I kid you not:
NATO commanders are weighing a new way to reduce civilian casualties in Afghanistan: recognizing soldiers for "courageous restraint" if they avoid using force that could endanger innocent lives.
The concept comes as the coalition continues to struggle with the problem of civilian casualties despite repeated warnings from the top NATO commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, that the war effort hinges on the ability to protect the population and win support away from the Taliban.
Those who back the idea hope it will provide soldiers with another incentive to think twice before calling in an airstrike or firing at an approaching vehicle if civilians could be at risk.
Most military awards in the past have been given for things like soldiers taking out a machine gun nest or saving their buddies in a firefight, said Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Hall, the senior NATO enlisted man in Afghanistan.
"We are now considering how we look at awards differently," he said.
British Maj. Gen. Nick Carter, the NATO commander of troops in southern Afghanistan, proposed the idea of awarding soldiers for "courageous restraint" during a visit by Hall to Kandahar Airfield in mid April. McChrystal is now reviewing the proposal to determine how it could be implemented, Hall said.
Here's a thought.
We could combine this notion of a "Courageous Restraint" medal and the self esteem movement and simply send unarmed soldiers into combat areas... this way, they'll all be awarded a "Courageous Restraint" medal... a little like the participatory trophy awarded to all soccer players...
And then there'd be peace...
All in favor say "Allah be praised".
Crossposted at Wizbang.
We already have ‘Courageous Restraint’ in the military, it’s called the Air Force. Courageously restraining from joining a real branch of the service.
“Off we go, into the wild blue yonder…”
I kid, I kid (OK, maybe a little serious).
Seriously though, I think this country has shown some real courageous restraint in Afghanistan by NOT just turning into one big sheet of glass around 8 years and eight months ago.
Posted by: tim aka The Godless Heathen | Wednesday, May 05, 2010 at 03:49 PM
Next up - Let's make the uniforms not look so militaristic. That will make people like us more because we won't be so scary looking!
Posted by: instinct | Wednesday, May 05, 2010 at 05:17 PM
Why not let's call this program what it really is. "How to lose a war and get your people killed faster and in larger numbers."
I am sorry, but if I were serving in the military of today, I would probably be court martialed for refusing to participate in idiocy like this.
McCrystal should be relieved of duty and booted from the military for what he has already done to contribute to American casualties in that country with his ridiculous rule of engagement.
Posted by: Locutisprime | Wednesday, May 05, 2010 at 05:36 PM
The ones targeting innocent civilians are the Taliban and al Qaeda. When are the civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq and India... etc... going to get a belly full of their innocent civilians being actual targets for destruction?
Posted by: chuck aka xtnyoda | Thursday, May 06, 2010 at 05:39 AM
Alas, this does not go far enough. This is what must be done, to re-create the United States military in our Glorious Leader's image.
Posted by: Dan Miller | Thursday, May 06, 2010 at 07:37 PM
The Yellow Belly medal!
Posted by: Bill | Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 02:34 PM
Ridiculous. What are these people thinking. Check out the hilarious mock up of the medal done at FL Pundit.
http://bit.ly/cqRJCw
Posted by: Danny | Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 09:27 PM