U.S. Army Wages War with
One Arm Tied Behind Back

As if fighting a war against bomb-wielding kamikaze terrorists weren't challenging enough, America's brave men and women in Afghanistan must also fight the battle of public perception and political correctness.

According to The Washington Times, which conducted multiple interviews with U.S. forces in Afghanistan, here are the new rules of engagement for our troops:

1. No night or surprise searches.
2. Villagers have to be warned prior to searches.
3. The Afghan National Army or Police must accompany U.S. units on searches.
4. U.S. soldiers may not fire at the enemy unless the enemy is preparing to fire first.
5. U.S. forces cannot engage the enemy if civilians are present.
6. Only women can search women.
7. Troops may fire at an insurgent if they catch him placing an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) but not if insurgents are walking away from an area where explosives have been laid.

"It's a framework to ensure cultural sensitivity in planning and executing operations," Army Captain Casey Thoreen told the Times. "It's a set of rules and could be characterized as part of the ROE [rules of engagement]."

Unfortunately, the only rule by which the Taliban lives is to kill U.S. troops no matter what the cost – and terrorists make no exceptions for "cultural sensitivity."