Comments on: U.S. can’t win hearts and minds of Afghans while killing civilians http://www.larryjohnsononline.com/2009/10/02/killing-afghan-civilians-loses-hearts-and-minds/ News and opinion on national and international affairs by Larry Johnson Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:26:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Jack Smith http://www.larryjohnsononline.com/2009/10/02/killing-afghan-civilians-loses-hearts-and-minds/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Jack Smith Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:23:20 +0000 http://www.larryjohnsononline.com/?p=167#comment-25 Not only will killing Afghan Civilians prevent Obama from winning hearts and minds in the rest of the world, his continued effort to pursue this horrid war, and kill our children/soldiers too, is costing him his former allies in Seattle, many of whom will march against this war, now clearly the Obama Administration war, on Oct 17. I remember when Bush ignored us marchers. One cannot help but wonder if the Obama Administration will offer any more respect to American civilians marching against his efforts. Peace, Not only will killing Afghan Civilians prevent Obama from winning hearts and minds in the rest of the world, his continued effort to pursue this horrid war, and kill our children/soldiers too, is costing him his former allies in Seattle, many of whom will march against this war, now clearly the Obama Administration war, on Oct 17. I remember when Bush ignored us marchers. One cannot help but wonder if the Obama Administration will offer any more respect to American civilians marching against his efforts.
Peace,

]]> By: Rich Littleton http://www.larryjohnsononline.com/2009/10/02/killing-afghan-civilians-loses-hearts-and-minds/comment-page-1/#comment-24 Rich Littleton Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:22:17 +0000 http://www.larryjohnsononline.com/?p=167#comment-24 Larry Johnson has been doing a good job of keeping an eye on the Middle East and now Afghanistan. We need more reporters like him who look at facts, not political spin. Mr. Johnson is completely correct to point to the (1) tragic and (2) counterproductive result of civilian deaths. McCrystal did promise to avoid civilian casualties, even to the point of not firing if civilians might be in danger. However, that promise has not been fulfilled. I do worry, however, that simply shifting the theater of action to the mountainlous regions will not avoid civilian casualties as long as the U.S. uses aerial drones to kill people. Also, civilians live in the mountainous regions, as well as combatants. Perhaps it is time to simply stop the war in Afghanistan. Larry Johnson has been doing a good job of keeping an eye on the Middle East and now Afghanistan. We need more reporters like him who look at facts, not political spin.

Mr. Johnson is completely correct to point to the (1) tragic and (2) counterproductive result of civilian deaths. McCrystal did promise to avoid civilian casualties, even to the point of not firing if civilians might be in danger. However, that promise has not been fulfilled.

I do worry, however, that simply shifting the theater of action to the mountainlous regions will not avoid civilian casualties as long as the U.S. uses aerial drones to kill people. Also, civilians live in the mountainous regions, as well as combatants. Perhaps it is time to simply stop the war in Afghanistan.

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