Rules of Engagement in Iraq Threaten Army Troops

StrategyPage.com ^

[overtaxed_canadian]

LEADERSHIP: Rules of Engagement in Iraq Threaten Army Troops

July 8, 2003: Marine and Army troops in Iraq are upset over Rules of Engagement (ROEs) being implemented by Army commanders. While Marines are allowed to carry their weapons, both rifles and machine-guns, ready to use, Army units, especially non-combat ones (including Military Police) are being increasingly restrictive rules regarding the use and handling of weapons. Unlike the Marines, Army convoys do not display any weapons, making it appear as if the convoy is unarmed. For the Marines, this is madness. Marine convoys bristle with weapons, making it clear what will happen if anyone should be so foolish as to attack them. Army MPs are under orders not to handle their machine-guns while on roadblock duty unless they received orders from their headquarters. Army troops are allowed to carry only two M-16 magazines, the rest being kept locked up. Marines are incredulous when they encounter this. Since Marines and Army troops control adjacent sectors, there is ample opportunities for troops from the two services to run into each other and compare notes. It has not gone unnoticed by American troops, or the Iraqis that are attacking them, that nearly all the Americans attacked are Army troops. The Army ROEs tell the Iraqis that Army troops are an easier targets, equipped with an ROE that also serves as a virtual placard saying "shoot me, I have a hard time shooting back."

[overtaxed_canadian]

WTF is going on over there? This is insanity.

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[fooman]

As drudge says, send jenna bush...

[TalBlack]

Let me explain: We are not a country of Men anymore rather we are a nation of eunichs and feminazies. Guns are bad, they frighten people and make us seem billeigerent and smallminded....or something like that.....

[ARCADIA]

While we are at it we should paint all of our military vehicles a nice friendly shade of pink.

[theFIRMbss]

>It has not gone unnoticed by American troops, or the Iraqis that are attacking them, that nearly all the Americans attacked are Army troops

We have a "free" press.
This strikes me as darn big news.
Why isn't this crap

headlines on Newsweek,
instead of that gay marriage
garbage?! Free press?! GAaak!

[section9]

So THAT'S it!

That's correct. Very few Marines have been killed since the end of land combat.

I cannot f*%king believe that we are using that kind of restrictive ROE. This must change. Rumsfeld himself has to make this change, immediately if not sooner, or resign.

This is an outrage.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[BeAllYouCanBe]

"Army convoys do not display any weapons"

Wonderful, my son is on convoy duty - he travels between Kuwait and Nasiryah. Orginally he had a .50 cal machine gun.

So how does that go? When guns are outlawed only the outlaws will have guns!!

[theFIRMbss]

>Unlike the Marines, Army convoys do not display any weapons... Marine convoys bristle with weapons...

Fire whomever
is in charge of the Army.
Promote the Marine...

[Radix]

Typical Army BS. I read the entire article. Our troops are being shot at and executed, and these aholes up the ladder are concerned about 5 o'clock shadows, and keeping the Troops in short supply of AMMO!

It is an outrage and they must be out of their effing minds. They are going to have some serious problems with retention after this crap. It is really pissing me off.

[squidly]

It gives me no pleasure to say that I'm not surprised at all. Very reminiscent of the ROE in Lebanon, '83.

[Courier]

We don't want to do anything to scare the Religion of Peace folks. They are frightened by guns.

[WIGGY]

ROE This sounds all too familiar. During my stint in the gulf, they didn't want us to carry weapons outside of U.S. controled areas. Also the Host Nation defined what our restricted areas were. Sometimes the military is prone to pander to politics. This is why I back the man who says "bring 'em on".

[BeAllYouCanBe]

"Religion of Peace folks. They are frightened by guns"

Right on! They like strapping on explosives to their women.

[rageaholic]

yes, and while we are at it, they should not be called "soldiers" lest some more of those sensitive arabs be offended. They should be called "uniformed assistants." Female soldiers are of course to be called "non-male uniformed assistants."

[boomop1]

This sh** has to cease, sounds like Bosnia, our troops in Baghdad are targets of opportunity, sending them downtown milling with the populous is insane. My son says every day is like the movie Ground Hog day, a lot of people have had good intentions, but have no common sense. The expected outcome did not happen, I know the country is swarming with special ops let them do their job and reinforce them as needed. I am troubled (a Daschileism) about this continuing loss of life, and limiting their self defense by rules of engagement that only apply to us is insane.

[Yo-Yo]

The Marines learned the hard way in Beruit Lebanon that carrying unloaded weapons was worse than useless. The Army is now re-learning that same lesson, one brave Soldier at a time.

[Courier]

You cynic you.

They only do that because it really extenuates the female figure under the chador/abaya.

Didn't you get the "Religion of Peace" memo?

[mystery-ak]

I don't buy this at all...in fact my hubby promised to try to call me tonight..and I will ask him....as far as the convoy..that is not true....hubby has been on several and vehicles have been well armed.

[meenie]

I think these peacekeepers should put signs on their vehicles, "Don't shoot, I am unarmed". The army officers that have set up these rules of engagement should be busted lower than E-2. I am not too sure these rules weren't set up from the highest echelons, maybe even the White House.

Rumsfeld has never pulled any line duty and I doubt if anyone else has in the cabinet. Part of the spectacle we see now in Iraq is the inexperience of air force hot-shots even knowing the basics of ground warfare. We keep tinkering with more and more expensive toys in the air force and do not even know how to take ground and hold it.