Isn't this the most idiotic suggestion yet?

[anotheoldgit]

http://tinyurl.com/35lb4yn

So according to the commander of British forces in Helmand, our Soldiers who risk death by holding their fire during battles with the Taleban to avoid killing civilians should be awarded with gallantry medals.

Brigadier Richard Felton wants our troops to put their lives at risk, in a bid to reduce civilian deaths and win the support of the Afghan population, and in return for this he wants to award them with Gallantry Medals.

Is it any wonder that we are losing so many troops, when their commanders think more of Afghan lives than the lives of their own men and women.

[OrcadianOil]

I like the bit where he refers to them, having themselves been killed because they have not opened fire, as then being "justly rewarded" for their "gallantry"!!! Duh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reminds me of the suicide squad in Monty Python's "Life Of Brian"???

[Gromit]

Well, the present approach of shoot first, ask questions later has now been in force for 9 years, and it does not seem to be yielding any results. We are still seen as invaders and the enemyl.

It might seem a bit radical, but maybe if we didn't bomb wedding celebrations, they might not hate us. But that could be too late now.

So far there have been 13,000 "accidents" resulting in the deaths of Afghan civilians. A recent example:

// An Afghan religious leader who had been sitting in a parked car with his two young sons while waiting for a NATO ISAF convoy to pass by. According to witnesses, the fourth ISAF vehicle in the convoy opened fire on the parked car without provocation. At least 16 bullet holes were later counted on the car's exterior and Mullah Mohmmad Younas was killed by three bullets in his chest and one in his abdomen. ISAF confirmed the shooting of a civilian, offered sympathies, and said it was investigating. //

18:54 Sun 13th Jun 2010

[Oneeyedvic]

I thought that it was traitorous to ever talk badly about the army. Have you changed your tune?

How much experience do you have in trying to sort out war torn countries? Either practical experience or theoretical?

Even the American leaders are saying that civilian casualties need to be reduced - how would you go about doing that?

[sandyRoe]

The Americans don't seem to have learned the lesson from Viet-nam. They had 'free fire zones' there where anyone that moved was a legitimate target. A lot of civilians were killed but the USA still lost the war.
Afghanistan will probably find some sort of peace through talks and compromise. It might help to get those talks started if the foreign forces weren't so trigger happy. Might save some innocent lives too.

[rov1200]

If they cannot fire real bullets they could copy the Israeli methods of firing indellible paint balls. They will be marked men for later interrogation.