Why can't the United States use the same rules of warfare or engagement as our enemy?

Question

Rules of warfare have changed in every war.
We don't wage war as we did during the Civil War or WWI. We didn't change our rules of engagement during VietNam and lost. It seems we are doomed to loose again unless we can fight terror with terror.

Answer 1

Because we are a civilized nation that WILL NOT stoop to low levels. We are a moral nation that honors the line between right and wrong.

If we stoop to their level, we are no better than they are.

Answer 2

The U.S. is forfeiting the best weapon it has against an enemy: the best propaganda in the world. We have the most savvy advertising agencies and all the resources of Hollywood. When we liberated Iraq, the first thing we should have done was launch a massive (truthful) propaganda campaign to let the Iraqi people know exactly why we had outsted Saddam, what we needed to accomplish before we could leave, and how the Iraqis would write their own Constitution and own laws.

The reason insurgents were so easily recruited is due to ignorance. They would tell potential suicide bombers all sorts of lies about the U.S. and our intentions. If people, while walking down the street, could simply look up at billboards that said:

1) We have freed you from a dictator.
2) The next step is that the Iraqi people need to draft a Constitution, to guarantee human rights for all. You will never have a dictator again.
3) We will stay only as long as it takes for your newly-elected government and military to handle everything on their own.

That would be a lot more effective than reducing ourselves to guerrilla war tactics.

Answer 3

The US uses their rules of engagement because not to do so would be contrary to common held political beliefs. Its hard to say your a "good guy" when you get down and dirty, at least overtly. Who really knows what's going on behind the scenes anyway? Not me. You?
Think back a few years. Rules of engagement are only touted for the front liners, not the covert boys.And they are there in droves, as they were in Nam, Cam, and dozens of other places. Air America, drugs, guns. What they've done , we done.
Anyway , it's not one on one like the WW's .

Answer 4

Well, as far as going out of our way to slaughter noncombatants, such as six-month-year-olds, that's what we've BEEN doing.

Not to mention torture.

So you want us to be inhuman monsters, in violation of every concept of human decency and of international law, do you?

That's disgusting.

But since you apparently have no conscience, I won't argue on that point.

The terroristic tactics we've been using have been making things worse, not better, for us.

Now nearly every person on the planet hates us.

If we keep it up, the rest of the world will do whatever they have to to stop us from committing yet more crimes against humanity.

Why do you think that becoming a terrorist is a GOOD thing?

How can that possibly be a good thing?

We should never have invaded a country that was not threatening us.

We should not have started rounding people up to torture and rape them.

We should also have never supported terrorists and terrorist governments.

That's why they hate us.

If we had stood on the side of right, and in support of the oppressed people of the world, everyone wouldn't hate us now.

And your solution is for us to become even more despicable?

I suppose you think throwing kerosene on a fire puts it out?

Answer 5

Because we follow the rules. We make one tiny mistake and we're demonized, but the enemy can torture and kill innocent civilians, strap bombs onto children and animals and no one objects.

Can you imagine playing a football game against a team that doesn't obey the rules even though you have to?

Sure makes it extremely difficult to win.

Answer 6

Liberal do gooders, bleeding hearts...

They have tied the hands of our soldiers in battle. War is not civilized, nor was it meant to be.

Regardless of the politics involved soldiers are dieing because of our "civilized rules of engagement". Just like Viet Nam. Booby trapped babies. Suicide bombers. Torture. Execution of POWs. None of our enemys played by the "rules" and we lost many soldiers because of that, as we are now.

Answer 7

Our enemy HAS ROE? We like to think that we follow a "civilized" effort when it comes to determining RoE. How do you fight people who have a belief system that tells them and everyone else who believes like they do that heaven opens to them if they die in battle? It's a load of bung, but it is their belief! It is foolish to think that a terrorist has RoE.

Answer 8

It's like being on a figurative ladder with someone who has a major problem. If you wish to "win" over the problem, fighting with the same EXACT tactics will only cause loss for you. If the ladder has 5 rungs, the enemy is on rung 5, and you join him who wins? You're BOTH THERE, and it's like 2 dogs who stare each other down. Whose gonna call whose "bluff" and move?

Answer 9

Because the US is the lone supper power we make the rules so therefore: We must follow them.

Answer 10

vcause you are civilised one.are you barbaric?if yes then wage war as you wish.