Obama, Incompetatnt Commandar in Chief

Obama, Incompetent Commander in Chief

Whose side is he on anyway? Ya all know who I am talking about, that Barack Obama guy. I cringe at the thought the that community activist is Commander and Chief.

I am not a combat vet, but I wore the uniform and cannot imagine the unnecessary stress our warriors must endure.

Shades of Vietnam: Spike in U.S. troop deaths tied to stricter rules of engagement

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The number of U.S. battlefield fatalities exceeded the rate at which troop strength

 surged in 2009 and 2010, prompting national security analysts to assert that coinciding stricter rules of engagement led to more deaths.

A connection between the sharp increase in American deaths and restrictive rules of engagement is difficult to confirm. More deaths surely stemmed from ramped-up counterterrorism raids and the Taliban’s response with more homemade bombs, the No. 1 killer of NATO forces in Afghanistan.

But it is clear that the rules of engagement, which restrain troops from firing in order to spare civilian casualties, cut back on airstrikes and artillery strikes — the types of support that protect troops during raids and ambushes.

“It is no accident nor a coincidence that from January 2009 to August of 2010, coinciding with the Obama/McChrystal radical change of the [rules of engagement], casualties more than doubled,” Mr. Simmons said. “The carnage will certainly continue as the already fragile and ineffective [rules] have been further weakened by the Obama administration as if they were playground rules.”

The September 2009 battle also stands as a stark example of the effects the restrictive rules of engagement had on troops under fire, fighting for their lives.

Former ArmyCapt. William Swenson, who last month pinned on the Medal of Honor, repeatedly called headquarters to request airstrikes but was denied for hours, as more than 150 Taliban fighters surrounded and attacked his position.

Mr. Swenson vented his frustration in an after-action investigation.

“It’s not JAG [military attorney] responsibility to interject to say, ‘Hey, we are concerned that you’re going to hit a building,’” he said. “I can tell you that I am concerned with saving as many lives as I can, not necessarily one. Unfortunately, this is combat. I can’t be perfect, but I can do what I feel what’s right at the time.”

He added: “I am not a politician. I am just the guy on the ground asking for that ammunition to be dropped because it’s going to save lives.”

Mr. Swenson recalled other instances in which the brigade command would not authorize airstrikes on targets he identified.

“I just get the craziest thing across the radio sometimes,” he said. “Just people second-guessing.”

Of 13 U.S. forces at Ganjgal, five were killed. The Afghan National Army lost eight soldiers.

Another soldier said in the same after-action report that there was a dwelling in Ganjgal used by the Taliban — including women — as a safe haven from which to fire rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons. Yet the command would not target the building.

"Let’s focus on [rules of engagement] because there is no reason you can’t level a house if they are shooting from it,” the soldier said. “I’ve never heard of a rule that would not allow [you] to fire on a house. They always teach you that you always have the right to defend yourself. Let commanders on the ground make decisions. We are using lawyers to make tactical decisions.”

He added: “You have the right to stay alive or keep your guys alive. We failed them by not keeping them alive because we didn’t provide them what they need to come out alive.”

WASHINGTON TIMES

Sitting here, I am totally amazed that the American people praise, respect, honor our troops abroad, do not hold that Occupant in the White House responsible.