civilianity in afghanistan:
Afghan officials said Wednesday that airstrikes called in by American Special Forces against Taliban fighters in Helmand Province had killed 21 civilians, the latest in a series of claims of noncombatant casualties that have strained relations with the Afghan government.
(...) In a sign of the growing anger with the presence of foreign troops, the upper house of the Afghan Parliament passed a motion on Wednesday calling for a military cease-fire and negotiations with the Taliban. The resolution, which is not expected to be approved, also calls for a date to be set for the withdrawal of foreign troops.
(...) “We understand there are reports of civilian casualties but don’t have any confirmed reports,” Sergeant Welch said, adding that an investigation would be started if reports of civilian deaths are confirmed.
(...) NATO has overall command of the international military effort in Afghanistan, including most of the American forces. But all three of the recent episodes involving allegations of civilian casualties have involved American Special Forces units that operate outside the NATO umbrella. They often work in small units and rely heavily on calling in air cover to compensate when they are attacked.