KABUL—The U.S. general commanding the coalition in Afghanistan said on Sunday he would comply with a decree President Hamid Karzai plans to issue that would ban Afghan forces from calling in airstrikes from their international counterparts in residential areas.
The U.S.-led coalition will work with Afghan forces to "mitigate" civilian casualties, Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford said Sunday.
What civilian casualties do we need to "mitigate?"
Mr. Karzai announced the ban Saturday after Afghan forces called in a coalition airstrike during an operation Tuesday night against Taliban fighters. At least 10 civilians—mostly women and children—were killed in the strike, according to Afghan officials.
Coalition airstrike...at least 10 civilians? Sounds like the footprint of our latest Nobel Peace Prize Winner to me!
The coalition airstrike was called in by Afghan intelligence during an operation overnight Tuesday in a small village in Kunar province, on the border with Pakistan. The strike hit its target—a house filled with insurgents—but also struck a civilian home nearby, according to Afghan officials.
The renewed scrutiny on coalition airstrikes is likely to be a point of contention as U.S. and Afghan officials negotiate a bilateral security agreement, which will determine the legal status of American troops in Afghanistan after 2014. The agreement should be wrapped up by November, according to American officials.
Mr. Karzai has long pressed U.S.-led forces to stop using airstrikes, citing the high civilian casualties they cause, although the coalition has argued that the strikes are effective. A United Nations report last summer said airstrikes resulted in more casualties of ordinary Afghans than any other tactic used by international forces, killing 83 civilians in the first six months of 2012.
Even a blip on the radar for our 2012 elections? Where are all of our anti-war protests? Where are the cries of murder and angering Islam while waging an absolute killing campaign?
Anyone.....anyone at all hold Obama accountable here?