McChrystal sorry for Afghan deaths
Source: Agencies |
February 24, 2010, Wednesday
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THE commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan went on television yesterday to apologize for a deadly air strike, an extraordinary attempt to regain Afghans' trust while a mass offensive continues against the Taliban in the south.
Two US Marine battalions, accompanied by Afghan troops, pushing from the north and south of the insurgent stronghold of Marjah finally linked up after more than a week, creating a direct route across the town that allows convoys to supply ammunition and reinforcements.
In a video translated into the Afghan languages of Dari and Pashto and broadcast on Afghan television, a stern General Stanley McChrystal apologized for the strike in central Uruzgan province that Afghan officials say killed at least 21 people. The video was also posted on a NATO Website.
"I pledge to strengthen our efforts to regain your trust to build a brighter future for all Afghans," McChrystal said in the video. "I have instituted a thorough investigation to prevent this from happening again."
Sunday's attack by NATO jets on a convoy of cars was the deadliest attack on civilians in six months and prompted a sharp rebuke from the Afghan government. McChrystal apologized directly to President Hamid Karzai shortly after the incident. The video is another sign of the military coalition's intense campaign to win public backing for the Marjah offensive with a strategy that involves taking all precautions possible to protect civilians.
NATO said McChrystal made a similar apology via video this past fall when US pilots bombed two hijacked fuel tankers near the northern town of Kunduz. Afghan leaders estimated that 30 to 40 civilians were killed.
The civilian deaths occurred as 15,000 NATO, US and Afghan soldiers were in their 10th day of fighting insurgents in the town in Helmand province.
Although the air strike was not related to the Marjah offensive, civilian casualties undermine NATO's goal of turning back the Taliban and restoring the Afghan people's confidence in their own government - one of the main objectives of the southern operation that hopes to rout the Taliban, set up a local government and rush in aid.
Meanwhile, an explosion in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand, left eight people dead and at least 16 others wounded yesterday, according to the Interior Ministry. Police chief General Asadullah Sherzad said explosives in a parked motorbike were detonated by remote control in front of the traffic department.
Two US Marine battalions, accompanied by Afghan troops, pushing from the north and south of the insurgent stronghold of Marjah finally linked up after more than a week, creating a direct route across the town that allows convoys to supply ammunition and reinforcements.
In a video translated into the Afghan languages of Dari and Pashto and broadcast on Afghan television, a stern General Stanley McChrystal apologized for the strike in central Uruzgan province that Afghan officials say killed at least 21 people. The video was also posted on a NATO Website.
"I pledge to strengthen our efforts to regain your trust to build a brighter future for all Afghans," McChrystal said in the video. "I have instituted a thorough investigation to prevent this from happening again."
Sunday's attack by NATO jets on a convoy of cars was the deadliest attack on civilians in six months and prompted a sharp rebuke from the Afghan government. McChrystal apologized directly to President Hamid Karzai shortly after the incident. The video is another sign of the military coalition's intense campaign to win public backing for the Marjah offensive with a strategy that involves taking all precautions possible to protect civilians.
NATO said McChrystal made a similar apology via video this past fall when US pilots bombed two hijacked fuel tankers near the northern town of Kunduz. Afghan leaders estimated that 30 to 40 civilians were killed.
The civilian deaths occurred as 15,000 NATO, US and Afghan soldiers were in their 10th day of fighting insurgents in the town in Helmand province.
Although the air strike was not related to the Marjah offensive, civilian casualties undermine NATO's goal of turning back the Taliban and restoring the Afghan people's confidence in their own government - one of the main objectives of the southern operation that hopes to rout the Taliban, set up a local government and rush in aid.
Meanwhile, an explosion in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand, left eight people dead and at least 16 others wounded yesterday, according to the Interior Ministry. Police chief General Asadullah Sherzad said explosives in a parked motorbike were detonated by remote control in front of the traffic department.
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