Anyone who believes that Gen. David H. Petraeus plans to overhaul the rules of engagement in Afghanistan because of ROE-caused casualties finally catching Americans’ attention just wasn’t listening to the general at his Senate confirmation hearing this week. Judging by both senatorial deference on the topic (Petraeus was confirmed 99-0) and a practically missing in action media, that describes a lot of people.

Here’s the first ROE question, submitted prior to the hearing: “If confirmed, what general changes, if any, would you make to the current ROEs?” In response, Petraeus wrote: “One of my highest priorities, should I be confirmed as Commander of USFOR-A, will be to assess the effect of our ROE on the safety of our forces and the successful conduct of our mission.”