Hold fire, earn a medal
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday May 12, 2010 15:51:31 EDTU.S. troops in Afghanistan could soon be awarded a medal for not doing something, a precedent-setting award that would be given for "courageous restraint" for holding fire to save civilian lives.
The proposal is now circulating in the Kabul headquarters of the International Security Assistance Force, a command spokesman confirmed Tuesday.
"The idea is consistent with our approach," explained Air Force Lt. Col. Tadd Sholtis. "Our young men and women display remarkable courage every day, including situations where they refrain from using lethal force, even at risk to themselves, in order to prevent possible harm to civilians. In some situations our forces face in Afghanistan, that restraint is an act of discipline and courage not much different than those seen in combat actions."
Soldiers are often recognized for non-combat achievement with decorations such as their service's commendation medal. But most of the highest U.S. military decorations are for valor in combat. A medal to recognize a conscious effort to avoid a combat action would be unique.
Consideration of such an award, first reported by an Associated Press reporter in Afghanistan, doesn't mean that, if approved, troops would be pressured to prevent such casualties at risk to themselves, Sholtis said.
What was it that Country Joe was saying about mom's?
Well, come on mothers throughout the land,Pack your boys off to Afghanistan.
Come on fathers, don't hesitate,
Send 'em off before it's too late.
Be the first one on your block
To have your boy come home in a box.
WELL GIMME A DAMN F ALREADY!
Can you imagine sending off your child, wife, husband, or parent to get a RESTRAINT MEDAL while under fire?
Anyone get what Scheurer was saying now?
5 comments:
For the times, they are a-changin'.
My oldest just mentioned the following . . .
With this administration considering a cowardice award/restraint medal in addition to this administration's lunatic policies removing both Shahzad's and Abdulmuttalab's names (as well as untold numbers of others)from terror watch lists just prior to failed jihad attempts . . .as well as cutting anti-terrorism funds 11 days after Shahzad's Times Square Bomb Try . . .
In desperation, "O" is doing everything he can to remove all obstacles to homegrown jihad - hoping a biggie event unfolds under his watch.
Why?
Think elections 2012.
Incapable of selling his 'change' as a political success guaranteeing 2012 reelection . . .he is setting the stage for a successful homegrown jihad event banking on the same type of resounding bi-partisan political support enjoyed by Bush immediately after 9/11.
We don't want to kill any hostile Combattants do we?« Messieurs les Anglais, tirez les premiers ! »Restrain!
re 9:44:00 comment . . .
Distrust, Discontent, Anger and Partisan Rancor demonstrates in a number of charts and graphs the extent of negative feedback to the current political environment.
Imagine what it would take to turn the tide to "O". Betcha "O" has.
Our soldiers should all refuse to deploy and sight this medal as a reason and demand that they all be given one, then discharged w/pay.
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