A new plan to award soldiers who practice restraint that prevents civilian casualties in firefights is under consideration by NATO commanders, according to the Associated Press:
NATO commanders are weighing a new way to reduce civilian casualties in Afghanistan: recognizing troops 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, U.S. Army 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 troops with another incentive to think twice before calling in an airstrike or firing at an approaching vehicle if civilians could be at risk.
But how much influence does a medal have on a soldier’s behavior?
“Not a single one of these guys does it for the medals,” said Capt. Edward Graham, referring to the soldiers in his company.
Graham, whose company is part of the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, said soldiers are constantly forced to weigh the duty they have to protect their colleagues against the goal of avoiding civilian casualties.
“The bottom line is I have to find a way to go to sleep at night,” said Graham. “If I hurt women and children, I’m not going to sleep. If I lose my men, I’m not going to sleep. I have to find a balance.”
It’s hard to imagine the most decorated American soldier of World War II, Audie Murphy, acting as heroically as he did as a response to anything more than the situation. But it’s also hard to imagine the army of World War II fighting an enemy that succeeds by hiding among civilian populations.
A statement on NATO’s website by the Counterinsurgency Advisory and Assistance Team “highlighted an incident in Helmand province in January in which rumors that coalition forces had burned a Quran incited an angry mob to throw rocks and bricks at U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers:”
“The Marines had the right to fire in self-defense, but none did, it said.
Six people were reportedly killed during the protest, but the shooting is believed to have come from Afghan security forces.
“There should be an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the troops who exhibit extraordinary courage and self-control by not using their weapons, but instead taking personal risk to de-escalate tense and potentially disastrous situations,” the statement said.
That said, let it be known that we’re now training soldiers to not defend themselves in the case of an angry mob attack. Which also means that we may be training angry mobs to not fear soldiers.
