Posted on 09/13/2006 3:51:29 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - The U.S. military acknowledged Wednesday that it considered bombing a group of more than 100 Taliban insurgents in southern Afghanistan but decided not to after determining they were on the grounds of a cemetery.
The decision came to light after an NBC News correspondent's blog carried a photograph of the insurgents. Defense department officials first tried to block further publication of the photo, then struggled to explain what it depicted.
NBC News claimed U.S. Army officers wanted to attack the ceremony with missiles carried by an unmanned Predator drone but were prevented under rules of battlefield engagement that bar attacks on cemeteries.
In a statement released Wednesday, the U.S. military in Afghanistan said the picture a grainy black-and-white photo taken in July was given to a journalist to show that Taliban insurgents were congregating in large groups. The statement said U.S. forces considered attacking.
"During the observation of the group over a significant period of time, it was determined that the group was located on the grounds of (the) cemetery and were likely conducting a funeral for Taliban insurgents killed in a coalition operation nearby earlier in the day," the statement said. "A decision was made not to strike this group of insurgents at that specific location and time."
While not giving a reason for the decision, the military concluded the statement saying that while Taliban forces have killed innocent civilians during a funeral, coalition forces "hold themselves to a higher moral and ethical standard than their enemies."
The photo shows what NBC News says are 190 Taliban militants standing in several rows near a vehicle in an open area of land. Gunsight-like brackets were positioned over the group in the photo.
The photo appeared on NBC News correspondent Kerry Sanders' blog. Initially military officials called it an unauthorized release, but they later said it was given to the journalist.
NBC News had quoted one Army officer who was involved with the spy mission as saying "we were so excited" that the group had been spotted and was in the sights of a U.S. drone. But the network quoted the officer, who was not identified, as saying that frustration soon set in after the officers realized they couldn't bomb the funeral under the military's rules of engagement.
Defense Department officials have said repeatedly that while they try to be mindful of religious and cultural sensitivities, they make no promises that such sites can always be avoided in battle because militants often seek cover in those and other civilian sites.
Mosques and similar locations have become frequent sites of violence in the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they have often been targets of insurgents and sectarian fighting in Iraq.
Not a way to win a war. Get 'em when you see 'em.
A GOOD OFFICER KNOWS WHAT RULES ARE TO BE BROKEN.
When they enemy has no rules, you play by his rules.
That's f***ing insane.
earlier today
U.S. military investigates leaked photo (of 190 Taliban militants at funeral/cemetery. MOAB Time!) ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1700744/posts
Taliban Gets Bury Lucky [Contracting funerals in world of PC]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1700581/posts
Suicide blast at Afghan governor's funeral
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1700756/posts
Could have saved them some trouble of having to take them to cemetery. Maybe could have even got a group rate from the undertakers.
Looks bad. But people should chill until all the facts are known. That picture could be something totally different that what it is said to be. Lets wait for the facts.
The question is are we always going to take the high ground when it's obvious that to win this war we may have to get down and dirty in the low ground?
If the concept of preemptive defense can be used on a national scale, why can't a preemptive funeral be conducted on a small scale? A nice big bomb, then send out some helicopters with slings of dirt underneath. As a nice touch, carry along a priest to say some words. There. Mission accomplished.
"A GOOD OFFICER KNOWS WHAT RULES ARE TO BE BROKEN. "
Not today. Not unless you want Nancy Pelosi and the other demonrats to Washinton Post you into prison.
No need. It sounds retarded enough to be true. Until we start electing MEN, we're going to get our men killed out there following such stupid damned rules.
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )
Are we serious about this being a WAR or not?????
Pentagon: Release of Taliban Funeral Photo Unauthorized
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1700959/posts
Oh, how sweet. Of course, they would return the favor, right? No doubt about it!! /s
Fighting a "nicer, less lethal" war are we?
"If you open the can on these worms you must be prepared to go all the way
because theyre not gonna give up the fight until one of you is dead
Do you want to know how to get Capone?
Youve got to do it the Chicago Way.
He pulls a knife, you pull a gun.
He sends one o yours to the hospital, you send one o his to the morgue.
Thats the Chicago way. And thats how you get Capone." :
AMERICANS MURDERED ON A BRIDGE IN FALLUJA BY ISLAMIC SUBHUMAN TERRORISTS
TORTURE OF AMERICANS BY ISLAMIC SUBHUMAN TERRORISTS.
Islamic Terrorists (mainly from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan) attack America
murdering 3000 Americans per hour [pictures censored by the MSM]
London attacked by Islamic terrorists.
Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay attacked by Islamic terrorists.
Madrid attacked by Islamic terrorists.
Russia, at Beslan, with children murdered by Islamic terrorists.
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
George Santayana
VERY PARTIAL LIST OF ISLAMIC TERRORIST ACTIVITIES
Full list is pages and pages and pages and pages.
1968 Robert Kennedy assassinated
1972 Munich Olympics Sep-5,1972 (Black September)
1976 Entebbe Hostage Crisis, June 27, 1976
1979 Iran Hostage Crisis, Nov. 4, 1979 444 days
1979 Grand Mosque Seizure, Nov 20,1979
1981 Assassination of Egyptian President, Oct 6,1981
1982 Assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister, Sept 14, 1982
1983 Bombing of US Embassy in Beirut6, April 18,1983
1983 Bombing of Maring Barricks, Beruit, Oct 23,1983
1984 Hizballah Restaurant Bombing, April 12,1984
1985 Egyptian Airliner Hijacking, Nov 23,1985
1985 Rome Airport murders
1985 TWA Flight 847 hijacked, U.S. Navy diver murdered
1985 Achille Lauro hijacking, Homacidal maniac lived in saddams Iraq
1986 Aircraft Bombing in Greece, March 30, 1986
1988 Pan Am 747 Flight 103 Bombing, Lockerbie, 100's murdered
1988 Berlin Discoteque Bombing, Dec 21,1988
1992 Bombing in Israeli Embassy in Argentina, March 17,1992
1993 Attempted Assassination of Pres. Bush Sr., April 14,1993
1993 First World Trade Center bombing, February 26th, 7 Killed, Hundreds injured, Billions
1994 Air France Hijacking, Dec 24,1994
1995 Attack on US Diplomats in Pakistan, Mar 8,1995
1995 Military Installation Attack, Nov 13, 1995
1995 Kashmiri Hostage taking, July 4,1995
1996 Khobar Towers attack
1996 Sudanese Missionarys Kidnapping, Aug 17,1996
1996 Paris Subway Explosion, Dec 3,1996
1997 Israeli Shopping Mall Bombing, Sept 4, 1997
1997 Yemeni Kidnappings, Oct 30,1997
1998 Somali Hostage taking crisis, April 15,1998
1998 U.S. Embassy Bombing in Peru, Jan 15, 1998
1998 U.S. Kenya Embassy blown up, 100's murdered
1998 U.S. Tanzania Embassy blown up, 100's murdered
1999 Plot to blow up Space Needle (thwarted)
2000 USS Cole attacked, many U.S. Navy sailors murdered
2000-2003 Intifada against Israel - 100's dead and injured
2000 Manila Bombing, Dec 30,2000
2001 4 Commercial airliners hijacked, 250+ murdered
2001 World Trade Center attacked, 2800+ murdered
2001 Flight 93 murders
2001 Pentagon attacked, 180+ murdered
2002 Reporter Daniel Pearl, kidnapped and murdered
2002 Philippines American missionary, Filipino nurse killed
2002 July 4, El Al attack Los Angeles LAX, several murdered
2002 Bali bombing - 200 dead, 300 injured
2002 Yemen, French Oil Tanker attacked
2002 Marines attacked / murdered in Kuwait
2002 Washington D.C. sniper
2002 Russian Theater attacked, 100+ dead
2002 Nigerian riots against Miss World Pageant, 200 dead, dozens injured
2002 Mombasa Hotel Attacked, 12 dead, dozens injured
2002 Israeli Boeing 757 attacked by missiles, fortunately no one injured
2002 August Hotel bombing in Jakarta, Indonesia. 12 dead, dozens injured.
2003 Rusian concert bombing
2003 Phillipines airport and market bombing
2003 Foiled SAM plot in the USA
2003 UN Baghdad HQ Bombing
on and on and on and on their terrorism has gone .........
Islamic terrorists promising to conquer America prior to murdering all Christians and Jews therein.
Quran 8:12 I shall terrorize the infidels.
So wound their bodies and incapacitate them
because they oppose Allah and His Apostle.
Quran 8:57 If you gain mastery over them in battle,
inflict such a defeat as would terrorize them,
so that they would learn a lesson and be warned.
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )
This is part of the reason why the war is dragging on, and why the moonbats are wailing against it. Take the gloves off, for crying out loud.
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