'US Guidelines Aim For Fewer Civilian Deaths', The Associated Press, 6 July 2009
EXCERPT: "The U.S. military made public new guidelines Monday for its troops in Afghanistan, battlefield rules that seek to reduce the number of civilian casualties in an increasingly deadly war. Civilian deaths caused by U.S. and NATO military operations have long been a source of friction between President Hamid Karzai and the international force. Such deaths alienate Afghan villagers, causing a loss of support for the international mission and the U.S.-backed Afghan government. U.S. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who took over last month as the commander of U.S. and NATO forces, has said he wants his troops' first priority to be protecting Afghan civilians, not using massive fire power. McChrystal's new guidelines went into effect last week, and officials released a declassified version Monday. The three directives for U.S. and NATO forces, posted on the military's Facebook page as part of a longer statement, are: 1) Airstrikes must be very limited and authorized but can be used in self-defense if troops' lives are at risk; 2) Troops must be accompanied by Afghan forces before they enter residences; and 3) Troops cannot go into or fire upon mosques or other religious sites. This is already U.S. policy."
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See also:
'Why Obama's Afghan war is different', TIME, 5 July 2009
'Australian troops in firing line over Afghan casualties', Brisbane Times, 5 July 2009
'Afghan officials inform public to limit civilian casualties', Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 4 July 2009
'Back away if civilians put at risk, forces told', The Sydney Morning Herald, 3 July 2009
'US faces resentment in Afghan region', The New York Times, 2 July 20093
Related posts:
'US "to limit Afghan air strikes"', 22 June 2009
'Military: US airstrikes likely killed 26 civilians', 19 June 2009
'Afghan civilian casualties must be cut: US, NATO', 12 June 2009
'Civilian deaths jeopardize war effort: US general', 2 June 2009
'US must act to protect civilians: HRW', 14 May 2009
