A SNIPERS TALE
According to the “rules of engagement” you cannot shoot an unarmed man, the Taliban know this and so when they put a man up on a roof top to “spot” for them, they know he is safe from being shot. So the man stands in full view of the allied forces talking into his handheld radio, giving instructions to other Taliban mortar men who are concealed, and directing their fire. One disgruntled Marine sniper, thought, you can’t shoot the man but what is to stop you shooting the radio he is using, and so this is what he did. At the next opportunity he took aim at the handheld radio and fired. At the “debrief” the officer in charge asked the sniper if he hit the radio, “Oh yes sir” said the sniper, “Dead centre, smashed it to pieces”, as he was leaving the room the officer asked him, “Was the man using the radio at the time?” the sniper thought for a moment, then said “You know Sir, I believe he was”!!!!!!
Since this incident the rules have been amended, forces can now shoot “spotters” as they are part of the mortar team, and therefore classed as combatants.