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As U.S. deaths in Afghanistan rise, military families grow critical
Chicago Tribune ^ | 9/2/2010 | David Zucchino

Posted on 09/01/2010 5:50:02 PM PDT by markomalley

Some families of service members killed in the war say the rules of engagement protect Afghan civilians at the expense of American troops. U.S. combat tolls have peaked this summer.

Bill and Beverly Osborn still can't bring themselves to erase the phone message from their son Ben. He had called from Afghanistan in June to assure them that he was safe. Four days later, he was killed in a Taliban ambush.

The Osborns long ago accepted the risks faced by their son, an Army specialist. But what they can't accept now are the military rules of engagement, which they contend made it possible for the Taliban to kill him.

"We let the enemy fire first, and they took my son from us," Beverly Osborn said of the rules, which in most instances require U.S. forces to identify an enemy threat before firing, and to withhold fire if civilians are close by. The rules also place restrictions on close air support and artillery, prompting complaints from some service members that their lives are put at risk against an enemy that fights by no rules at all.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; roe

1 posted on 09/01/2010 5:50:04 PM PDT by markomalley
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To: Jet Jaguar; NorwegianViking; ExTexasRedhead; HollyB; FromLori; EricTheRed_VocalMinority; ...

The list, ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/


2 posted on 09/01/2010 5:53:38 PM PDT by Nachum (The complete Obama list at www.nachumlist.com)
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To: markomalley
These ROE are turning our troops into nothing but cannon fodder - it's criminal in my view to make men fight a war with such restrictive ROE.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!
3 posted on 09/01/2010 5:54:09 PM PDT by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines, RVN '69 - St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle!)
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To: markomalley
I believe the left seeks a repeat of the seventies, where the US public became demoralized and disillusioned with the military and, in a general sense, traditional America because of the trauma of Vietnam. A trauma brought on largely by democrat meddling in the conduct of the war.

As a consequence the left had virtual run of society for nearly ten years.

They've always seen the US military as a nuisance anyway, so by losing in Afghanistan they get a 'twofer'.

4 posted on 09/01/2010 5:56:07 PM PDT by skeeter
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To: markomalley

We need to slash military spending! How else can Congress afford things....like....blowing through $26,000,000,000 in a single afternoon vote to pay off the teachers unions?

5 posted on 09/01/2010 5:56:46 PM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: markomalley

Chicago Tribune? You help elect the Muslim. Helped by EVERY TV network and people who watch TV.

The Muslim Brotherhood has moles throughout the US govt, military, intel agencies, you name it. They are feeding intel back to the Taliban and Al Qeada to kill our troops faster.

Keep watchiung TV because every network including the Saudi partially owned Fox News supports Obama, the Victory Mosque and Islam. Your monthly cable and aat TV bills keep the networks alive and keeps you supporting shria.


6 posted on 09/01/2010 5:57:00 PM PDT by Frantzie (Imam Ob*m* & Democrats support the VICTORY MOSQUE & TV supports Imam)
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To: ConorMacNessa

What do you really expect from this administration? A policy to win? That he is going to get serious with his brethren???

For the unaware and unknowing.... and the wary

We all have different dreams, and perceptions about America and what it should become. A special thank you to Cruise _Missile for summarizing his observations!

Obama is a Muslim wanabe or Wahabe

• The FIRST thing Obama did as a newly elected Illinois State Senator was to attempt to declare a Muslim holiday. Obama sponsored Bill SR0110 in the 90th General Assembly to declare November 1, 1997 to be Islamic Community Center Day. It did not pass.
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/legisnet90/summary/900SR0110.html
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/legisnet90/srgroups/sr/900SR0110LV.html

• His biological father was a Muslim.
http://www.bing.com/reference/semhtml/?title=Barack_Obama%2C_Sr.&src=abop&qpvt=barack+obama+seniot&q=barack+obama+senior&fwd=1

• Because his biological father was a Muslim the Islam world thinks he is a Muslim.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/behind-the-numbers/2010/08/obama_is_a_muslim_18_24_or.html?hpid=topnews
http://www.indonesiamatters.com/2952/barry-soetoro/

• His stepfather was a Muslim.
http://www.indonesiamatters.com/2952/barry-soetoro/

• As a child Barry was enrolled in school as a Muslim in Jakarta Indonesia. An Indonesian Madrasa.
• Barack Hussein Obama’s first and middle names are Arabic Muslim names.
Barack was the name for Mohammad’s horse. Husein, enough said.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700246419/Barack-Muhammads-horse.html
http://sanooaung.wordpress.com/2009/01/22/will-be-obama-with-us-muslims-as-the-meaning-of-his-name-in-persian-language/

• Obama recited the opening lines of the Muslim call to prayer, which includes a vow of fidelity to Islam, in flawless Arabic on a radio program. - Nikolos Kristoff, NYTs, 3-06-07 (***this one is a gottcha moment***)
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.3413/pub_detail.asp
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/11679

• On that same program he said he thinks the call to prayer is “one of the prettiest sounds on earth.”
http://jewagainstobama.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/obama-muslim-call-to-prayer-one-of-the-prettiest-sounds-on-earth/
http://caosblog.com/archives/7373

• Obama belonged to Rev. Wright’s (a former Muslim) church for twenty years. Many congregants are Muslims.
http://infidelsarecool.com/2008/04/07/jeremiah-wright-former-muslim/
http://infidelsarecool.com/2008/03/20/rev-wright-got-his-masters-degree-in-islam-in-west-africa/
http://endtimes.yuku.com/forum/viewtopic/id/289

• Obama’s said that the U.S. is “one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.”
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tobyharnden/9959057/Barack_Hussein_Obama_US_one_of_the_largest_Muslim_countries_in_the_world/
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/06/obama_america_one_of_the_large_1.asp

• Obama holds Muslim celebrations in the WH but canceled the National Day of Prayer.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1724544/obama_cancels_national_day_of_prayer.html?cat=9
http://www.exposeobama.com/

• President Obama’s religious adviser, Eboo Patel, once deemed the United States “the ideal place for the renewal of Islam.”

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2010/06/-obama-tells-egyptian-foreign-minister-i-am-a-muslim-stealth-coup-on-the-white-house.html

• Obama does not give gifts on Christmas.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/12035.html

• Obama doesn’t celebrate his birthday.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/04/a-tough-birthday-for-obama/

• Obama falsely attributes Muslim participation in the founding of America.
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.7041/pub_detail.asp

• Obama required that the cross be covered when he gave a speech at Notre Dame.
http://blog.acton.org/archives/9843-notre-dame-georgetown-and-president-obama.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/11/opinion/main5006203.shtml
http://dougpowers.com/2009/04/17/obamas-jesus-coverup/

• Christian symbol covered up during Obama’s Georgetown speech
http://myfaithspace.ning.com/profiles/blogs/obama-covers-christ-and-cross
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=46667

• Obama’s first major speech in office was a “Muslim outreach” speech in Cairo Egypt.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-at-Cairo-University-6-04-09/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8083171.stm

• “The American President told me in confidence that he is a Muslim,” said Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Nile TV.
http://barenakedislam.wordpress.com/2010/06/12/bombshell-egyptian-foreign-minister-ahmed-aboul-gheit-says-on-egyptian-tv-%e2%80%9cthe-american-president-told-me-in-confidence-that-he-is-still-a-muslim-%e2%80%9d/
http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=166905

• Obama gave strong support to the Cordoba House community center and mosque to be built at the Ground Zero site of Sep. 11, 2001 at a dinner celebrating the day’s end of the first day of Ramadan at the WH.
http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk/article/president-obama-supports-ground-zero-mosque/19593492?ncid=webmail

• Obama tasked NASA with a mission of “Muslim outreach.”
http://technology.newsplurk.com/2010/07/nasa-and-islam.html

• Obama referred to his faith as “my Muslim faith” gaffe in an interview with George Stephanopolous.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQqIpdBOg6I

• Pushes Islamic freedom of religion but not Jewish or Christian freedoms. Several weeks ago he told Israel NOT to build settlements in East Jerusalem. But OK to build that Mosque at Ground Zero.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/7514285/Israel-spits-in-Obamas-eye-by-announcing-new-settlements-in-east-Jerusalem.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/24/barack-obama-israel-settlement-plan

Be wary, wary aware ....and wary, wary afraid...get prepared for more creeping sharia...


7 posted on 09/01/2010 5:57:59 PM PDT by himno hero
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To: Frantzie

“The Muslim Brotherhood has moles throughout the US govt, military, intel agencies, you name it.”

Kinda sounds like the 60’s when the communists were in our government doesn’t it? We need another McCarthy.


8 posted on 09/01/2010 6:01:21 PM PDT by RC2 (Remember who we are. "I am America")
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To: markomalley
Obama's ROE are calibrated to protect the Taliban over our troops - pure and simple - and the Taliban caught on real fast.

Can't shoot until shot at first - or if you don't' see a gun? Don't get me started - my grandson that grew up in my house is on his second tour - His first: 15 months in the "MosT Dangerous Place on Earth" - GOOGLE "Restrepo the Movie" - it's about his platoon.

what will be the count at the end of 2010? Obama is a traitor - pure and simple.

9 posted on 09/01/2010 6:05:57 PM PDT by maine-iac7 (g)
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To: markomalley

It’s WAY PAST TIME TO DEMAND the ROE rescinded. I have been posting this for over a year

WE’RE PINNED DOWN

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/75036.html

our traitor in chief is aiding and abetting our enemy in killing our troops = ducks in a shooting gallery and not allowed to defend themselves - no cover.

August 2009 was the deadliest month of the whole war for our troops = and it has continued to climb (But the media is no longe concerned) ...because of the new ROE - Rules of Engagement...

which are NOT to provide air cover for our troops, even when ambushed, pinned down and being killed. (the rationale for these new ROE’s admits that it will cause more deaths for our troops now but that it will be worth it in the long run. Worth it for WHO?)

That is treason. Pure and simple. That is aiding and abetting the enemy, who now knows THEY have the cover, not our troops - and they are ramping it up.


10 posted on 09/01/2010 6:11:22 PM PDT by maine-iac7 (g)
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To: markomalley

This story breaks my heart. The mindset of the military and the left are polar opposites.


11 posted on 09/01/2010 6:14:04 PM PDT by panthermom
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To: markomalley; Saoirise; MestaMachine; Markos33; Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!
The ROE’s are demonstrative of the fact that 0 has imparted his liberal rot into our military culture. If he has his way, it will lead to the complete impotence of the American Armed Forces in the field. The current rules will only lead to more KIA. Nothing good will come from them. You can't micromanage a firefight and as the case of the Marines killed in the Kunar province last August demonstrates, micromanaging is deadly to our troops. It is impossible to prevent civilian casualties during a time of war. The enemy knows the Achilles heal by which to exploit and use to their advantage.

“U.S. TROOPS BATTLE BOTH TALIBAN AND THEIR OWN RULES”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2387602/posts

“New Obama Military Rules of Engagement:, Don’t shoot back”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2384383/posts

“RULES OF ENGAGEMENT REVISITED’

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2346439/posts

“OBAMA’S RULES OF ENGAGEMENT IN AFGHANISTAN COSTING OUR TROOPS LIVES”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2335891/posts

“THE RULES MURDERING OUR TROOPS”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2347085/posts

____________________________________________________________

http://www.nato.int/isaf/docu/official_texts/Tactical_Directive_090706.pdf

“...I recognize that the carefully controlled and disciplined employment of force entails risks to our troops...”

“...The Taliban cannot militarily defeat us - but we can defeat ourselves...”

This is all that comes to my mind when I read that:

“We are pinned down. We are running low on ammo. We have no air. We’ve lost today,” Marine Maj. Kevin Williams, 37, said through his translator to his Afghan counterpart, responding to the latter’s repeated demands for helicopters.

“’We’re pinned down:’ 4 U.S. Marines die in Afghan ambush”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2335142/posts

____________________________________________________________

“Obama orders Miranda rights in Afghanistan”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2388364/posts

“Reading Miranda Rights to Terrorists Is ‘Crazy’ and ‘Stupid,’ Say GOP Congressmen”

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=49738

“Miranda rights for terrorists: Next, toothbrushes and teddy bears!”

http://michellemalkin.com/2009/06/11/miranda-rights-for-terrorists-next-toothbrushes-and-teddy-bears/


The enemy gets to use their full arsenal and tactics on our troops but our guys have to fight hamstrung by the ROE’s. Utter and complete BS. No thanks to Al-Bama.

12 posted on 09/01/2010 6:29:19 PM PDT by 444Flyer (We are the end of the line.)
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To: maine-iac7

bump


13 posted on 09/01/2010 6:30:19 PM PDT by 444Flyer (We are the end of the line.)
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To: HollyB
Ping

"Our soldiers are forced to fight with one hand tied behind their backs. They're not allowed to take care of business — and they know it," Bill Osborn said in his living room, where his son's Bronze Star, Purple Heart and campaign ribbons are on display.

Debbie Morris of Arnold, Calif., who lost her son in Afghanistan on June 10, said the rules of engagement protect Afghan civilians at the expense of American troops. She blames the rules, in part, for the death of her son, Marine Lance Cpl. Gavin Brummund, 22, from a roadside bomb.

If the rules prevent troops from aggressively pursuing Afghan militants who plot attacks against them while posing as civilians, "then the rules aren't working, and why are we even there?" Morris said.

Brummund's widow, Michaela, said Marines in her husband's unit told her they were frustrated by the rules. Protecting civilians, many of whom are hostile to U.S. forces, "isn't worth our guys' lives," she said..."

14 posted on 09/01/2010 6:36:55 PM PDT by 444Flyer (We are the end of the line.)
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To: maine-iac7

McClatchy report by Jonathan Landay, the reporter who broke the story of how our rules of engagement in Afghanistan endanger the troops.

McClatchy report by Jonathan Landay: Report: “Rules of engagement led to soldiers’ deaths.” A detailed follow up:

“The lack of timely air support - was a consequence of the manpower and equipment shortages bequeathed by the Bush administration’s failure to secure Afghanistan against a resurgence of the Taliban, al-Qaida and allied groups before turning to invade Iraq.”

“The denial of heavy artillery fire to those trapped in Ganjgal also has roots in the Bush administration’s decision to divert resources to Iraq and the resulting stress on the U.S. military.”

McClatchy investigation: “Birthers are just plain nuts” Does McClatchy get its talking points from DNC operatives?

“I don’t think that even the best blogsites are a substitute for the mainstream media is that bloggers cannot do all of the things that mainstream media companies can do, at least for now. In June, for example, we completed an investigation of the Bush administration’s detainee program.” - John Walcott, Washington bureau chief for McClatchy Newspapers Oct. 7, 2008


15 posted on 09/01/2010 6:43:19 PM PDT by anglian
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To: 444Flyer

Note - “U.S. commanders told FOX News soldiers are not reading Miranda rights to detainees.”

“Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd denied there has been a policy change covering detainees. “There has been no policy change nor blanket instruction for FBI agents to Mirandize detainees overseas,” adding, “While there have been specific cases in which FBI agents have Mirandized suspects overseas, at both Bagram and in other situations, in order to preserve the quality of evidence obtained, there has been no overall policy change with respect to detainees.”


16 posted on 09/01/2010 6:50:26 PM PDT by anglian
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To: maine-iac7

The McCltachy article becomes suspect by introducing obtuse foolishness like this:
Quote:
The lack of timely air support...was a consequence of the manpower and equipment shortages bequeathed by the Bush administration’s failure to secure Afghanistan against a resurgence of the Taliban, al Qaida and allied groups before turning to invade Iraq.
...
The denial of heavy artillery fire to those trapped in Ganjgal also has roots in the Bush administration’s decision to divert resources to Iraq and the resulting stress on the U.S. military.

Those comments would seem to questionably accurate at best, politically motivated (understandable given his background) and tangentially if at all related to the story. They discredit the rest of his reporting in my view.
More sensible is this comment:
Quote:
There are a limited number of U.S. helicopters in Kunar, a stretch of craggy mountains and serpentine valleys bordering Pakistan where airpower gives a vital edge to overstretched U.S. troops fighting guerrillas who know every nook and trail of the area. Unbeknownst to those trapped in the Ganjgal kill zone, however, the available aircraft were tied up in the Shiryak Valley to the north in a battle in which two pilots were wounded, U.S. commanders said.
I seem to recall efforts at home to declare failure back in 2007 - back when the fighting and dying were at their worst - and to ensure the blame for that failure didn’t rest with the troops but was passed on to the Generals who had sacrificed their soldiers’ lives on the altar of appeasement to their civilian masters. Some might recall “Betrayus” - a disgusting trope that made its way from certain web sites (more concerned with winning elections than battles with guns) to the pages of the New York Times - at a discount.

You need no reminder of that, I am sure. Of days when scant available facts (and abundant fallacies) in initial reports were augmented with the assumptions of those who were most likely to be wrong, whose motives and commitment would require them to ignore or dismiss follow-on reports from on-scene (from those whose every word had mere days before been unimpeachable Gospel truth) and moveon to the next preliminary report, the new outrage of the day.

QUOTES - Initial reports indicate that the troops requested and were given air support and indirect fire, said Sam Truelove, a spokeswoman for the International Security Assistance Force.

“The tactical directive does not preclude any fires for self defense,” said Truelove, a lieutenant commander in the Royal Navy.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said that it did take “some time” for air support to arrive, but the delay was due to distance, not the rules of engagement.

He said the deaths are under investigation, adding, “We will hopefully get to the bottom and figure out if everything operated according to protocol.”


17 posted on 09/01/2010 6:54:33 PM PDT by anglian
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To: markomalley

roe bump


18 posted on 09/01/2010 7:49:36 PM PDT by happinesswithoutpeace (1.416785(71) x 10^32 You are receiving this broadcast as a dream.)
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To: markomalley

After Vietnam it was thought we would never enter a war that we did not intend to win, well here we are!


19 posted on 09/01/2010 9:33:49 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration (When the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn (Pr.29:2))
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October 2, 2009 NRO This Mission Is Not McChrystal Clear Andrew McCarthy.
“Deep down, national-security conservatives know President Obama will not wage a decisive war against America’s enemies in Afghanistan. They also know that the young men and women we already have there are sitting ducks. Ralph Peters notes that our commanders, obsessed with avoiding civilian casualties, have imposed mind-boggling rules of engagement (ROE) on our forces, compelling them to retreat from contact with the enemy and denying them resort to overwhelming force — including the denial of artillery and air cover when they are under siege.” http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/228339/mission-not-mcchrystal-clear/andrew-c-mccarthy

And without expectation that it will do anything whatsoever to reduce claims of soldiers as “sitting ducks”. Here are the ‘Sitting Duck Airpower Summaries’ for that October 1st and 2nd 2009 - Oct. 1 airpower summary http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123170890 Oct. 2 airpower summary: http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123171165


20 posted on 09/01/2010 11:18:54 PM PDT by anglian
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