ROE in the AF – Killing Marines

A recent incident in Afghanistan reveals several items regarding the new Rules of Engagement (ROE) that Troops in contact with the enemy must comply. I had decried these rules when promulgated by General Stanley McChrystal as putting our Troops at risk to death and injury over the death and injury to the enemy. Here is proof:

"U.S. commanders, citing new rules to avoid civilian casualties rejected repeated calls to unleash artillery rounds at attackers dug into the slopes and tree lines - dispite being told repeatedly that they weren't near the village."

This was taken fromt he following story by the McClatchy Newspapers: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/75036.html

First: The Taliban can read. So, when these new rules were released they were made known to our enemy and with their analysis they contrived to use the civilians within this village as cover. Who out there did not see this coming? How many more times will this happen? How many more fine men and women of our Armed Forces will die because of this policy?

Second: Where is the MSM on this? During the Iraq war this kind of stuff was front page fodder! Anytime a policy decision by members of the Bush appointed military staff brought shame and discredit to that administration, matter how slight it was, the front page headlines were automatic. Not now with the Obama appointed gang, they can do no wrong apparently. And look at where this report originates; The McClatchy chain? Now, I have heard of them but they are far from Main Stream. Nothing from the Grey (two legs in the grave) Lady or the major TV networks. Nothing. Researching this gave me fits because I could only find references from other Blogs. It took me many jumps to get to the original story without a reference through another Blog. A sorry reflection on the state of Journalism in this country today.

Third: Who was it that said the way to win a war is to kill more of the enemy than they kill of your side? Here we allow the Taliban to 'melt' back into the country and in most cases right back into the villages they are fighting from. Where is the Napalm? I say smoke a couple of these villages and soon the natives will start turning in the Taliban just to prevent thier asses from being smoked in the fiery gelatin.

I realize that I have an ulterior motive and maybe I am being selfish, but if it keeps my son alive; all the better. We are at war and we should bring to bear all the steel, fire and death at our disposal in as dispassionate a methodology as we possibly can. Dispassionate to the Enemy and thier collaborators, if the poor are co-opted by the Taliban and they do not stand up against them, too dam bad. They can take up arms too and relieve us of having to go there in the first place.

I fear these four brave Marines are just the start of a long line of warriors giving their all to this narrow and deadly streategy where all the hoooks are on us and none on the enemy.

BT: Jimmy T sends.

UPDATE: The four killed turned out to be 3 brave marines and one Navy Corpsman.