�It�s been an insidious progression, the criticisms of the U.S. Armed Forces from politicians and from the liberal media, which knows nothing of combat, nothing of our training, and nothing of the mortal dangers we face out there on the front line. Each of the six of us in that aircraft en route to Afghanistan had constantly in the back of our minds the ever-intrusive rules of engagement.
And those ROE are very specific: we may not open fire until we are fired upon or have positively identified our enemy and have proof of his intentions.
But how about�when a bunch of guys wearing colored towels around their heads and brandishing AK-47s come charging over the horizon straight toward you?
That situation might look simple in Washington, where the human rights of terrorists are often given high priority
However, from the standpoint of the U.S. soldier, Ranger, SEAL, Green Beret, or whatever, those ROE represent a very serious conundrum
they make us concerned, disheartened, and sometimes hesitan
clipped from: www.opinioneditorials.com