Deja Vu

[unhappycamper]

Lance Cpl. Brett Whirle of Dunellon, Fla., front, and Lance Cpl. Ruben Herrera of Memphis, Tenn., with the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, take cover during a gunbattle while on patrol in Marjah, Afghanistan.



Rep.: Hold rules of engagement hearing now
By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Apr 13, 2010 5:54:06 EDT

A congressman whose district includes Camp Lejeune, N.C., wants fellow lawmakers to review the rules of engagement used by NATO forces in Afghanistan, saying “they have proved too often to be fatal” to U.S. troops.

Rep. Walter Jones, a Republican, said he has become increasingly concerned about whether the rules of engagement, or ROE, limit U.S. forces from protecting themselves on the battlefield. He is calling for the House Armed Services Committee to hold a hearing, saying active-duty Marines and the families of troops killed in combat contact him regularly about the issue.

“I have great trust and respect in the leadership in the military, both Army and Marine Corps. There’s no question about that,” said Jones, a member of the committee. “But sometimes it’s good that Congress follows through on its responsibility and oversees and discusses policy.”

Specifics of the ROE are classified. But they have come under sharp criticism since July, when Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, issued guidelines directing “leaders at all levels to scrutinize and limit the use of force like close-air support against residential compounds and other locations likely to produce civilian casualties.” He also restricted the use of air-to-ground munitions and indirect fire, such as artillery rounds, against residences.

The concerns stretch beyond that, however. In February, Marines involved in the assault on the Taliban stronghold of Marjah told an embedded Associated Press reporter that they frequently hesitated and held fire in some dangerous combat situations.


Rest of article at: http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/04/marine_roe_041310w/%20



unhappycamper comment: We were bitching about the ROE forty yeas ago. Nice to know nothing's changed. :sarcasm:

[Bonobo]

1. Didn't you already post this? nt

[unhappycamper]

2. Nope. n/t

[Bonobo]

3. I was making a (lame) attempt at humor.

Deja Vu. Get it?

Seriously though, I recc'ed it because this is such an important topic.