British Criticize U.S. Air Attacks in Afghan Region

[babylonsister]

British Criticize U.S. Air Attacks in Afghan Region
Joao Silva for The New York Times

By CARLOTTA GALL
Published: August 9, 2007

SANGIN, Afghanistan — 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.

Pakistani tribal leaders arrived in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Wednesday for a peace jigra, or assembly, with Afghan counterparts. Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's president, snubbed the meeting, apparently over an American-backed plan to stem border strife.

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.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/world/asia/09casualties.html?ref=todayspaper&pagewanted=all

[billyoc]

1. Afghan spokesman unavailable for comment

on account of he exploded. :eyes:

[UKProPeace]

2. Winning hearts and minds again by bombing the hell out of them eom