ANI, October 22, 2010

NATO forces put civilians in danger while pounding Taliban strongholds in Afghanistan

The military is often using heavy artillery and ordering more air strikes. That makes civilian casualties inevitable

Civilians in southern Afghanistan are in greater danger now more than ever, with American-led forces mercilessly pounding Taliban strongholds in the region, especially in Kandahar province.

The number of U.S. and NATO air strikes over Afghanistan has spiked since General David Petraeus replaced General Stanley McCrystal as commander of the war effort in June. U.S. Air Force statistics show a 172 percent increase, with 700 separate missions flown in September. A total of 257 assault missions were flown in September, 2009. Surveillance flights increased to nearly three times the number from September 2009 and supply flights are up as well.

ABC News Radio, Oct. 13, 2010

The CBS News quoted American commanders as saying that the insurgents are now fleeing in droves, thanks to the increased use of heavy artillery and air assaults.

U.S. commanders have emphasized the need to protect civilians at all costs, but the overwhelming and sometimes indiscriminate use of firepower, has claimed some civilian lives.

Lt. Stephen Draheim, Bravo troop platoon leader, 1-75 Cav, 101st Airborne division, said: "In this conflict, in this fighting, people continue to die when we are just trying to make the Taliban go away."

The military is often using heavy artillery and ordering more air strikes. That makes civilian casualties inevitable.

Category: US-NATO, HR Violations - Views: 9658

Latest

Most Viewed

Afghanistan, one of the world's poorest countries, is sitting on mineral and petroleum reserves worth an estimated one trillion dollars.
AFP, January 31, 2010

RAWA Homepage :: More reports from Afghanistan :: RAWA Photo Gallery :: Fair use Notice
http://www.rawa.org

General Fair Use Notice: Many reposted pages of reports from Afghanistan on this section of our site may contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. RAWA is making these material available for non-profit purpose in an effort to raise awareness on the ongoing human rights catastrophe in Afghanistan. We believe that this constitutes a "fair use" of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use these copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.