Petraeus May "Ease Restrictive" War Rules in Afghanistan

26/06/2010 The new appointed US commander in Afghanistan General David Petraeus faces complaints over so-called "restrictive policies" which place the occupation troops' lives "at risk" in the war-torn country.

These policies were laid down by Petraeus's predecessor General Stanley McChrystal, and are seen as stressing to "save civilian lives and leave US occupation forces at greater risk.

At a Pentagon press conference Thursday, Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, hinted about possible changes in the rules when asked about troops who feel “they’re being asked to fight with one hand tied behind their back.’’

“Any new commander, General Petraeus included, will go in, assess his command, and what it is going to take to achieve the mission,’’ Mullen said, adding that the general “certainly has the flexibility to make changes that he thinks are necessary.’’

But Mullen also said that does not “portend changes’’ in the rules. He noted that Petraeus, who was McChrystal’s boss, is “very aware of the tactical directive’’ and was involved in approving it as commander of the US Central Command, which is responsible for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Those "restrictive" rules were issued at a time of a rising tide of public anger over Afghan civilians killed by occupation Troops in air strikes and by heavy weapons such as cannons and mortars.

Occupation troops see these rules widely perceived as too restrictive, playing into the hands of the Taliban, costing American lives, and forcing them to give up the advantage of overwhelming firepower to a foe that shoots and melts back into the civilian population.

However, these "restrictive" rules that are "costing" occupation soldiers' lives and saving Afghan civilians' lives claimed the lives of at least 2,412 civilians last year— a 14 percent increase over 2008, according to a UN report.

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