Remote Observer
24-08-2007, 17:33
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20416528/
Newly uncovered “rules of engagement” show the U.S. military gave elite units broad authority more than three years ago to pursue suspected terrorists into Pakistan, with no mention of telling the Pakistanis in advance.
The documents obtained by The Associated Press offer a detailed glimpse at what Army Rangers and other terrorist-hunting units were authorized to do earlier in the war on terror. And interviews with military officials suggest some of those same guidelines have remained in place, such as the right to “hot pursuit” across the border.
One summary states that “Entry into PAK authorized for” the following reasons:
* “Hot pursuit” of al-Qaida, Taliban and terrorist command-and-control targets “from AFG into Pakistan (must be continuous and uninterrupted).”
* If the head of U.S. Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East and Central Asia, approved direct action “against The Big 3,” listed as Osama bin Laden; his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri; and Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar. The three are still believed to be hiding in the border region.
* If the Defense secretary approved such an incursion.
Other grounds for incursions into Pakistan, according to this summary, were “personnel recovery,” including rescuing troops after the downing of aircraft; and troops “in contact with” the enemy, meaning under fire.
As for “geographic limits,” the memo states: “General rule: penetrate no deeper than 10 km,” or 6.2 miles.
I admit it's not the authorization for a full-scale invasion of Pakistan, a la Obama, but it does give authority to pursue Taliban into Pakistan if you're currently engaged in fighting them.
Also, for those of you in the other thread who want to know what kind of order constitutes an order to actually kill someone, the words "direct action" are just such an order.
It means you're supposed to kill them. Quite unlike the phrase, "lethal force is authorized in the capture of..."
Newly uncovered “rules of engagement” show the U.S. military gave elite units broad authority more than three years ago to pursue suspected terrorists into Pakistan, with no mention of telling the Pakistanis in advance.
The documents obtained by The Associated Press offer a detailed glimpse at what Army Rangers and other terrorist-hunting units were authorized to do earlier in the war on terror. And interviews with military officials suggest some of those same guidelines have remained in place, such as the right to “hot pursuit” across the border.
One summary states that “Entry into PAK authorized for” the following reasons:
* “Hot pursuit” of al-Qaida, Taliban and terrorist command-and-control targets “from AFG into Pakistan (must be continuous and uninterrupted).”
* If the head of U.S. Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East and Central Asia, approved direct action “against The Big 3,” listed as Osama bin Laden; his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri; and Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar. The three are still believed to be hiding in the border region.
* If the Defense secretary approved such an incursion.
Other grounds for incursions into Pakistan, according to this summary, were “personnel recovery,” including rescuing troops after the downing of aircraft; and troops “in contact with” the enemy, meaning under fire.
As for “geographic limits,” the memo states: “General rule: penetrate no deeper than 10 km,” or 6.2 miles.
I admit it's not the authorization for a full-scale invasion of Pakistan, a la Obama, but it does give authority to pursue Taliban into Pakistan if you're currently engaged in fighting them.
Also, for those of you in the other thread who want to know what kind of order constitutes an order to actually kill someone, the words "direct action" are just such an order.
It means you're supposed to kill them. Quite unlike the phrase, "lethal force is authorized in the capture of..."