Gates blames Karsai's public complaints about civilian killings for resentment of U.S. presence

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. . . wants Afghan Pres. Karsai to soft-pedal criticisms.


from CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/02/afghanistan.drop/

Documents give insight into increased violence in Afghanistan

NATO documents show that one of the main reasons for the increase in violence is more U.S. troops on the ground


IN testimony on Capitol Hill last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates was asked about the (military presence, the civilian killings, and Karsai's public criticisms of air and ground attacks on targets where women and children have been killed).

"My worry is that the Afghans come to see it as part of the problem, rather than as part of their solution. And then we are lost," Gates said.

"I don't believe that his rhetoric has been helpful, and I must tell you that when I was last there and visited Bagram, I got a briefing on the procedures that our pilots go through to try and avoid civilian casualties," Gates said. "I took a significant element of the Afghan press with me with their cameras so that they could see that briefing and see just how hard we do work at trying to avoid civilian casualties."

Pentagon officials say that the continued comments by the Afghan president are making it difficult for U.S. troops. The more the Afghan president criticizes U.S. commanders, the more a gulf grows in the relationship between locals and U.S. troops . . .


read: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/02/afghanistan.drop/

[gratuitous]

1. Yeah, it's all Karzai' fault

And has nothing whatsoever to do with the unpleasantness at Kama Aido, or that little misunderstanding with the mobile Black Hole of Calcutta on wheels with all those prisoners suffocating in a container trailer. Hamid said mean things, so that's the whole reason the Afghanp people don't like us.

Can we please replace Mr. Gates with an actual human being? The sooner the better, if you ask me.

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7. I'm so not ready for this sequel

[stillcool]

2. they hate us for our freedom..

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Military_Budget/Mega_Pentagon.html

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6. we're here to help

[Stellabella]

3. Uh, huh. Sure. The KILLINGS have nothing to do with it.

It's Karzai TALKING about it.

What is this maroon doing still in office? I am very disappointed President Obama asked him to stay on.

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8. expect to see my formal complaint

[bertman]

4. They're giving all of our troops big shoulder patches that say in Afghani: Karzai did it.

Not me.

That ought to solve the problem.

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5. hearts and minds