Curb civilian deaths in Afghanistan

The goals for Afghanistan aren’t being served by U.S. and NATO airstrikes that have killed nearly 400 Afghan civilians this year, including 92 in one U.S.-led raid last month. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was right to go to Afghanistan this week and offer his “sincere condolences and personal regret for the recent loss of innocent life as a result of coalition airstrikes.” Beyond words, Gates and other NATO leaders must also heed the call of Gen. David McKiernan, the commander of international forces in Afghanistan, for more troops in addition to the one U.S. combat brigade arriving in January. A troop shortage leads to more air combat, McKiernan said. And that can mean more civilian losses. If anti-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan are going to succeed, Afghans’ hearts and minds must be with those efforts.

7 Comments

  1. Political_mama
    Posted September 19, 2008 at 7:16 am | Permalink

    It is ridiculous that we are still in Afghanistan, after such early success, we should have had Bin Laden and that country well on its way to strong government. The main war has become a sideshow to the Bush administration.

    It is beyond unforgiveable.

  2. Jed
    Posted September 19, 2008 at 3:46 pm | Permalink

    P-Mom,
    The reason we’re still in Afghanistan is that we went to war politically, not militarily. If there was any way to actually get Bin Laden, this war was never it, which makes me wonder if that was ever the goal. Surely, even this administration can’t be that stupid! Seven years into it, all we’ve accomplished is collateral damage and a huge shot in the arm for the opium trade. Bin Laden gets air time whenever he wants it, and we, with our great technological resources can’t find the bastard? Even total incompetence can’t be that dumb! The administration has to be actively avoiding capturing him.

  3. Mary_Caruso
    Posted September 19, 2008 at 8:35 pm | Permalink

    Bush is making an effort to capture him now, he wants to go out with a big political bang.
    The Taliban is starting to gain ground again in Afganistan, and Parkistan is harboring them also(and bin Laden probably).
    We should have never left Afganistan until the job was done and bin Laden in our hands. Invading Iraq was the best gift we could have given bin Laden and the Taliban. The big distraction worked wonders for the terrorists.

  4. Mary_Caruso
    Posted September 19, 2008 at 8:53 pm | Permalink

    Interesting how all the cons are silent when it comes to this thread. It must be hard to admit it when their war heros f**k up.

  5. Mary_Caruso
    Posted September 19, 2008 at 9:14 pm | Permalink

    400 killed? No big deal, just collateral damage..afterall, “freedom isn’t free” right?…most cons don’t consider anyone other than Americans to be human anyway.

  6. Jed
    Posted September 20, 2008 at 8:04 pm | Permalink

    Mary,
    According to the ‘publicans.
    “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength.”
    -George Orwell-

  7. Jacquelyn Britt
    Posted October 15, 2008 at 8:49 pm | Permalink

    It will make sure you get in on Afghanistan. This administration beats numerous complicated ones, as they have too many elements which break. You will not be the goal if you use Bin Laden to manage our great technological resources.