McChrystal bans night raids without Afghan troops

[laststeamtrain]

Source: Reuters

McChrystal bans night raids without Afghan troops
Fri Mar 5, 7:04 am ET

KABUL (Reuters) – U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan will be permitted to carry out raids at night only when there are Afghan security forces present, their commander, U.S. General Stanley McChrystal, ordered on Friday.

McChrystal's order falls short of the outright ban on raids at night sought by President Hamid Karzai but would ensure that such raids took place only with Afghan authorities included in the planning and execution.

At a security conference in Munich last month, Karzai called for an end to civilian casualties, as well as an end to night raids and the arrest of Afghans in their homes, saying "the war on terror is not in the Afghan villages and homes".

Civilian deaths and injuries inflicted during operations by international forces have caused deep anger among Afghans. Analysts argue such casualties encourage people to join the Taliban-led insurgency.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100305/wl_nm/us_afghanistan_raids

[readmoreoften]

1. But will they be permitted to continue executing children so long as Afghan troops are present?

That would be the burning question. Also, the assassinating and disappearing adults (and children.) Will that continue?

[Robb]

2. I would take a break for a while if I were you.

;)

[daleo]

3. Yes, this is probably in response to the killing of children

During the raid a while back, which NATO has admitted was a slaughter of innocent children rather than terrorists. I suppose the theory is that Afghan troops would have stopped the slaughter, since they speak the language fluently. That presupposes that the western troops would have listened, though.