UPI -
Jul 25, 2007
...According to what little information is available, U.S. and NATO-led forces appear to be responsible for a growing number of civilian deaths. Despite its reluctance to quantify the situation,
the United Nations publicly reported on June 2 that its data indicates "the number of (civilian) deaths attributed to pro-government forces marginally exceeds that caused by anti-government forces."
U.S. and NATO officials stress that insurgent fighters hide among the civilian population and use them as human shields, but the fact remains that whatever the causes, this rising civilian death rate undermines the strategic goals of the United States and its allies.
The growing perception that Western forces are unconcerned with, and a direct threat to, the safety of civilians makes the Afghan population less inclined to side with the West against the Taliban. Also, Afghans will be less likely to support a government seen as aiding or cooperating with Western forces.
Hence, the recent statements by President Hamid Karzai reprimanding U.S. and NATO forces for their apparent disregard for Afghan civilian life. Tensions over the issue not only threaten the relationship between the Afghan and coalition governments, but among coalition members themselves as they debate an appropriate response to the mounting toll.
At the moment, U.S. and NATO forces seem unable or unwilling to adopt tactics less lethal to the civilian population. Expressions of regret and reiterations of respect by the military sound increasingly empty as U.S and NATO air strikes continue to attack residential buildings believed to contain Taliban insurgents, but that time after time are found to also house civilians.
An International Security Assistance Force spokeswoman was recently quoted as saying, "We are looking closely at our air operations, but it would not be something we would be looking to change at this point." She cited the limited number of troops available as a primary reason for maintaining the current role of air power in the conflict...
http://www.spacewar.com/reports/The_Afghan_Body_Count_999.html