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thedrifter
06-26-05, 05:36 AM
June 26, 2005
Troops Will Carry General's 'Common Sense' Rules on Wallet-Size Cards
By ERIC SCHMITT


WASHINGTON, June 25 - American troops in Iraq are getting a new list of dos and don'ts on how to behave in the war zone from their top ground commander.

At a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, the officer, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., briefly referred to the 11 rules he had issued on wallet-size laminated cards, after Representative Silvestre Reyes, a Texas Democrat, expressed concern that the American military might be underestimating the violent insurgency.

"Boy, that is something we watch every day," General Casey said. "To give you an example, I published 11 FAR's, call them Flat-[expletive] Rules. And one of those FAR's is to be focused on the enemy and to be opportunistic."

General Casey's command has ordered 170,000 of the cards and 1,000 2-feet-by-3-feet posters emblazoned with the rules, which advise the 139,000 troops in Iraq on topics including learning Iraqi customs and searching for creative solutions to knotty problems.

"FAR's provides basic rules for dealing with the Iraqi people," Col. Archie Davis, General Casey's spokesman, said in an e-mail message. "They are basic common-sense guidelines that should be applied to any situation."

The command began issuing the cards to troops in late May and the posters on June 10, Colonel Davis said. He said he did not know how much it cost to produce the cards and posters. Combat troops routinely carry a separate card that outlines the rules of engagement for using deadly force.

General Casey's rules offer a window into his priorities for the troops, military officials say:

¶Make security and safety your first priorities.

¶Help the Iraqis win - don't win it for them.

¶Treat the Iraqi people with dignity and respect. Learn and respect Iraqi customs and cultures.

¶Maintain strict standards and iron discipline everyday. Risk assess every mission - no complacency!!

¶Information saves lives - share it and protect it.

¶Maintain your situational awareness at all times - this can be an unforgiving environment.

¶Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you.

¶Innovate and adapt - situations here don't lend themselves to cookie-cutter solutions.

¶Focus on the enemy and be opportunistic.

¶Be patient. Don't rush to failure.

¶Take care of yourself and take care of each other.

Ellie

Pvt Drake
06-26-05, 04:08 PM
I already carry around about 5 or 6 of those pocket size cards. Ranging from how to call for fire to our roe's.