Troops chafe at restrictive rules of engagement, talks with Taliban

Troops chafe at restrictive rules of engagement, talks with Taliban
By: Sara A. Carter
National Security Correspondent
October 19, 2010

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN -- To the U.S. Army soldiers and Marines serving here, some things seem so obviously true that they are beyond debate. Among those perceived truths: Tthe restrictive rules of engagement that they have to fight under have made serving in combat far more dangerous for them, while allowing the Taliban to return to a position of strength.

"If they use rockets to hit the [forward operating base] we can't shoot back because they were within 500 meters of the village. If they shoot at us and drop their weapon in the process we can't shoot back," said Spc. Charles Brooks, 26, a U.S. Army medic with 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, in Zabul province.

Word had come down the morning Brooks spoke to this reporter that watch towers surrounding the base were going to be dismantled because Afghan village elders, some sympathetic to the Taliban, complained they were invading their village privacy. "We have to take down our towers because it offends them and now the Taliban can set up mortars and we can't see them," Brooks added, with disgust.

I was just saying what about our Pantywaist Republic? Ignoring the fact that our soldiers have been sent into an un-Constitutional war, the ROE continually get OUR men killed because of the asinine concept of Political Correctness.

I am saying nothing that already has not be stated- such is obvious but needs to be said again. The military is designed for two things- to kill people and break things. IF a nation unleashes it's military, then let loose- do not tell them their job is to police the land invaded so that they can pass out flowers, candy and stuffed animals while being lead by their sodomite members.

WP