U.S.-led forces kill 7 Afghans in friendly fire

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S.-led forces kill 7 Afghans in friendly fire
Wed Dec 10, 2008 3:38am EST

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) - U.S.-led coalition
forces killed six Afghan policemen and one civilian in
a case of mistaken identity while targeting a Taliban
commander in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday,
the U.S. military and police said.

Scores of Afghan civilians have been killed in air
strikes by international troops in Afghanistan this
year, Afghan officials say, feeding a perception that
NATO-led and U.S. coalition forces do not take
enough care when using air strikes.

Though it is rare for foreign troops to hit their allies
in the Afghan security forces, the latest incident is
the third reported case of friendly fire in as many
months, and is likely to strain relationships between
the two sides.

"One local national and six Afghan national police were
killed in Qalat district in Zabul province, during an
operation targeting a known Taliban commander," said
Lieutenant Commander Walter Matthews, a spokesman
for the U.S. military in Kabul.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4B91PY20081210

[High Plains]

1. Winning hearts and minds, I see.

We need a new policy for Afghanistan. I'm not with Obama on this one.