Faulty Rules Of Engagement Cost Lives

Violating the U.S. military's "Rules of Engagement" in Afghanistan could guarantee a U.S. soldier a court martial, according to sources, even though there are significant concerns the rules actually damage the ability of soldiers to protect themselves in the heat of combat with the Taliban, according to report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

U.S. soldiers are being told to consider an Article 15 investigation "as part of the AAR process," or After Action Review, one informed source said. "This is simply incredible. It's like saying 'court martials (sic) will happen, just consider that to be part of your counseling process,'" the military source said.

G2 Bulletin reported last December that the new rules of engagement ostensibly designed to protect Afghan civilians were putting the lives of U.S. forces in jeopardy as the Taliban began to learn to game plan their imposed limits. The ROEs were put in place in response to Afghan President Hamid Karzai's complaints over mounting civilian casualties during firefights.

But soldiers are worrying that the rules, said to be classified U.S. and NATO Secret, imposed serious restrictions to include no night or surprise searches, warning villagers prior to searches and no firing on insurgents if they are walking away from having just planted an explosive.

Putting The Dogs Of War On A Leash

The more restrictive rules were imposed by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the former U.S. forces in Afghanistan commander. He recently was dismissed over his published comments criticizing the national security civilian leadership and replaced by Gen. David Petraeus.

Military sources said the rules offer a six-step escalation of force (EOF) to include visual warning, audible warning, non-lethal weapons and tactics, point weapons at potential threat, disabling shot and shoot to kill.

But they are complicated by the necessity to protect such sites as hospitals and religious and historical sites. And the rules also must be coordinated with a page-long list of specific points imposed by Karzai.

Escalation Of Force

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June 2010 was the deadliest of the nearly 9-year-old war for international forces, with 103 coalition troops killed. So far in July, 40 international troops have died in Afghanistan, 28 of them Americans.

In other attacks around the country, nine Afghan civilians died in the south when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in the volatile district of Marjah in Helmand province, the Ministry of Interior said. Another homemade bomb killed two security guards traveling on a road in eastern Paktika province.

Two suspected Taliban also died in Helmand's Lashkar Gar district when the roadside bomb they were trying to plant exploded prematurely, the ministry said. Homemade explosives planted in roads and pathways are a leading killer of international forces and also kill hundreds of civilians each year.

What we are seeing is an increase in attacks to apply pressure on our current administration to remove troops from their country. If we continue to restrict the ROE (rules of engagement) and minimize our EOF (escalation of force) there can only be one outcome, more US and coalition casualties and deaths.

The Taliban's Rules Of Engagement

We are fighting an enemy who does not wear a uniform or follow any rules of combat. Their goal is to kill as many of us as they can. They don't mind killing their own people or using their families as human shields. They will sacrifice loved ones, by placing them in harm's way, just to accuse our troops of killing civilians.

The only way we can possibly win this conflict would

Just For Fun

be to change the mindset of the majority of the Afghan people. Until they want a change in leadership and want the insurgency to end they will protect and hide those who fight against us.

Where The Rubber Meets The Road

One of the ways the government seeks to reduce US casualties is by helping the Afghan military become more effective in fighting the insurgency themselves. They need to be the ones facing their own people and fighting for their own freedom. The government has hired many PMC (private Military Corporations) to fill that need and help train the Afghan's face the enemy in their midst. Several of our friends that we have trained with are heading to their sandbox to help them accomplish that goal. Our prayers go with them and with our soldiers may their aim be true and tactics be successful.