Jolie Rouge
09-16-2009, 07:54 PM
Ambushed Marines' Aid Call 'Rejected'
NATO-led forces are investigating the death of four Marines in eastern Afghanistan after their commanders reportedly rejected requests for artillery fire in a battle with insurgents, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
Tuesday’s incident was “under investigation” and details remained unclear, press secretary Geoff Morrell told a news conference.
A McClatchy newspapers’ journalist who witnessed the battle reported that a team of Marine trainers made repeated appeals for air and artillery support after being pinned down by insurgents in the village of Ganjgal in eastern Kunar province.
The U.S. troops had to wait more than an hour for attack helicopters to come to their aid and their appeal for artillery fire was rejected, with commanders citing new rules designed to avoid civilian casualties, the report said.
Morrell said the helicopters were not hampered by any restrictions on air power but had to travel a long distance to reach the Marines at the remote location near the Pakistan border.
“I think that it did take some time for close air support to arrive in this case, but this is not a result of more restrictive conditions in which it can be used,” he said.
“It was the result, as is often the case in Afghanistan, of the fact that there are great distances often between bases where such assets are located and where our troops are out operating.”
Morrell could not confirm whether appeals for artillery fire were denied by commanders.
According to the McClatchy report by Jonathan Landay, the U.S. advisors assisting Afghan forces had been assured before the operation that “air cover would be five minutes away.”
The incident comes after the top commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, issued new restrictions on the use of military force and air raids in a bid to prevent civilian deaths.
http://www.military.com/news/article/ambushed-marines-aid-call-rejected.html?col=1186032325324&ESRC=marine.nl
Artillery fire is very accurate under the proper guidance. This is what happens when pencil pushing bureaucrats get a say in battlefield operations. Sad but predictable with "civies" in charge.
I think I read about this the other day (can’t remember where). At least the story I read said that Afghan women and children were carrying ammo to the insurgents.
Since the battle was taking place in a village, no artillery allowed and helicopters were too far away? What, no jets handy? A couple of A10 Warthogs or Harriers maybe?
This is what happens when politicians and media manage a war.
Jeez — bad dream here- Vietnam all over again. Either fight to win or get out.
NATO-led forces are investigating the death of four Marines in eastern Afghanistan after their commanders reportedly rejected requests for artillery fire in a battle with insurgents, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
Tuesday’s incident was “under investigation” and details remained unclear, press secretary Geoff Morrell told a news conference.
A McClatchy newspapers’ journalist who witnessed the battle reported that a team of Marine trainers made repeated appeals for air and artillery support after being pinned down by insurgents in the village of Ganjgal in eastern Kunar province.
The U.S. troops had to wait more than an hour for attack helicopters to come to their aid and their appeal for artillery fire was rejected, with commanders citing new rules designed to avoid civilian casualties, the report said.
Morrell said the helicopters were not hampered by any restrictions on air power but had to travel a long distance to reach the Marines at the remote location near the Pakistan border.
“I think that it did take some time for close air support to arrive in this case, but this is not a result of more restrictive conditions in which it can be used,” he said.
“It was the result, as is often the case in Afghanistan, of the fact that there are great distances often between bases where such assets are located and where our troops are out operating.”
Morrell could not confirm whether appeals for artillery fire were denied by commanders.
According to the McClatchy report by Jonathan Landay, the U.S. advisors assisting Afghan forces had been assured before the operation that “air cover would be five minutes away.”
The incident comes after the top commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, issued new restrictions on the use of military force and air raids in a bid to prevent civilian deaths.
http://www.military.com/news/article/ambushed-marines-aid-call-rejected.html?col=1186032325324&ESRC=marine.nl
Artillery fire is very accurate under the proper guidance. This is what happens when pencil pushing bureaucrats get a say in battlefield operations. Sad but predictable with "civies" in charge.
I think I read about this the other day (can’t remember where). At least the story I read said that Afghan women and children were carrying ammo to the insurgents.
Since the battle was taking place in a village, no artillery allowed and helicopters were too far away? What, no jets handy? A couple of A10 Warthogs or Harriers maybe?
This is what happens when politicians and media manage a war.
Jeez — bad dream here- Vietnam all over again. Either fight to win or get out.