Last Monday, 4 May, 2009, US forces responding to Afghan army calls for assistance in fighting Taliban in western Farah province allegedly killed over 100 Afghan civilians including women and children. The deaths, it is said, were caused by US airstrikes on the village. The US has countered the allegations saying that many, or at least some, of the civilian casualties were the direct result of Taliban fighters’ actions. The US has acknowledged using aircraft to strike the area in support of Afghan Army operations, but claims there is evidence that the insurgents are responsible.

The original allegations by Afghan government and civilians, as well as international aid organizations can be found here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/08/karzai-says-us-airstrikes_n_200789.html

The US counter allegation is found here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/11/AR2009051101937.html was available there. Link no longer works, but the article is from the Washington Post dated 11 May 2009

There are reasons for finding for both sides. The US has proven itself in Afghanistan, as in Iraq, of being culturally insensitive and less than careful in avoiding collateral damage. At the same time, there are many in Afghanistan who are eager to see the US restrained in military operations for myriad reasons. Afghan President Karzai may be genuinely concerned over the appearance of American overkill, or he might be simply trying to catch the current general civilian resistance to the American military presence. President Karzai may also be “wagging the dog” to divert attention from the obvious corruption of his administration. Under President Karzai’s regime, poppy cultivation for the opium trade has mushroomed, inviting all manner of strange fellow s into the administrative bed. It seems, according to various reports, that the only drug dealers not being targeted for arrest are those who run large enough volumes to pay their way out. Even the Taliban, long a foe of poppy cultivation and the drug trade in general, has found a way to forgive its practice, so long as they get a “tax”. As has also happened in Iraq, billions of dollars intended for necessary infrastructure repair and improvement have been diverted to friends of the administration. President Karzai’s brother has been implicated in much of this and has allegedly threatened reporters over their coverage of these issues.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/67823.html

With all of this in mind, one realizes that focusing media attention on US airstrike mishaps is good political maneuvering on Karzai’s part. Six months ago, most of the press focused on his administration’s failures to improve conditions for the average Afghan while his friends and family grew rich.

The latest reports out of Afghanistan indicate that insurgents have been using civilians as hostages and human shields, and that white phosphorous may have been used. These reports also tell of injuries more representative of having been inflicted by grenades or exploding propane tanks, rather than aerial bombs. All of this supports the American defense of insurgent, rather than US, culpability. US forces do not regularly use aerial white phosphorous bombs; white phosphorous is usually delivered via artillery fire in the American military. White phosphorous is also normally used by the US military in the prescribed manner- for illumination or to create a smoke marker, usually clear of human activity. About the only questionable regular use of white phosphorous occurs in the clearing out of tunnel installations. White phosphorous comes in two common packages in US inventory. These packages are artillery projectiles and hand grenades. The Taliban and other insurgents have access to both from looted supply convoys and black market dealings as well as battlefield salvage.

Regarding injuries attributed to either grenades or exploding propane tanks; which is it? While the injuries might be similar, the shrapnel produced isn’t quite as much so. The steel used in the casings is different, and grenades do not contain concrete as do most smaller upright propane tanks. In either event, analysis of the shrapnel will prove the case for either side. Whether these injuries are insurgent-caused will be more difficult to prove, although substantial findings of grenade induced casualties where the US used no grenades would be a strong indicator of insurgent duplicity.

This isn’t the first case of civilians being injured or killed in US airstrikes and other military activity, and it probably isn’t the first case of insurgents capitalizing on the unrest over collateral damage caused by American and/or UN forces. It just happens to be the largest thus far. Regardless, these events indicate that the US needs to make some changes in how it conducts airstrikes. In aerial operations, the US should show a greater level of discretion generally, so that the Afghan people don’t feel that they are being targeted indiscriminately. This will help with the most important aspect of counter-insurgency operations: local perception. Also, the US should henceforth endeavor to make video records of these operations. Although this would make such operations more expensive, the additional cost wouldn’t be prohibitive and the necessary records will have, hopefully, a positive impact on public relations, both in theater and externally.

A more complete story can be found here: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghan-deaths17-2009may17,0,4108227.story

If the villagers' version of events is accurate, and there is little reason to believe otherwise, then the only way the Taliban could have had much to do is also the only explanation for white phosphorous injuries: the Taliban would have needed to have left behind booby-trapped white phosphorous grenades and/or shells which were tripped or detonated by American bombs. There is room to believe that Taliban threats of retribution may well have contributed to the villagers accusations against the US. This is an issue on which all should reserve judgment lacking more detailed information.