U.S. Marine At Battle Of Marja: Who Can Tell The Good Ones From The Bad Ones?

David Horowitz's NewsRealBlog.com ^ | February 16, 2010 | John L. Work

[JLWORK]

The United States Marines now fighting the battle of Marja, Afghanistan are facing a most difficult mission. They are tasked with clearing the town of Taliban fighters – and they are restricted by rules of engagement not seen heretofore in the history of U.S. warfare. Commanding General Stanley McChrystal has made limiting civilian casualties a higher priority than loss of American lives. And it is impossible to tell who is the enemy in a Muslim State that still resembles the Stone Age. The Los Angeles Times coverage by Tony Perry and Laura King is here:

[ClearCase_guy]

Back in the days when we used to win wars, we used to just blow the Eff out of the town. Civilian casualties were unfortunate but pretty unavoidable. It used to hurt to be in a war with us.

Now we paint bullseyes on ourselves and dig wells. Are we winning yet?

[Old Texan]

We used to have a saying, “kill em all and let God sort em out”. That worked everytime..........

[achilles2000]

Commanding General Stanley McChrystal has made limiting civilian casualties a higher priority than loss of American lives.

If true, McChrystal is unfit for command and a traitor.

[Ouderkirk]

Kill them all and let G_d sort them out.

[Red_Devil 232]

Fox News had a video report on these ROE. Marines behind a low wall taking sniper fire. They knew where and what building it was coming from. Then two men walk out of the building ... the Marines can't kill them because they aren’t carrying weapons!

WTF?

[votemout]

The Taliban will wait us out. 1 year, five years whatever. Either we have a permanent presence or they will just regroup and surround Kabul. In the lonng run, we’ll wear out politically long before they do. They live there.

[RC one]

welcome to the information age, where a picture of a dead child can circulate around the world in a matter of minutes and completely derail your foreign policy agenda.

[votemout]

Based on what little you said, two guys walking out the building shouldn’t be shot. The building has to be cleared or blown up before you know if they were, shooters, residents, all of the above or what. Even if they turn out to be the shooters they needs to be questioned to see what information might be obtained. Then, for my money, shoot em.

[ClearCase_guy]

The foreign policy would only be derailed if the Opposition Party were traitorous enough to make a big deal out of it.

Oh, I guess I see what you mean.

[element92]

that is exactly right

[Red_Devil 232]

No way! They should have obliterated the building! No one walks out!

[votemout]

Why capture some guys who may have intel. You’re right just blow up all the buildings, possible sources and throw in the kids while you’re at it. How many divisions did you command?

[Washi]

We've been at this for a few days now, and while I've heard the reports of taliban snipers, and ridiculous rules of engagement, I've not heard any American casualty or fatality reports.

I hope that it's just that we aren't taking any casualties, and not that they're not being reported in an attempt to cover for the BS, self defeating rules of engagement our guys are being handicapped with.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

Red_Devil 232 is too kind,,,

Think “Arc-Light”,,,

Intel be damned,,,

The only “kids” I worry about are those young Troops,,,

Which war were You in ?...

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

We have lost a few so far,,,small arms/IED’s,,,

Moozzi knew they were comin’ so the whole place is

bobby-trapped/mined,,,

The Guys are doing a Great job...

[stylin19a]

The town is in the middle of a $hit-storm that residents, (who supposedly skeeedaddled before the hostilities started,) knew was coming for weeks...and two guys just walk out of the sniper building and start walking around ? and they're not the bad guys ? God help us all.

War...just a walk in the park.

[votemout]

the real one

[votemout]

who said they weren’t the bad guys?

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

They’re all “real” when a kid comes home in a box...