There are a bunch, handed down from Karzai and Mc Chrystal. Here are a few.

- No night or surprise searches.
- Villagers have to be warned prior to searches.
- ANA or ANP must accompany U.S. units on searches.
- U.S. soldiers may not fire at the enemy unless the enemy is preparing to fire first.
- U.S. forces cannot engage the enemy if civilians are present.
- Only women can search women.
- Troops can fire at an insurgent if they catch him placing an IED but not if insurgents are walking away from an area where explosives have been laid.
- U.S. soldiers can’t engage a person unless they are actually holding a weapon.
- 96 hour, or catch-and-release rule, US soldiers have to release a detainee if they can’t transfer then into Afghan custody in less than 96 hours – so most go free.
- No rough language at detainees

So a single Tali can hold up a whole Marine squad by sitting on a roof and picking at them all day long while the Marines get all the people out of the area. Then the Tali can set down his rifle, walk out the front door, pull down his pants and slap his dirty little butt cheek at them and stroll down to the local hashish dealer to reward himself for a hard day of doing God’s work.

Here’s a short article on the subject: http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/02/19/rules-of-engagement-under-the-microscope/?test=latestnews

Here’s a longer one: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/nov/16/us-troops-battle-taliban-afghan-rules/

I can’t imagine how frustrating it is following these rules, but our guys are doing it. Besides the English, I wonder if any army in the world would be this capable of such amazing discipline? Talk about the Marines being your best friend of your worst enemy…

As for the rules them selves, fundamentally I have a serious problem with politics creeping in – like Karzai or Obama earning political points, or trying to keep American support. But so far, it looks like the ROE is tactical – essential to the overall strategy of taking, holding, and protecting – and not search and destroy.

This strategy has been glaringly evident in how we’ve conducted the Marjah offensive. We warned the damn place like days in advance, so the pansy Taliban could flee and the really angry crazy ones could stock up and prepare.

And it’s been a costly strategy. We’re taking casualties. But if the strategy is sound we’ll actually get this dirty job