U.N. Official Calls for Review of American Raids

U.N. Official Calls for Review of American Raids
By Adam B. Ellick | New York Times | Submitted by Michael Munk | www.MichaelMunk.com | H/T Cord MacGuire

In unusually firm remarks, the chief of the United Nations mission in Afghanistan said there was an “urgent need to review” the Special Operations forces here.

The official, Kai Eide, called the political costs of civilian casualties from special operations raids “disproportionate to the military gains,” and said the Special Operations forces needed to become “more Afghanized.”

His comments, made in a video conference call from Kabul with NATO ministers in Brussels on Friday and released on Saturday, were the latest sign of just how worried some United Nations and military officials are that the fallout from civilian casualties is jeopardizing the American-led mission in Afghanistan.

Special Operations forces, which conduct raids against high-level insurgent targets, have been criticized for relying heavily on airstrikes when they come under fire from militants during raids and house searches in villages.

An aide to Mr. Eide said that his call to have the forces “Afghanized” means having Afghans conduct the raids. Read more.