US order to reduce civilian casualties protects Afghans but frustrates, slows Marines

Canadien Press ^ | 8/13/09 | Alfred De Montesquiou

[Nachum]

DAHANEH, Afghanistan — The British jet called in by the U.S. Marines had the Taliban position in sight, but the pilot refused to fire, a decision that frustrated Marines on the ground but was in line with new orders by the top U.S. commander to protect civilians.

The Marines themselves didn't attack militants shooting at them from a compound Wednesday during the same battle because women and children were there, an approach meant to avoid civilian casualties at all costs.

[Nachum]

The list, ping

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

Welcome to Vietnam II

[max americana]

Vietnam 2 without the “anti-war protests”.

[Rodebrecht]

It’s Obama’s war now. He made it his.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Obango just wants to level the playing field.....make it fair for the enemy....

[devistate one four]

Fight to win or get the hell out of there!

[Ben Chad]

and 8 Marines were KIA last week.

[SuperLuminal]

Grrrrrrrr!

[Hoplite]

It appears some of us are ready to throw out FM 3-24 in favor of the more <*cough*> successful Soviet approach to the problem.

That didn't take long.