I need to begin this article by saying that I regret any civilian casualties in any war, but also that I understand that those casualties are a part of war. Dropping two atomic bombs on Japan caused untold civilian casualties, but it also saved thousands of soldiers and ended a war. We need to keep this in mind as we move forward in the war on terror.
The source of this article is a Navy Times article posted today. There is a proposal currently circulating in the International Security Assistance Force in Kubal, Afghanistan, to award a medal for "courageous restraint" for holding fire to save civilian lives. Since we are dealing with an enemy who historically hides among the civilian population, this is a sure way to ensure that more United States and allied soldiers get killed.
According to the article:
"The self-protections built into the rules of engagement are clear, and the decision to return fire must be made instantly based on training and the threat," said Joe Davis, a spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. "The enemy already hides among noncombatants, and targets them, too. The creation of such an award will only embolden their actions and put more American and noncombatant lives in jeopardy. Let's not rush to create something that no one wants to present posthumously."
The way to win the war in Afghanistan is to fight it, win it, and get it over with. Anything else kills more soldiers, more civilians, and gives the terrorists a victory. Someone needs to send the person who came up with the idea of this medal into battle and tell him he can't shoot at the enemy. That is what this medal is telling our soldiers.
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