'Airstrikes In Afghanistan Increase 31 Percent', USA Today, 6 November 2008
EXCERPT: "Air missions to back U.S. troops on the ground have increased by 31% in Afghanistan this year, as fighting in the country spreads. The growing reliance on air power raises the risk of injuring civilians and their property and reflects a shortage of ground forces needed to protect civilians and root out insurgents, ground commanders and military experts say. 'If we got more boots on the ground, we would not have to rely as much on' airstrikes, said Army Brig. Gen. Michael Tucker, deputy commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan. Ground commanders in Afghanistan have asked for an additional three combat brigades and an array of support forces, which could amount to about 20,000 more troops. The air missions, called close air support, are airstrikes requested by ground forces engaged with the enemy. Insurgents pounce on reports of civilian casualties, often exaggerating or fictionalizing the number of injured or killed in an effort to turn public opinion against the coalition, officials say."
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See also:
'Airstrikes claim more civilian casualties in Afghanistan', ABC Radio Australia, 6 November 2008
'Rising pressure on Afghanistan policy', The Australian, 6 November 2008
'Stopping civilian casualties in Afghanistan: One out-of-the-box idea', Wired.com, 6 November 2008
'Robot planes to support Polish troops in Afghanistan', The News, 6 November 2008
Related posts:
'2008 Afghanistan's "worst year": Minister', 14 October 2008
'US reopen investigation on civilian casualties', 8 September 2008
'US airstrikes under scrutiny in Afghanistan', 25 July 2008
'Civilian risks cut down on airstrikes', 23 July 2008
'UN official: Afghan civilian deaths up 60 percent', 30 June 2008
