I realize that the military commanders are simply following their orders from the commander in chief, but the notion that "Protecting the people is the mission", when "the people" are indistinguishable from the enemy until they start shooting at you, isn't going to do anything but get american soldiers killed.
this is the same "peacekeeping" silliness that the military just isn't cut out for.
US general aims for Afghan hearts in anti-Taliban fightBy Lynne O'Donnell (AFP) – 2 hours ago
KABUL — International soldiers in Afghanistan to wipe out a Taliban insurgency were Thursday issued tips on how to minimise civilian casualties as the war intensifies and foreign troop deaths hit record numbers.
General Stanley McChrystal, head of more than 100,000 US and NATO troops in Afghanistan, issued "counter-insurgency guidelines" aimed at winning the hearts and minds of Afghans increasingly impatient with the foreign military presence.
"Protecting the people is the mission," McChrystal told troops.
"The Afghan people will decide who wins this fight and we (the Afghan government and NATO troops) are in a struggle for their support."
The seven-page document came as Afghans await the outcome of elections bankrolled by the international community and which appear to be favouring Western-backed incumbent Hamid Karzai.
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