Untie military hands

Washington Times ^ | January 26, 2007 | James A. Lyons Jr.

[RKV]

n order to ensure that the additional combat troops being deployed to Iraq can achieve their objectives, we must change the current restrictive rules of engagement (ROEs) under which they are forced to operate. The current ROEs for Baghdad -- including Sadr City, home of the Mahdi Army -- have seven incremental steps that must be satisfied before our troops can take the gloves off and engage the enemy with appropriate violence of action.

(1) You must feel a direct threat to you or your team.

(2) You must clearly see a threat.

(3) That threat must be identified.

(4) The team leader must concur that there is an identified threat.

(5) The team leader must feel that the situation is one of life or death.

(6) There must be minimal or no collateral risk.

(7) Only then can the team leader clear the engagement.

These ROEs might sound fine to academics gathering at some esoteric seminar on how to avoid civilian casualties in a war zone. But they do absolutely nothing to protect our combat troops who have to respond in an instant to a life or death situation.

...

James A. Lyons Jr. is a retired U.S. Navy admiral and former commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, senior U.S. Military Representative to the United Nations and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, where he was principal adviser on all Joint Chiefs of Staff matters.

[RKV]

Political correctness is getting our guys killed and wounded. Take off the gloves and let's put the fear of the US into the hadjis.

[End_Clintonism_Now]

[org.whodat]

The writer is correct, the rules as given could be "The Hunker Down And Die", order. Who ever gave them needs to step forward and tell a whole bunch of American fathers and mothers that they have gotten their sons and daughters killed.

[RKV]

RKV's revised Rules of Engagement:

(1) You must feel a direct threat to you or your team.

(2) The team leader must concur that there is an identified threat.

(3)Only then can the team leader clear the engagement.

(4)These rules of engagement will be interpreted such that every person in Iraq, friend or foe, will know for certain that there is no better friend than an American soldier, and NO WORSE ENEMY.

[yoe]

This is absolute insanity - a politically correct war is being fought in Washington and our men and women are the victims. Call your Senators and Congressmen today - let them know this is the message the terrorists want as they can kill at will, our brave young men and women while they must follow these utterly insane rules the Democrats deem necessary. Fax John Warner - tell him to end this nonsense NOW.

The Honorable John W. Warner
United States Senate
225 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-4601

DC Phone: 202-224-2023
DC Fax: 202-224-6295

[Criminal Number 18F]

This discussion has been underway at milblogs for a while. There seems to be a two-pronged consensus. The combat guys think the rules are too restrictive and are getting people killed, and the JAGs in the safe rear (sitting on their safe rears) think there's no problem and the combat troops are making it all up.

My suggestion is that we tie the staff judge advocate to a HMMWV hood like a deer in season, and see how he enjoys the patrol. If nothing else he'll be a novelty for the kids at stops.

Sharp salute for ADM Lyons. What he says needs saying.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[LadyNavyVet]

I agree. This is why I can't decide if I support a surge or not. If we're not going to change the ROE, I don't see victory no matter how many troops we send.

[yoe]

Nothing is going to get done unless we Americans take action. I don’t know who is responsible for these ROE however I expect my government to erase them and fight this war to win NOT TO LOSE. Put the heat on John Warner - call or fax NOW!

DC Phone: 202-224-2023
DC Fax: 202-224-6295

Call McCain's office and call your elected's offices, call the White House - don't just make the obvious remarks - take action! Our Military needs our help.

[RKV]

Unless we change tactics (including ROE) a surge will only get more of our soldiers killed and wounded. Take of the gloves, forget the Marquis of Queensbury sh!t, and go GET SOME! Obviously be smart, obviously be very careful about what you target, and obviously blow the bad guys to hell when you corner them.

[gogeo]

Gogeo's rules of engagement...

This is a military occupation, not summer camp. Screw with the bull, get the horn.

For those not familiar with cattle...don't f#$k with us.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

I have been saying this for over a year. I would suggest contacting the Joint Chiefs. Are there any contact numbers available for them?

[alice_in_bubbaland]

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