Marines Wrestle With Afghanistan’s New Airstrike Rules

U. S. Army soldiers provide security while Afghans walk through the streets of Carabar village of Parwan province, Afghanistan, July 4, 2009.U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Richard W. Jones Jr.

From The Danger Room:

Gen. Stanley McChrsytal, the new commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, has issued new, more restrictive rules for when American troops can call in airstrikes, after a controversial incident in May killed dozens of civilians. From now on, U.S. forces must “work through” engagements where civilians might be at risk, rather than simply calling in a B-1 bomber, according to one officer with knowledge of McChrystal’s new rules.

On the surface, the rules — about “weighing the gain” of airstrikes against the cost of civilian casualties” — don’t sound that much difference from the old guidelines. They urged urged caution, too. But the Marines, who last week launched a major offensive meant to re-take a swath of southern Afghanistan from the Taliban, are already seeing a difference.

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My Comment: It is to early to say if these rules of engagement will impact the Afghan war in a matter that will make military operations difficult or impossible for the soldiers who must implement them. But if the experience of having Burqa clad Taliban slipping away starts to repeat itself ..... we will then know that we have a problem.