Civilians in Afghanistan Killed Again

NATO forces, largely made up of American troops, have botched three airstrikes in seven days making the total 'collateral damage' score in the neighborhood of 45 dead since "Operation Together" began.  The latest incident was in Uruzgan on Sunday night.  The strike killed 27 in a convoy of minibuses carrying 42 people, all civilians including women and children.  These "mistakes" are seriously undermining the stated goal of pacifying the areas under Taliban control by winning civilian support for western forces. But American forces have since Vietnam relied heavily on airpower to reduce enemy positions with fewer infantry casualties. General McCrystal has tightened the rules on the use of air sorties without apparent effect except for more prompt apologies to the Kabul regime. The carnage is also causing cracks in the united western front. The government of the Netherlands fell after twelve collation ministers from Labor resigned just a day before the strike over the deeply unpopular involvement of Dutch troops in the war effort. Twenty-one Dutch soldiers have died in Afghanistan.  US casualties have passed 1000 dead. The 1900 Dutch contingency operating in Uruzgan will be withdrawn at the end of the year.  The withdrawal may make other nervous allies--Canada, Germany and Australia--reconsider their participation. Clearing Helmand Province of Taliban fighters is taking longer than expected as western forces encounter determined pockets of resistance from fortified positions and numerous explosive devices.