So, are you saying that we don't abide by the ROE??

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"A committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing but together can decide that nothing can be done."
Fred Allen

"A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul."
George Bernard Shaw

"Politics is the art of choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable."
John Galbraith

Reynard,

The ROE isn't for the enemy's sake and it's not about fair play....although I understand what you are saying. The ROE is there primarily because of the civilians and things of high value to the civilians that are present. If this fight was in the middle of the desert with just us and the insurgents, there would be no ROE, but, of course, it's not like that. Whether or not we have the best or optimal ROE in place....I cannot say. But, unleashing the military in such a way that endangers and harms the civilian population could certainly have serious repercussions that could undermine exactly what we are trying to do there.

We are our own worst enemy....We have...without a doubt the "BEST"....bar none...military in the world. But with this said...what good does it do to have all this power....without the willingness to transmission the power to the ground. Much like the power in an auto....you have unlimited power in the powerplant(engine)....but with each revolution of torque..via the gear ratio...by the time the power hits the ground...were the rubber hits the highway....this torque has been toned down by the high raito of gears(policticians).....still we have unlimited "TOP END".....but it takes to long to achieve this end.....within a 1/4 mile...as these mini conflicts often are. The conclusion.....its time to revamp the powertrain...with a lower ratio of gears...and quit micro-managing our military...if we are to jump form here to there in limited conflicts( unlike the major conflicts of our history were it was all out balls to the wall) as our military was designed to engage....In my opinion Mr. Rumsfield had the right idea....by streamlining our forces....but the politicians will not let the system work.....Use our special forces for what they were designed for...to lead...advise...and in times of need resucue...Why waste the best and the brightest of our youth...as target practice to these fanatics, move them to the borders..with a mission and visible lines to a front they can defend from intrusion by other counties...Let this country fight its own civil conflict....it is inevitable...much as ours was...with different ideologies..We have lain the foundations of freedom...it is up to them to let it reign...if not..its time to move on. For we can not bestow this heart upon any.....some people(unlike us) would simply be under the tumb of dictatorship than face the possiblity of death....but when any dip their beak into the waters of freedom....it tastes good....just a little more time would not be to much to ask.....BD