NEW NATO IDEA to avoid killing innocent Afghans [5th item].

U.S. and allied troops in Afghanistan might soon be eligible for a “courageous restraint” medal awarded for not using force.

The idea is to encourage troops to the central component of the Obama-McChrystal strategy: protect Afghan civilians both from the Taliban and our efforts to defeat the Taliban. In a very direct sense, the plan asks Americans to die for the security of the Afghan population in an effort to establish the trust needed to build a new nation that is less hospitable to radical Islam. It envisions forming a common bond with the indigenous people against the common enemy of the Taliban and doing so on a timetable.

We all remember George C. Scott’s line in Patton: “I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor, dumb bastard die for his country.”

Scott did not have to consider the third option of dying for someone else’s country.

The original article is here.

MORE: It looks like the ‘courageous restraint’ medal isn’t getting good reviews.