A-stan Civilian deaths hit record in 2010

The BBC reports that civilian deaths in Afghanistan set records last year.

Some 2,421 civilians were killed, most at the hands of insurgents, the Kabul-based Afghanistan Rights Monitor said.

Foreign troops were to blame for about a fifth of all deaths – a slight fall on the previous year, the report says.

They go on to blame the Taliban for 60% of the deaths. Compared to the remaining twenty percent of casualties attributed to coalition warriors.

When attacks are launched on government or international forces, Afghans are often caught in the crossfire, the BBC’s Quentin Sommerville in Kabul says.

Crossfire my ass. Civilians are being TARGETED by the Taliban and al Qaeda and BBC doesn’t want to admit it.

There has been a dramatic increase in assassinations carried out by insurgents – 400 in 2010, compared to 230 the year before.

Government employees, politicians and tribal elders have all been targeted.

Yeah, those are civilians, ya goobers.

In a Stars & Stripes article, Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez, deputy commander of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan says we can expect more operations from the Taliban directed against civilian targets this coming year;

“They’re going to come back with a different strategy,” he told reporters at a Pentagon press conference on Tuesday. “Assassination hit teams, improvised explosive devices. … They will not be as direct in their confrontations as last year.”

Rodriguez said friendly forces will counter with a focused effort to protect populated civilian areas and Afghan government institutions, in addition to aggressive direct military operations against Taliban strongholds.

Hmmm, operations to protect civilians. I wonder which side is the good guys.

Category: Terror War