McChrystal reins in robot zombie ninjas
Cortillaen sends us a link from the New York Times in which General McChrystal announces that he’s taking control of the Special Operation forces in Afghanistan because the locals and the UN claim that they’re responsible for the most civilian casualties;
“In most of the cases of civilian casualties, special forces are involved,” said Mohammed Iqbal Safi, head of the defense committee in the Afghan Parliament, who participated in joint United States-Afghan investigations of civilian casualties last year. “We’re always finding out they are not obeying the rules that other forces have to in Afghanistan.”
“These forces often operate with little or no accountability and exacerbate the anger and resentment felt by communities,” the Human Rights Office of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan wrote in its report on protection of civilians for 2009.
Rear Adm. Gregory J. Smith, General McChrystal’s deputy chief of staff for communications, cautioned against putting undue blame on Special Operations forces. Since night raids are dangerous, and most missions take place at night, most of them are carried out by the more highly trained special groups. In January, General McChrystal issued restrictions on night raids.
Yeah, I’m beginning to see a pattern here – the Afghan government complained when our drones were being too successful, and now the special operations are being too successful, as well apparently. Maybe we should ask the Taliban for our op-plans. At least, the Taliban can help direct our forces to targets that are far from any potential civilian targets.
So where is Joe Biden who claimed that the whole war could be won with robot zombie ninjas. Doesn’t this kind of cut off at the knees his whole masterful idea?
Category: Terror War
Sheesh! There’s SO much wrong with the article that this post is based on.
1) It’s written by, for, and of the NYT. That should be enough to sink it right there. But we continue anyway, for argument’s sake.
2)Mohammed Iqbal Safi, head of the defense committee in the Afghan Parliament. How does he know that the people the Special Forces are targeting and killing AREN’T Taliban terrorists? How do WE know HE isn’t a Taliban? (Didn’t we have this same problem in VietNam?)
3)“We’re always finding out they are not obeying the rules that other forces have to in Afghanistan.” D’OH! Of course! That’s why they’re SPECIAL Forces. They’re SUPPOSED to operate outside the politically-correct imposed ROE’s. They get the job done that the normal grunt isn’t allowed to.
4)The Human Rights Office of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. It’s a commission from the UN. ‘Nuff said.
“These forces often operate with little or no accountability and exacerbate the anger and resentment felt by communities”.
Yeah, The community of The Taliban Terrorists because they are getting their asses blown up.
To add to JonP’s comments, remind me again who is setting off bombs in markets on purpose? And remind me why the UN has any credibility?
The way I read the article most of the boo boos were by Afhan SF, admittedly under supervision. Even more mentoring needed.
Aw, it’s the Neutred York Times… they’d run Tokyo Rose telling us “GI, you die!” and call it free speech.