British Commander asks US Troops to Withdraw?

[johnfás]

The International Herald Tribune today reports that a senior unnamed British commander in Helmand Province has made a request to NATO for American Special Forces to leave the region owing to the high level of civilian casualties associated with their presence. The commander claims that American involvement in the region is making it increasingly difficult to win the respect of local people. NATO has denied the reports.Click here to read more

British officers on the ground in Helmand, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Americans had caused the lion's share of the civilian casualties in their area. They expressed concerns that the Americans' extensive use of air power was turning the people against the foreign presence.

[Thac0man]

Sounds like passing the buck in light of acknowledged military failures by the British in Helmand.

[Aindriu]

The septics have always been good at causing civilian casualties and bombing/shelling their own side. They did it in Vietnam all the time & Gulf War 1 & 2

[Rapisco]

The International Herald Tribune today reports that a senior unnamed British commander in Helmand Province has made a request to NATO for American Special Forces to leave the region owing to the high level of civilian casualties associated with their presence. The commander claims that American involvement in the region is making it increasingly difficult to win the respect of local people. NATO has denied the reports.Click here to read more

British officers on the ground in Helmand, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Americans had caused the lion's share of the civilian casualties in their area. They expressed concerns that the Americans' extensive use of air power was turning the people against the foreign presence.

The Toops are doing a fine job!

[johnfás]

The International Herald Tribune today reports that a senior unnamed British commander in Helmand Province has made a request to NATO for American Special Forces to leave the region owing to the high level of civilian casualties associated with their presence. The commander claims that American involvement in the region is making it increasingly difficult to win the respect of local people. NATO has denied the reports.Click here to read more

British officers on the ground in Helmand, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Americans had caused the lion's share of the civilian casualties in their area. They expressed concerns that the Americans' extensive use of air power was turning the people against the foreign presence.

The Toops are doing a fine job!

Noted and fixed

[lostexpectation]

and british aren't bombing using overwhelming force?

[PAUL MEYER]

The problem here is that US Special Forces are operating in small teams in extremely hostile areas and if detected ("compromised") they are rapidly surrounded by superior numbers of Taliban. In such situations no small force however, well trained and equipped can hold out indefinitely much less make their escape. The only option for them is to call on Air support to get them out. Unfortunately, this can be a pretty blunt sword and if the contact is happening close to an inhabited area there is the danger of civilian casualties. Apparently this has happened far too often hence the call from the British officer for the yanks to be pulled out as the after-effects of their operations seem to be entirely negative, especially if you're an Afghan civilian working nearby!

lostexpectation:

and british aren't bombing using overwhelming force?

I have no doubt that when necessary and proportionate the British do call for CAS (close air support) and there's no point in it being underwhelming is there? I also know that there are extremly strict Rules of Engagement for the use of CAS and that the RAF in particular adhere rigidly to them.Too rigidly in fact, according to comments made by a returning British Company Commander.

[Akrasia]

The problem here is that US Special Forces are operating in small teams in extremely hostile areas and if detected ("compromised") they are rapidly surrounded by superior numbers of Taliban. In such situations no small force however, well trained and equipped can hold out indefinitely much less make their escape. The only option for them is to call on Air support to get them out. Unfortunately, this can be a pretty blunt sword and if the contact is happening close to an inhabited area there is the danger of civilian casualties. Apparently this has happened far too often hence the call from the British officer for the yanks to be pulled out as the after-effects of their operations seem to be entirely negative, especially if you're an Afghan civilian working nearby!

lostexpectation:

and british aren't bombing using overwhelming force?

I have no doubt that when necessary and proportionate the British do call for CAS (close air support) and there's no point in it being underwhelming is there? I also know that there are extremly strict Rules of Engagement for the use of CAS and that the RAF in particular adhere rigidly to them.Too rigidly in fact, according to comments made by a returning British Company Commander.

You're being exceedingly generous to the military here. You've been watching too many action (propaganda) movies.

The standard tactic is to bomb first and ask questions later.

[Aindriu]

The problem here is that US Special Forces are operating in small teams in extremely hostile areas and if detected ("compromised") they are rapidly surrounded by superior numbers of Taliban. In such situations no small force however, well trained and equipped can hold out indefinitely much less make their escape. The only option for them is to call on Air support to get them out. Unfortunately, this can be a pretty blunt sword and if the contact is happening close to an inhabited area there is the danger of civilian casualties. Apparently this has happened far too often hence the call from the British officer for the yanks to be pulled out as the after-effects of their operations seem to be entirely negative, especially if you're an Afghan civilian working nearby!

lostexpectation:

and british aren't bombing using overwhelming force?

I have no doubt that when necessary and proportionate the British do call for CAS (close air support) and there's no point in it being underwhelming is there? I also know that there are extremly strict Rules of Engagement for the use of CAS and that the RAF in particular adhere rigidly to them.Too rigidly in fact, according to comments made by a returning British Company Commander.

You're being exceedingly generous to the military here. You've been watching too many action (propaganda) movies.

The standard tactic is to bomb first and ask questions later.

And you would know that how exactly? When did you serve in the Afghan theatre?

[PAUL MEYER]

The problem here is that US Special Forces are operating in small teams in extremely hostile areas and if detected ("compromised") they are rapidly surrounded by superior numbers of Taliban. In such situations no small force however, well trained and equipped can hold out indefinitely much less make their escape. The only option for them is to call on Air support to get them out. Unfortunately, this can be a pretty blunt sword and if the contact is happening close to an inhabited area there is the danger of civilian casualties. Apparently this has happened far too often hence the call from the British officer for the yanks to be pulled out as the after-effects of their operations seem to be entirely negative, especially if you're an Afghan civilian working nearby!

lostexpectation:

and british aren't bombing using overwhelming force?

I have no doubt that when necessary and proportionate the British do call for CAS (close air support) and there's no point in it being underwhelming is there? I also know that there are extremly strict Rules of Engagement for the use of CAS and that the RAF in particular adhere rigidly to them.Too rigidly in fact, according to comments made by a returning British Company Commander.

You're being exceedingly generous to the military here. You've been watching too many action (propaganda) movies.

The standard tactic is to bomb first and ask questions later.

Er no, I don't watch "propaganda" movies and I happen to know of what I speak, unlike you obviously. How do you know what the "standard tactic" is, presumably you've served in Afghanistan and are fully au-fait with the role's and procedures of FAC's and TACP's not to mention being fully conversant with the current ROE for coalition aircraft operating in close support of ground troops?