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| Iraq |
| W. Thomas Smith: rules of engagement |
| 2007-07-31 |
| . . . I spoke with some Marines earlier in Al Asad about rules of engagement (ROE). They told me there was this always-conscious low-grade concern among many Marines in combat today whenever they prepare to fire at the enemy. "Whenever I raise my weapon, sir, I sometimes wonder if I will fry [be punished] for this," one said. This concern, which — in my opinion — could easily morph into a second of hesitation, could also easily result in Marines and soldiers being killed. Also, the comment itself — "I sometimes wonder if I will fry" — are hardly the words or fears of what many on the Left would say are "cold blooded killers." There is so much more to this story, and I will be talking with Marines about ROE in greater depth over the coming days. . . . I depart on an infantry operation within hours. Will be offline for about two days. Semper Fi. |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #4 Anonymoose, I respectfully disagree. Sure relaxed ROE's could be a sign of operations winding down but the ROEs these Marines are talking about have been in place for years. This is the most over-lawyered war in the history of mankind. The lawyers put the Marines in these positions and then prosecute them if they use that nano-second available to save their own life. If we ever pacify Iraq to the point of saying we need soft ROEs then I let the lawyers have their say but for now I say to them "just shut the f**k up". |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2007-07-31 13:36 |
| #3 Murtha needs to "fry" long before this is all over, since most of it will last for 30 to 40 years at the current pace. Murtha should be out on his a$$ by sometime last Tuesday. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2007-07-31 13:16 |
| #2 As I sadly said a long time ago, when ROEs are softened, it is good news, as it means the combat situation is turning into a police situation. In most of the country, we can hope, eventually the ROE will be that only one individual be armed when a group of soldiers go out in public, and that if anything happens, their duty is to notify an Iraqi policeman or soldier and let them handle it. The troops will always hate it at first. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-07-31 11:36 |
| #1 It'd be nice, when it's all over, if a few prominent lefties "would fry" for putting our men in this quandry with their squawking. Murtha? Durbin? Pelosi? Reid? Step right this way... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2007-07-31 08:51 |