but warned that any civilian casualties risked losing the battle to win Afghan hearts and minds. "We must continue -- indeed, redouble -- our efforts to reduce the loss of innocent civilian life to an absolute minimum. Every Afghan civilian death diminishes our cause," he said in the directive released by NATO on Wednesday. "If we use excessive force or operate contrary to our counter-insurgency principles, tactical victories may prove to be strategic setbacks," he said in the directive, which replaces rules issued to troops in July 2009. The four-star general, credited with turning around the Iraq war, emphasised the need to partner Afghan troops at all times and to make sure that no civilians are present before using force, except in cases of self-defence. "And for heavens' sake, DON'T HURT ANYBODY! This is a war, not a place where you can hurt people!" |
| Posted by: Anonymoose |
| #8 Pull out and nuke the he$$ out of both Afghanistan and Pakistan, to the point where no one from there could manage to bake a loaf of bread, much less carry out a long-distance asymmetrical war. The entire US military & civilian hierarchy has forgotten that the first, last, and only rule of warfare is to make your enemy quit. Everything else is tactics. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2010-08-04 20:25 |
| #7 "These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion. The Taliban must act, and act immediately. They will hand over the terrorists, or they will share in their fate." George W. Bush, Statement To Joint Session Of Congress September 20th 2001 "We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them." George W. Bush, September 11th 2001 When Bush made these statements he spoke in his capacity as President, in the immediate aftermath of a mass fatality attack on the continental US. At the time these statements were not controversial, this was political consensus in the US and NATO. This is the political reason for US and NATO troops to be in Afghanistan in the first place. But apparently these were just inconsequential rants worthy of a Comical Ali. Afghanistan is being refurbished and renovated by Western Countries and will soon be returned to the Taliban. The elimination of the Taliban isn't even the objective anymore, the goal is reconciliation, peace and power sharing. Mullah Omar is at this time not one Karzai's cabinet minsters because he declined Karzai's offer after all. |
| Posted by: Clyde Slomort7420 2010-08-04 14:34 |
| #6 My guess is that the new rules are less stringent, which is why he said that the troops should redouble their efforts to reduce civilian deaths. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2010-08-04 14:15 |
| #5 Don't break any glass either? |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2010-08-04 14:12 |
| #4 Hell, just take this mentality to its logical conclusion: avoid all risk to civilians from coalition troops, and pull out. On the other hand, NATO forces could IGNORE collateral damage and go hell for leather to wipe out the Taliban. I know which track would lead to success. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2010-08-04 13:02 |
| #3 having the ANA with them will prevent most encounters with isolated Taliban in civilian areas as the ANA will tip off the Taliban that we are coming and they will go hide. the notable exception being when the taliwackers can gather enough forces for a successful ambush, at which time, we can respond with force provided the Taliban forget their human shields. also, embedding more ANA in with our troops will make it easier for the 'rogue' elements of the ANA to shoot our friendlies in the back at close range as well as provide routes and methods intel to the Taliban so that they can be more effective in IED placement. what is not to love? |
| Posted by: abu do you love 2010-08-04 12:59 |
| #2 but the journo has included the quote in way that implies Afghan troops will stop US troops killing civilians. Makes sense, soon the war will end, this makes the Afghan Military (Who will remain there as the "Peacekeepers") the "Good Guy", I like it, it's devious. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2010-08-04 12:14 |
| #1 emphasised the need to partner Afghan troops at all times Doubtless Petraeus meant that US troops need to stop Afghan troops killing civilians, but the journo has included the quote in way that implies Afghan troops will stop US troops killing civilians. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2010-08-04 12:06 |