Press release from US Forces Afghanistan, regarding the steps being taken to achieve the impossible - military actions in populated areas (against an opponent who sees innocent civilians as a feature, not a bug) that have zero casualties among the innocent. But - ya gotta try. If you set the bar that "some level" of civilian casualties are acceptable, that's a can of worms you're just going to get beaten with - and might well serve to suppress efforts to reduce casualties. Heh. It's always easier when you're the bad guy and everybody already set the tyranny of low expectations in your favor.
Kabul, Afghanistan - Afghan Minister of Defense, General Abdul Rahim Wardak, and Coalition Forces Commander, General David McKiernan, after conducting a series of consultations over tactics and procedures of joint operations, have agreed to the following measures that will
further improve Afghan and Coalition military cooperation in counter-terrorism operations.
In an ongoing endeavor to increase partnered operations and develop Afghan capability to defeat terrorists and adversaries the officials have agreed to include more Afghan representatives in the planning and execution of counter-terrorism missions, with more attention to night operations, actions in populated areas and searches.
This step will strengthen the ability of the combined forces to shape and clear areas of terrorist and militant concentration and enable opportunities to assist the ANP to protect the people and key
infrastructure. Removing bomb makers, terrorist networks and foreign militants from the population will enhance security for the Afghan people.
There will be better coordination to minimize risk of civilian casualties and ensure Afghans search Afghan and conduct arrest operations. Maintaining the support of the Afghan people is essential
to defeating the terrorists.
We will work together as a team to defeat a common enemy. It is in the collective national security interests of the Afghans and coalition to secure Afghanistan, with more and more of that security being accomplished by ANSF over time.
It will also, if done right, give us ways to find the moles, too.
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