TruBlu
07-28-2009, 11:16 AM
Taliban Adopts a 'Code of Conduct' (http://www.military.com/news/article/taliban-adopt-a-code-of-conduct.html)
July 28, 2009
Xinhua News Agency
CAIRO -- Afghanistan's Taliban pledged to limit suicide attacks in newly-issued code of conduct for its militants.
"Suicide attacks should be used only at high and important targets ... Utmost efforts should be made to avoid civilian casualties," says a book, "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Rules for Mujahideen," a copy of which was acquired Monday by the pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV.
The book, with 13 chapters and 67 articles, lays out rules that govern the movement fighters and differentiates between what they are allowed and not allowed to do.
While the Taliban have repeatedly resorted to suicide bombings across Afghanistan, the books talks of limiting suicide attacks, avoiding casualties among civilians and working to win the battle for the hearts of the local civilian population.
The book also forbids the formation of any new militias or armed groups and calls for disbanding any group that refuses to join the main structure of the movement.
Mullah Omar, the group leader, was quoted in the book as saying that "If unofficial groups or irregular battalions refuse to join the formal structure, they should be disbanded."
Meanwhile, the book gives the full autonomy and freedom for provincial rulers to decide operations they need to conduct and how to run the territories under their control.
The book also puts guidelines for treating the abducted foreigners and prisoners. According to the new code, the provincial leaders will be granted the right to decide the fate of the prisoners on the condition of not attacking or harming them. The code also forbids the exchange of prisoners for money.
Taliban is a fundamentalist armed pro-Qaida group. It ruled in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 before the U.S. invasion toppled it and brought a new regime to power.
Finally, maybe a step forward towards the ancient laws of combat and away from disregard of civilian populous and 'fringe elements.' Maybe, just maybe, this will yield a 'safer' POW and less unnecessary civilian deaths. Hopefully our efforts of winning over the civilian population will prove greater than theirs...
July 28, 2009
Xinhua News Agency
CAIRO -- Afghanistan's Taliban pledged to limit suicide attacks in newly-issued code of conduct for its militants.
"Suicide attacks should be used only at high and important targets ... Utmost efforts should be made to avoid civilian casualties," says a book, "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Rules for Mujahideen," a copy of which was acquired Monday by the pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV.
The book, with 13 chapters and 67 articles, lays out rules that govern the movement fighters and differentiates between what they are allowed and not allowed to do.
While the Taliban have repeatedly resorted to suicide bombings across Afghanistan, the books talks of limiting suicide attacks, avoiding casualties among civilians and working to win the battle for the hearts of the local civilian population.
The book also forbids the formation of any new militias or armed groups and calls for disbanding any group that refuses to join the main structure of the movement.
Mullah Omar, the group leader, was quoted in the book as saying that "If unofficial groups or irregular battalions refuse to join the formal structure, they should be disbanded."
Meanwhile, the book gives the full autonomy and freedom for provincial rulers to decide operations they need to conduct and how to run the territories under their control.
The book also puts guidelines for treating the abducted foreigners and prisoners. According to the new code, the provincial leaders will be granted the right to decide the fate of the prisoners on the condition of not attacking or harming them. The code also forbids the exchange of prisoners for money.
Taliban is a fundamentalist armed pro-Qaida group. It ruled in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 before the U.S. invasion toppled it and brought a new regime to power.
Finally, maybe a step forward towards the ancient laws of combat and away from disregard of civilian populous and 'fringe elements.' Maybe, just maybe, this will yield a 'safer' POW and less unnecessary civilian deaths. Hopefully our efforts of winning over the civilian population will prove greater than theirs...