- Reaction score
- 2,626
- Points
- 1,260
Also (second article below), Danish parliamentarians want Taliban kill numbers to be made public - shared in accordance with the "fair dealing" provisions, Section 29, of the Copyright Act.
Danish forces in Afghanistan want a revision of their country's rules of engagement to better battle the Taliban
Copenhagen Post, 27 Oct 08
Article link
Leaders in the Danish military in Afghanistan are calling for a modification of the existing rules of engagement to help them fight the Taliban on equal terms.
Denmark's current rules for its international troops generally state that soldiers may only return fire after having been fired upon, although there are exceptions. The rules are coordinated with the British through Nato's chain of command.
'When we observe the enemy burying mines we aren't allowed to shoot until we receive an ok from the British command in Helmand or from an even higher authority,' said colonel Keld R. J. Christensen, head of the Danish forces in Afghanistan.
'That can take up to 30 minutes. By that time the enemy is able to finish their job and leave the area.'
All countries have their own interpretations of the rules of engagement, which vary in degree of stringency. Denmark's are among the most strict. Top ranking officials at the International Security Assistance Force headquarters in Kabul say they are considering the request to ease those rules.
Denmark has around 657 soldiers stationed in Afghanistan. The country has lost 16 men in the war there since 2002. (rc)
Taliban losses should be public
A political majority wants the army to say how many Taliban have been killed in Danish operations in Afghanistan.
politiken.dk, 27 Oct 08
Article link
A majority in Parliament wants the army to make the number of Taliban killed in Danish operations in Helmand Province in Afghanistan public. Unlike the U.S. Army, Denmark does not publish estimates of enemy losses in battle.
"We should have more openness. People can take the truth. I will ask the defence minister to publish these figures," says Social Democratic Defence Spokesman John Dyrby Paulsen.
Eleven killed
Last week, Danish scouts reported killing 11 Taliban in an ambush. Danish troops have been involved in a clean-up offensive in Helmand, but Army Operations Headquarters has not published any figures showing Taliban losses.
Principle
"We do not release these figures as a matter of principle. We simply don't know how many we kill - nor do we keep unofficial statistics. If we provided guesstimates, we'd be reproached for that," says Col. Henrik Sommer of Army Operations HQ.
Nonetheless, soldiers do provide a report after each operation on the number of enemy hit.
While many other parties agree with the Social Democrats, the ruling Liberal Party is more sceptical.
"If HQ doesn't want to publish figures because they are unsure, I understand them," says Liberal Defence Committee Chairman Hans Christian Thoning.
Danish forces in Afghanistan want a revision of their country's rules of engagement to better battle the Taliban
Copenhagen Post, 27 Oct 08
Article link
Leaders in the Danish military in Afghanistan are calling for a modification of the existing rules of engagement to help them fight the Taliban on equal terms.
Denmark's current rules for its international troops generally state that soldiers may only return fire after having been fired upon, although there are exceptions. The rules are coordinated with the British through Nato's chain of command.
'When we observe the enemy burying mines we aren't allowed to shoot until we receive an ok from the British command in Helmand or from an even higher authority,' said colonel Keld R. J. Christensen, head of the Danish forces in Afghanistan.
'That can take up to 30 minutes. By that time the enemy is able to finish their job and leave the area.'
All countries have their own interpretations of the rules of engagement, which vary in degree of stringency. Denmark's are among the most strict. Top ranking officials at the International Security Assistance Force headquarters in Kabul say they are considering the request to ease those rules.
Denmark has around 657 soldiers stationed in Afghanistan. The country has lost 16 men in the war there since 2002. (rc)
Taliban losses should be public
A political majority wants the army to say how many Taliban have been killed in Danish operations in Afghanistan.
politiken.dk, 27 Oct 08
Article link
A majority in Parliament wants the army to make the number of Taliban killed in Danish operations in Helmand Province in Afghanistan public. Unlike the U.S. Army, Denmark does not publish estimates of enemy losses in battle.
"We should have more openness. People can take the truth. I will ask the defence minister to publish these figures," says Social Democratic Defence Spokesman John Dyrby Paulsen.
Eleven killed
Last week, Danish scouts reported killing 11 Taliban in an ambush. Danish troops have been involved in a clean-up offensive in Helmand, but Army Operations Headquarters has not published any figures showing Taliban losses.
Principle
"We do not release these figures as a matter of principle. We simply don't know how many we kill - nor do we keep unofficial statistics. If we provided guesstimates, we'd be reproached for that," says Col. Henrik Sommer of Army Operations HQ.
Nonetheless, soldiers do provide a report after each operation on the number of enemy hit.
While many other parties agree with the Social Democrats, the ruling Liberal Party is more sceptical.
"If HQ doesn't want to publish figures because they are unsure, I understand them," says Liberal Defence Committee Chairman Hans Christian Thoning.
