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from DemocracyNow.org
Thousands of US and NATO forces have launched one of the largest military offensives of the eight-year war in an attempt to remove the Taliban from the city of Marjah in Helmand province. US officials have described the operation as a success so far, but on Sunday twelve Afghans died when two rockets fired by NATO slammed into the wrong house. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has called for an investigation into the deaths. Ten of those killed were from the same family. The US said the dead included nine civilians and three insurgents. Prior to the errant bombing, Admiral Mike Mullen, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said a goal of the operation was to have no civilian casualties.
Admiral Michael Mullen: “It’s off to a good start. There’s great focus on—and [Afghan] President Karzai has made this point, and I think this is critical—on having—we would like to have no civilian causalities. I mean, this is focused on the people. This is not focused on the Taliban. And it is a strategy that will not just clear the area, but that will hold it and then build right behind it. So there’s a civilian component here, and there’s a local governance piece, which is going to be installed immediately, as well.”
While the operation is being described as one of the largest of the war, it is unclear how many members of the Taliban remain in the region to fight. Many members of the Talibam are believed to have fled into Pakistan after the US warned the attack on Marjah was imminent. The assault is the first test of President Barack Obama’s plan to send 30,000 more troops to seize insurgent-held areas and smooth the way for permanent government rule in the area. Many residents of Marjah said they fled to nearby towns to avoid the US assault.
Haji Turjan: “We escaped from the area because of the fighting. I am demanding that the government help us here. Some members of my family are sick. We need medicines and other help as soon as possible.”
Filed under: afghanistan, Anti-War, politics, war
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