Okay just a couple more problems and I think this thread is solved..
First of all, for anyone else using my lowly version, the only way the above command will work in the trigger activation field is by using "" not {}
ex: "_x setcombatmode red" foreach list xxx
now the problem is, you can't put red under quotations ("red") because you'll get a syntax error. So I need to find another command that can alter a unit's behaviour without quotations.
I tried doing "_x setdammage 1" foreach list xx and everyone western died. So it works. Now the only thing is to find a command without quotations.. Anyone got a clue or a work around?