Report: Special ops raids halted last month

Report: Special ops raids halted last month
Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Most American special operations raids in Afghanistan were halted for two weeks in February because of concerns over civilian casualties, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

Citing unnamed military officials, the Times reported that the temporary halt was ordered by U.S. commanders after a series of nighttime raids killed women and children — adding to mounting criticism from the Afghan government and public.

The order included all commando missions except those "against the highest-ranking leaders of the Taliban and al Qaeda," the Times reported.

The decision was an indication "of just how worried military officials are that the fallout from civilian casualties is putting in peril the overall American mission in Afghanistan, including an effort to drain the Taliban of popular support," the Times said.

Civilian casualties in Afghanistan have risen by nearly 40 percent compared to 2007, though recent reports by international organizations — including the United Nations — say most of those casualties are now caused by Taliban attacks.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61251