Afstan: Avoiding civilian casualties/Arms via Russia

Two stories:

1) Gen. McChrystal asserting his approach:

Minimizing civilian casualties new Afghan priority

Canadian commanders in Afghanistan received new fighting orders on Thursday which will prevent their troops from shooting at the Taliban if there is any risk of civilian casualties, even if it means allowing the enemy to escape.

The stricter rules of engagement were laid down in a "tactical directive" sent to all foreign forces in Afghanistan by U.S. army Gen. Stanley McChrystal who was President Barack Obama's recent choice to take over the NATO-led war here [June 27 post on Gen. McChrystal and avoiding civilian casualties here].

"The guidance to the troops clarifies that citizens are the centre of gravity and that we should do everything to gain their support and we must do everything to avoid civilian casualties," Col. Greg Julian, the top U.S. military spokesman in Afghanistan, said in an interview at the International Security Assistance Force headquarters in Kabul [Col. Julian on infowar here].

"In some cases, that it will mean considering allowing insurgents to escape from that particular fight to fight another day if a commander feels that they can move away safely without causing harm to his own troops."

There was "no doubt" that the Taliban would try to take advantage of the extraordinary new measures "if they see that we are not firing on homes or population centres" Col. Julian said, but he cautioned that the policy was not absolute. Such decisions still rested with commanders on the ground and "we are not precluding them from firing back in all circumstances," he said.

According to a count provided by NATO, 973 civilians were killed in fighting in Afghanistan in 2008 including 226 killed by foreign forces.

The new orders affect about 76,000 U.S. and NATO troops under Gen. McChrystal's command, including 2,830 Canadians. It is expected to be passed all the way down to the platoon level within a few days. An unclassified statement explaining the new orders would be released soon, Col. Julian said...

Update: The current US Marine operation reflecting Gen. McChrystal's approach:

...
[Marine spokesman] Captain Pelletier said the Marines have used no artillery or bombs from aircraft, in an effort to show that the operation is focused more on protecting people than on killing the enemy. “The success of this operation is going to be dependent on how the populace views this, not just in how we deal with the enemy,” he said...

Upperdate: Couldn't last:

Taliban insurgents stepped up attacks Friday against U.S. Marines in southern Afghanistan's Helmand River valley, forcing troops in some areas to spend the day fighting instead of carrying out plans to meet with residents and local leaders.

The stiffest resistance occurred in the district of Garmser, where Taliban fighters holed up in a walled housing compound engaged in an eight-hour gun battle with troops from the 2nd Battalion of the 8th Marine Regiment. The Marines eventually requested a Harrier fighter jet to drop a 500-pound bomb on the compound, which was believed to have killed all fighters inside.

The commanders directing the huge Marine security operation here had said they hoped not to rely on airstrikes [emphasis added], which have resulted in numerous civilian casualties in Afghanistan over the past seven years. Officers here noted with pride Thursday that they had not used bombs or artillery in the first 24 hours of the mission.

But they were left with little choice after the insurgents refused to surrender. Even so, senior officers emphasized that they had watched the building -- from the ground and with surveillance aircraft -- for almost a day before concluding there were no civilians inside...

The firing stopped Thursday evening, after Marine AH-1 Cobra helicopters fired Hellfire missiles into the compound. It resumed Friday morning when a Marine transport helicopter landed to deliver Echo Company pallets of food and water. The helicopter was unscathed, but the fusillade soon escalated to large-caliber machine-gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades.

The incident, which the overall commander of Marine forces in southern Afghanistan called "a hell of a fight," did not result in any U.S. casualties, but it kept Marines in Garmser from meeting with village elders and other residents...

2) Russia stepping up:

Russia to Allow U.S. Weapon Shipments to Afghanistan

Russia will allow the U.S. to ship weapons across its territory to Afghanistan, a top Kremlin aide said Friday in a gesture aimed at bolstering U.S. military operations and improving strained ties between Washington and Moscow.

The deal is expected to be signed during President Barack Obama's visit to Moscow next week, Kremlin foreign policy adviser Sergei Prikhodko said.

Russia has been allowing the U.S. to ship non-lethal supplies across its territory for operations in Afghanistan [see earlier post] and Kremlin officials had suggested further cooperation was likely.

Prikhodko told reporters that the expected deal would enable the U.S. to ship lethal cargo and would include shipments by air and land.

He said it was unclear if U.S. soldiers or other personnel would be permitted to travel through Russian territory or airspace.

''They haven't asked us for it,'' he said.

The normal supply route to landlocked Afghanistan via Pakistan has come under repeated Taliban attack and the U.S. and NATO have been eager to have an alternate overland supply route through Russia and the Central Asian countries.

Confirmation of such a deal appeared aimed at setting a constructive tone for the meetings between Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev on Monday and Tuesday. After years of increasing strain, both governments have expressed hope the summit will put ties between the former Cold War rivals back on track...