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| Afghanistan |
| Nine years later, US Army implements no harm rule |
| 2010-02-01 |
| [Iran Press TV Latest] More than nine years after the invasion of Afghanistan, US military commanders in the country are reportedly urging troops to avoid tactics that may harm civilians. The tactical directive issued six months ago by the top US commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, requires the US Air Force to exercise more restraint in its operations and be certain bombs are not dropped on Afghan civilians and their homes. US Air Force commanders admit that bombs, even those which could be guided with high precision, are capable of killing hundreds of troops stationed on a battlefield, and they are not suitable for killing one or two suspects trying to escape a housing compound. When dropped, the explosives claim many lives including those of two or three terrorist suspects, McClatchy Newspapers reported. "[Since McChrystal's directive,] we have seen ... significantly less use in compounds," said Air Force Maj. Gen. Stephen P. Mueller, the director of coordinating air resources in Afghanistan and McChrystal adviser on Air Force matters on Saturday. The US ground forces, on the other hand, think, if observed, the directive is going to put them in greater danger. "The directive . . . It's nice. I read it, but I am going to make sure my guys come back. Period," said a platoon sergeant, speaking on condition of anonymity. Afghan officials say they appreciate the more cautious approach, but there has been a growing outrage among the public regarding the US air attacks on Afghan civilians. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in a recent report that 2,038 civilians had died in the first 10 months of 2009 as a result of US-led operations in the conflict-torn country. Figures released by the United Nations indicate a 10 percent rise in the civilian death toll from the US-led war in Afghanistan with a good share of fatalities caused by foreign forces. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #7 Iran Press TV is the mouthpiece of the Mad Mullahs who shoot their own civilians in the streets, that is, when they don't arrest and torture them or hang them. But, hey, it's nice to see they're so concerned about Afghan civilians. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2010-02-01 14:50 |
| #6 ...tersely written note, but please try to avoid any paper cuts. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2010-02-01 09:06 |
| #5 Spitwads and harsh language? On second thought - drop the harsh language too... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2010-02-01 05:19 |
| #4 ...requires the US Air Force to exercise more restraint in its operations No night opns, restraining the Air Force. My how things have changed. What could be next...blanks? |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-02-01 03:32 |
| #3 Mods, wet, sloppy cleanup on Aisle two. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2010-02-01 03:17 |
| #2 The Taliban kill three or four times as many civilians deliberately than the US Military does accidentally. This bullshit that "there can be no collateral damage" is the same bullshit that "US troops can't go into Laos and Cambodia (Where the NVA were). We need to eliminate a bunch of lawyers. It might not hurt for Karzai to have a "close call" or two, either. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2010-02-01 03:16 |
| #1 Translation: casualties among you are more acceptable to us than "civilian" casualties. How I remember this song from Intifada I --- that's IMAO the main reason we got Intifada II. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2010-02-01 00:08 |