AFP says Taliban manipulates rules of engagement; US media slow to report

Commentary by Kay B. Day

War memorial at Billard Park in Jacksonville, Fla. [photo by Kay B. Day]Imagine the frustration of having to abide by stringent rules of engagement while the enemy can get away with murder and human rights groups turn a blind eye. Agence France-Presse reported on battlefield conditions in Southern Afghanistan after a unit of Marines was ambushed in Helmand Province.Two men were killed; three were wounded.

A platoon commander, after acknowledging the “rules are there for a reason,” said the Taliban manipulates “rules of engagement by using women and children as shields and shooting from hidden positions before dropping their weapons and standing out in the open.”

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Facebook groups supporting troops grow; are troops being set up?

Commentary by Kay B. Day

Over the weekend I received a call about Capt. Carl Bjork, a U.S. Army infantry officer who is, according to the caller, being tried for murder in Iraq. There’s very little information online about the captain’s trial. There is a Facebook page—Support Carl Bjork. The group has 2,332 members at present and numbers increase by the hour.

According to a statement on the page, Capt. Bjork is “charged with premeditated double murder committed during our 2006-2007 deployment to Hit, Al Anbar Province…” Three “detained Iraqi insurgents” are allegedly the eye witnesses.

The statement on the page said the Army has been “investigating” Bjork for 3 years. “[T]he only evidence of this ‘crime’ the prosecution is bringing to trial is the testimony of those 3 arrested terrorists."

A Townhall blogger said Bjork is being represented by Victor Kelley whose firm has a division called the National Military Justice Group.

Elizabeth Kilbride, author of ‘Soul of American Warriors,’ posted this photo online after being embedded with the military in Iraq. Kilbride’s caption said, “When you are down and out, think about how our soldiers are living in a war zone, you will be grateful for what you have - a comfortable bed.” Watch for upcoming articles about Kilbride and her book at The US Report. [Photo used with permission of the author.]Considering news about Bjork is just beginning to trickle into the blogosphere (and consequently will possibly trickle into big branded media (BBM) thereafter), perhaps we should ask ourselves some questions.

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