Petraeus to Modify Afghanistan Rules of Engagement

A military source close to Gen. David Petraeus told Fox News that one of the first things the general will do when he takes over in Afghanistan is to modify the rules of engagement to make it easier for U.S. troops to engage in combat with the enemy, though a Petraeus spokesman pushed back on the claim.

Troops on the ground and some military commanders have said the strict rules — aimed at preventing civilian casualties — have effectively forced the troops to fight with one hand tied behind their backs.

The military source who has talked with Petraeus said the general will make those changes. Other sources were not so sure, but said they wouldn’t be surprised to see that happen once Petraeus takes command.

Petraeus spokesman Col. Erik Gunhus disputed the claim Friday, telling Fox News it’s too soon to tell whether Petraeus would change the current rules. But he said it is one of many issues he’ll take under consideration during his assessment after he’s confirmed and after he takes over command in Afghanistan.

Any new ROE won’t interfere with Obama’s dicked-up ‘winning is not necessarily the goal’ strategy:

……At the same news conference at the Pentagon, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen said Petraeus will be able to make tactical changes. But he said that does not necessarily mean changes will be made and echoed the president’s insistence that the strategy stays as he prepared for a visit to the war zone.

“My message will be clear: Nothing changes about our strategy, nothing changes about the mission,” Mullen said.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/06/25/petraeus-modify-afghanistan-rules-engagement-source-says/

What is the mission, Mullen? What’s Obama’s strategy? Do you even fucking know?
I’ll tell you what it is: To keep plodding along under a half-assed, piecemeal war effort that should have been stepped up to ‘kill ’em all, let allah sort ’em out’, immediately following 9/11.

George W. Bush started out okay and kept an even momentum, but did not go far enough. Obama doesn’t even want to be bothered with this war, and would just as soon pull out so the Taliban and Al Qaeda can hold a victory dance in Kabul. He’s handling the entire threat of another attack on this country—from internal and external extremists alike—the same way.

As for the ROE, Obama and the E-Ring JCS need to get the fuck out of the way and let him and the troops finish the job.