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Old 05-08-2010, 08:25   #1
Richard
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Medals for "courageous restraint"???

And so it goes...

Richard

Medals For 'Courageous Restraint' Plan Get Mixed Review From Troops
Sara Carter, WashEx, 7 May 2010

A proposal to grant medals for "courageous restraint" to troops in Afghanistan who avoid deadly force at a risk to themselves has generated concern among U.S. soldiers and experts who worry it could embolden enemy fighters and confuse friendly forces.

Lt. Col. Edward Sholtis, a spokesman for Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, who commands NATO forces in Afghanistan, said that no final decision has been made on the award, which is the brainchild of British Maj. Gen. Nick Carter.

"The idea is being reviewed at Headquarters ISAF," Sholtis said. "The idea is consistent with our approach. Our young men and women display remarkable courage every day, including situations where they refrain from using lethal force, even at risk to themselves, in order to prevent possible harm to civilians. ... That restraint is an act of discipline and courage not much different than those seen in combat actions."

However, professor Jeffrey F. Addicott, a former senior legal adviser to the Green Berets and director of the Center for Terrorism Law at St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio, said "It's an absolutely outrageous proposal to our fighting men.

"The implication of this award is that we do not engage in war fighting that is appropriate," Addicott said. "They're sending a chilling message to our troops that we are not complying with the law of armed conflict. It's a propaganda victory for our enemies."

Sholtis disputed that the award would limit troops' ability in the battlefield.

"We absolutely support the right of our forces to defend themselves," he said. "Valuing restraint in a potentially dangerous situation is not the same thing as denying troops the right to employ lethal force when they determine that it is necessary."

The medals proposal is consistent with NATO rules of engagement aimed at reducing civilian casualties in Afghanistan as a way to win the support of the populace. But some soldiers say rewarding "restraint" while risking their own lives is a troubling concept.

The directives "are confusing and the mixed messages from command is making it more difficult for us to defend ourselves," said a U.S. Army soldier in Afghanistan.

A U.S. Marine captain who has served in Iraq, said that he understands the intentions of the award but believes "it's just a bad idea." He said, "They teach us not to second-guess our decisions in dangerous situations. When people second-guess themselves they can be putting lives at risk."

Some soldiers shrugged at the proposal. "It's good, but just like with valorous medals, guys are going to do the right thing because it is the right thing," said Army Lt. Joseph Cooper said. "I think our year in Maiwand [Afghanistan] has shown that in frightening and confusing moments the U.S. soldier will consistently make the right choice time after time."

But other soldiers saw the medal proposal as a reinforcement of troubling rules of engagement. "Unfortunately, we are being reduced to a police force," said another U.S. soldier. "There are troops that never leave Bagram or Kandahar airfield. ... Maybe if they left us all on base and never sent us out to confront the enemy, we could all be honored [for] valor."

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wo...#ixzz0nLdgd8e3
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Old 05-08-2010, 09:30   #2
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Old 05-08-2010, 10:20   #3
Dozer523
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This one? Little Lady. Weeeeelllll I got that one driving down the road in Jalalabad. Seems I heard a popping noise and made the courageous decision not to shoot everything coming toward me as we determined the maximum speed of an up-armored in heavy traffic.
Oh wait, no . . . that time we got all the MarSof kicked out of Afghanistan.
Oh I remember! We got it

waiting for the drugs to take effect . . . oh there weeeeee gooooooooo
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Old 05-08-2010, 10:54   #4
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Is there a civilian version of the medal? I restrain myself daily.
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Old 05-08-2010, 14:12   #5
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Restraint:

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Is there a civilian version of the medal? I restrain myself daily.
I gave up a cigar and two martinis today.
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Old 05-08-2010, 15:20   #6
Utah Bob
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I havent deployed since I signed up this last time. Do I qualify for the medal?
No. It goes to the guy who did not cut your orders.
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Old 05-08-2010, 15:23   #7
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Absolutely disgusting. Everything a Warrior should not be. My proposal for an Award is for Violence, Bloodshed, Aggression and then more Bloodshed.
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Old 05-08-2010, 16:09   #8
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LMAO.

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No. It goes to the guy who did not cut your orders.
Thanks for the laugh. With the flood here in Nashville, and; it missed me, I worry about Blitz and others. SF always had humor.
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Old 05-09-2010, 21:21   #9
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The only thing I can think of after reading this is "facepalm"

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Old 05-10-2010, 00:39   #10
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Just the fact that this award has even been considered goes to show exactly where our military is going, we are moving from a "here to fight" military to a "here to hold your hands and inflict no bodly harm or casualties of war" military. This is utterly disgusting and personally infuriates me, I joined the military with the hopes that I would be in the best possible unit with outstanding leadership, not wondering if I would be charged with some type of crime for defending myself or any of my commrades. Let me ask one thing, If you were to "restrain" yourself due to the fact that civilian lives may be lost, and in that process one of your fellow soldiers were to get hurt or die, what type of award would you be put in for? I understand that winning over the local populace in any theater of war is a huge victory and a major step in the process, but ask yourself why are these civilians in the same place at the same time as these fighters. The civilian population know when these attacks will happen and decide to be in the area or not. The act of "restraint" has been around for a long time. Many of you may know it as having a little "tactical patience." Maybe these soldiers are using a little tactical patience in order to let the situation develop so they can exploit it as much as possible.These top commanders just want to put a new title on it and say the restraint is due to the possible loss of civilian life. Just my 0.2 cents.

RED6A
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Old 05-10-2010, 00:47   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Utah Bob View Post
Is there a civilian version of the medal? I restrain myself daily.
Three years as an IT geek CTR, and I haven't killed any coworkers yet...does that count?


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Dude, you were in Iraq? Is it anything like Call of Duty? Did you get shot at? Was it hot? Did you get medals?
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Old 05-10-2010, 14:59   #12
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You just have to sit there and shake your head.
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Old 05-10-2010, 20:54   #13
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I keep waiting for a munchkin to jump out in front of me and tell me to follow the yellow brick road........


What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the "ape" in apricot? What have they got that I ain't got?



......courage.
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Old 05-10-2010, 21:37   #14
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I haven't shot anyone in the 'Hurst at the traffic circle lately.... Do I get one?
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Old 05-10-2010, 22:30   #15
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Only good thing about this is it was originated within NATO not by our chain of command. Instead of trading bullets with bullets we'll just give them poppies to plant in trade of their bullets.
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