I am not certain what constitutes the rules of engagement for our military personnel in Afghanistan. I heard a report from a usually good source yesterday that the rules of engagement do not allow our soldiers, marines, airmen or sailors to engage a Mosque, religious shrine or anything of the like under any circumstances.
I tend to believe this report as I know the same rule was followed in Iraq in places like Karbala. The enemy was engaging our troops and we knew the location from which the fire was coming; still, we could not engage.
I heard a further report, which if true, is genuine cause for alarm and disgust. Twelve of our military personnel at a remote Afghan outpost were killed, two by Taliban posing as Afghan police officers and eight by a force of more that one hundred Taliban who emerged from a mosque at the bottom of the hill just forward of our soldier's outpost. I'm told that we knew all too well that the mosque harbored a number of Taliban as well as their arms and ammunition; still, we did not act on that intelligence to remove the threat which killed our soldiers. Why?
American forces have the means to inflict complete devastation on the Taliban, on their strongholds and on their supporters. The mosque and the Taliban within could have been destroyed by a cruise missile launched from a thousand miles away. The options that could have been employed to kill these murderous individuals are myriad. What good are the finest weapons in the world if they cannot be used. Our troops are still slugging it out with rifles, machine guns and grenades. Why?
The President sent a highly decorated General to Afghanistan to revive and renew our mission. Now, the President hardly ever even speaks with the General and ignores his petition for more troops and more sensible rules of engagement. Why?
Perhaps we should not remain in Afghanistan. Why not just cut bait and run? Why not simply ignore promises made, like we did in Vietnam, and come home. Our government has got promise breaking down to a science. In this way we could once again ensure that the service of our military, and their deaths, were all for nothing. Prepare to hold your nose once more.
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