The concept of Rules of Engagement is a fairly new idea. It came about in Europe when war was a distraction from boredom of the second and third sons of nobility. The idea of a glamorous "sport" (with the thrill of death) complete with gentlemanly rules developed. Today we have football, hockey and other sports.
Real war has never been anything but cruel and punishing to all and especially to the by-standers. A cursory read of the Old Testament of the Bible or Homer will graphically point out how barbaric war was then and can be today. The culture divide between the NATO forces and the Taliban is wider than the thousands of miles between the Predator operator and the Warlord.
The morals and mores of the Taliban are not much different today than when Genghis Khan and his hordes swept over the plains. Remember, these men who are using women and children as shields are the same people who consider a good milk producing goat to be more valuable than a woman.
These are the men who told women that women could not be doctors and that a male doctor couldn't look at them or touch them to treat them. These are the same men who closed all the girl's schools because women didn't need to read. These are the same men who destroyed an irreplaceable work of religous art that was over a 1000 years old because it wasn't THEIR religion. The deaths of a few women and children are nothing to these men. Not if it ultimately leads to victory for them.
Those of you who think we are somehow being cruel and unfair should look again at just whom and what we are dealing with here. We move out and that country goes back to the 1980s. Is that what you want? later when they come to your door and say your wife has to wear a Burqa and you have to grow a beard. Will you meekly bow your head and comply? Do not be foolish and think that can't happen in western Europe or America.
I dropped bombs over Vietnam. I will (thank God) never know if any of them killed someone. There were too many trees in the way. Believe me, I thought long and hard every time I did it and I have never stopped wondering if I ever killed someone. I am sure I did. Those Predator pilots feel the same way. They may be thousands of miles away but, they have to witness the actual results of their actions. I know damn well the sickening feelings they have knowing they took a human life. Pray you never have to take a life.
But, don't think that it isn't sometimes necessary to kill in order to keep the life we know and love. The Taliban know very well what pictures of "innocent" women and children bodies look like to the western eyes on TV. It is a weapon that they use very well. People who only know war from the santized HBO series or Hollywood's make believe warfare can be duped into thinking that we are being the aggressors and are somehow playing unfairly. Like it was an Olympic event and we cheated. Frankly, most of these people make me sick in the stomach with their stupidity.
Sorry for the rant and for going off topic. I will shutup.
There are bad examples in every army
, but the crux of the "war" is the overall situation. The Afghan people have never put up with occupation and won't now. Their methods are classic guerrilla tactics, they are highly mobile and will withdraw in the face of superior firepower to fight another day. There is no dishonour in that, it is how they will EVENTUALLY drive out the invaders. When the West gets tired of sending dollars there and recieving bodybags back, the Afghans will have succeeded. They won't have WON because nobody wins in this game except the Dogs of War. 
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