Six years after invasion, Karzai "cannot comprehend" the need for air strikes

[ProSense]

Winning hearts and minds in Iraq and Afghanistan with more bombs.

Afghan Leader: Cut Back on Airstrikes

Friday October 26, 2007 6:16 PM

By JASON STRAZIUSO

Associated Press Writer

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai is calling for the U.S. and NATO to cut back on airstrikes in the battle against Taliban and al-Qaida militants, saying too many civilians have been killed.

Karzai said that six years after the U.S.-led invasion the Afghan people ``cannot comprehend as to why there is still a need for air power.''

``The United States and the coalition forces are not (killing civilians) deliberately. The United States is here to help the Afghan people,'' Karzai told the U.S. news program ``60 Minutes'' for a story scheduled to air Sunday night.

Asked if he wants the use of airstrikes curtailed, Karzai replies, ``Absolutely. Oh, yes, in clear words and I want to repeat that, (there are) alternatives to the use of air force.''

<...>

Violence in Afghanistan this year has been the deadliest since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. More than 5,200 people have died because of insurgency-related violence, according to the AP count.

Coalition death toll:

Period.......US.........Other.........Total
2007........94.........103.............197
2006.........98...........93.............191
2005.........99...........31.............130
2004.........52............6...............58
2003.........48............9...............57
2002.........48..........20...............68
2001.........12............0...............12

link

[BuyingThyme]

1. You can't buy new bombs until you drop the old ones.

[madokie]

2. and they're making them as fast as they can

big bomb factory down south of me in muskogee ok. In fact I read in the paper the other day that several of the employees were sent to the hospital something to do with their air supply machinery malfunctioning.

[Javaman]

3. Karzai can't comprehend a land outside of Kabul. nt