NOTE THE DATE!!! JULY 2, 2009
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Minimizing+civilian+deaths+becomes+Afghanistan+priority/1752397/story.html
Minimizing civilian deaths becomes Afghanistan priority
July 2, 2009
KABUL — Canadian commanders in Afghanistan received new fighting orders on Thursday which will prevent their troops from shooting at the Taliban if there is any risk of civilian casualties, even if it means allowing the enemy to escape.
The stricter rules of engagement were laid down in a “tactical directive” sent to all foreign forces in Afghanistan by U.S. army Gen. Stanley McChrystal who was President Barack Obama’s recent choice to take over the NATO-led war here.
“The guidance to the troops clarifies that citizens are the centre of gravity and that we should do everything to gain their support and we must do everything to avoid civilian casualties,” Col. Greg Julian, the top U.S. military spokesman in Afghanistan, said in an interview at the International Security Assistance Force headquarters in Kabul.
?? Do you mean what Nutmeg noted in Post #118 or something else?
444Flyer’s post on John Bernard (#96) caused me to wonder what he was saying recently on his blog.