Continuing to Kill Afghan Civilians

August 23, 2008 at 1:51 pm | Posted in American politics | Leave a comment

We continue to undermine our own mission. As this Afghan official says:

“This puts us in a very difficult position,” said one government official, asking not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter. “It provides propaganda to the Taliban and if they don’t take responsibility, it actually helps the Taliban.”

Indeed. Airstrikes are just simply not effective counterinsurgency tactics. They undermine the greater mission, which is to “win”—whatever that means.