McChrystal: Civilian deaths endanger mission

[unhappycamper]

Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal listens to a question from a reporter May 13 during a news conference at the Pentagon. McChrystal, the top commander in Afghanistan, has consistently warned of the dangers of inadvertent civilian casualties -- he says they "have just about eroded out (sic) credibility here in Afghanistan," according to a PowerPoint presentation.


McChrystal: Civilian deaths endanger mission
By Sean D. Naylor - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday May 30, 2010 8:44:53 EDT

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan — Civilian casualties inflicted by coalition forces are on the rise in Afghanistan and threaten to undo the entire war effort, according to Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, senior U.S. and NATO commander here.

“Because of CivCas (civilian casualties), I think we have just about eroded our credibility here in Afghanistan,” McChrystal said in a quote attributed to him in a PowerPoint presentation by Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Hall, McChrystal’s senior enlisted adviser, during a May 20 conference of about 50 command sergeants major and other senior enlisted troops here.

“The constant repeat of CivCas is now so dangerous that it threatens the mission.”

The high level of concern over a recent spike in civilian casualty incidents has prompted the International Security Assistance Force to issue new standard operating procedures for “escalation of force” incidents and civilian casualty episodes. The new escalation of force SOP and the wider issue of civilian casualties dominated conversation at the conference, which Hall convened to give the senior enlisted advisers from across the coalition an opportunity to discuss McChrystal’s directives and reach a mutual understanding of them.

McChrystal has made reducing civilian casualties a priority since taking command of ISAF in June 2009, issuing a series of directives aimed at getting coalition troops to think and act with the security of the Afghan people foremost in their minds. But recent months have seen a number of high-profile civilian casualty incidents involving ISAF troops:

[ck4829]

1. It's really telling that this even has to be said

We've got so many pundits and politicians who think that the soldiers should be raping and pillaging, and if we don't do that, then we're "PC".

[ShortnFiery]

2. No shit Serlock!

Can we come home now? :(

[msongs]

3. So he announces his total failure as commander in chief...oh wait, someone else is CIC here nt