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August 9, 2007 | In July, CSE published "Winning Hearts and Minds in Iraq". The article contained exerpts from soldiers who have served in Iraq and spoken out against the dangers Iraqi civilians are exposed to daily during the current occupation by U.S. forces. The article was updated as several sources worked to document the brutality of the occupation.
Now, the NY Times has published an article that brings U.S. operational tactics in Afghanistan into question as well. No British new source was found to further document the content of the NYTimes article. "A senior British commander in southern Afghanistan said in recent weeks that he had asked that American Special Forces leave his area of operations because the high level of civilian casualties they had caused was making it difficult to win over local people."[1] "Other British officers here in Helmand Province, speaking on condition of anonymity, criticized American Special Forces for causing most of the civilian deaths and injuries in their area. They also expressed concerns that the Americans’ extensive use of air power was turning the people against the foreign presence as British forces were trying to solidify recent gains against the Taliban."[1] While publication of this and the prior article as regard winning the hearts and minds of civilian populations in Iraq and Afghanistan can be spun to represent a lack of support for U.S. troops and an indication that the integrity of U.S. forces at the troop level is lacking - the opposite is the case. U.S. troops, under constant danger, should not be exposed to the course of poorly planned events that have been unfolding in both countries for years now. The constant exposure and re-exposure of troops spread dangerously thin is a reflection upon the ineptness of Bush administration and the resultant military leadership. _________________________
[1] - NY Times - British Criticize U.S. Air Attacks in Afghan Region - by Carlotta Gall [2 UPDATE] - CBS News - Afghan President Hamid Karzai is calling for the U.S. and NATO to cut back on airstrikes in the battle against Taliban and al-Qaida militants, saying too many civilians have been killed. - by JASON STRAZIUSO | October 26, 2007 ___________________________________ 8.9.2007 |