Even in war, there is politics

This tale takes place in Ramadi, Iraq, on Nov. 19, 2006.

There are rules of engagement — what the rules are before you could fire up the opponents or would be enemy — in war.

Sometimes it is that you can't fire unless fired upon, which put our soldiers at high risk. But with the snipers it was a little different, the enemy had to be carrying a weapon and then could be fired upon.

But with SEAL Team Five’s snipers, every time they pulled the trigger, the shooter had to file a report, and investigations were carried out. The men hated these things and hated the sight of JAG (military lawyers) as they were second-guessed upon every battlefield decision they made.

The reports were ever-present reminders that one wrong move in combat could destroy a career or even land a sniper in prison. So the snipers grew cautious and at times they were certain the enemy escaped and thus put American soldiers at future risks.

So, it seems, even in war there are politics.

The JAG officer makes the decision, but he wasn’t there to see the circumstances. That is the second-guessing.

It is one thing to talk and to decide, but it is another to have actually been in the combat situation. In many cases, there had to be split-second decisions and otherwise, to actually understand, you had to be there versus judging from afar.

Roger Gregory is a Vietnam veteran, serving in the 1st Infantry Division. He is a business owner in Priest River.