NATO Probes Fresh Civilian Deaths In Afghan Raid (April 6th)

[bemildred]

Source: Reuters

KABUL (Reuters) - NATO launched an investigation on Tuesday into whether its forces had killed four civilians -- two women, a child and an elderly man -- in an air strike overnight on a compound in southern Afghanistan.

The issue of civilian casualties is an emotive one in Afghanistan, feeding a common perception international forces do not take enough care when launching air strikes, and undermining support for their continued presence in the country.

The United Nations says new guidelines issued by the commander of NATO and U.S. forces last year have helped reduce the number of civilians they kill, but such incidents still cause deep anger among Afghans the foreign troops are meant to protect.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the NATO-led force said it had carried out an air strike on a compound in Nahr-e-Saraj, a district in southern Helmand province also known as Gereshk, after coming under fire from insurgents inside.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/04/06/world/international-uk-afghanistan-civilians.html

[annm4peace]

1. thank you for posting

I like to cut and past these horrific articles to my Senators and Representatives especially now because they are going to be voting on Billions more to be spent on Military in Iraq and Afghanistan

[bemildred]

2. Good idea. nt

[Flaneur]

3. Goodness, I can barely keep up!

Now, which civilians did we kill this time?

[Solly Mack]

4. Change the date, the number killed, maybe the location & resubmit every few days.

The numbers game used to be about how many enemy were killed daily....now it's 25% less v. 40% more in civilian death.