Reuters reports that Afghanistan’s army is preparing “elite soldiers” to adopt one of the most unpopular tactics of the US occupation forces: the night raid. The troops are training to launch the same nighttime searches of homes, in which many civilians were killed.
“Be ready to attack! You attack the enemy and don’t give them a chance to raise their heads to fight you,” the commander shouts over the sound of automatic gunfire. This appears to be materially the same strategy as the US forces, which has led to massive civilian tolls as raiding forces shoot first and ask questions later — if ever.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has repeatedly demanded that the US halt all night raids, saying that Afghan civilians no longer felt secure in their homes. The creation of new Afghan raiders was being presented as a “compromise” for continuing the raids beyond 2014 while allowing US troops to stay.
But the US has insisted it will continue its own night raids, with the Karzai government’s own added to the mix. Afghanistan’s civilians have little reason to celebrate this hat-tip to “sovereignty.”
How wonderful that we've exported our culture of SWAT team style raids on people's homes. I guess thats what they meant by "bringing democracy."
mission accomplished, we have brought Afghanistan a "modern government"
Training 'em to be terrorists.
The night raids are the only positive tactic in Afghanistan.
They've attritted the Taliban down to 400 insurgents country-wide and 6 herds of militarized goats.
This sounds very much like the feared "Nacht und Nebel" (NIght and Fog) raids by Nazi thugs during WW2 on civilians suspected of aiding the resistance.
After all, the Afghans haven't learned from the best for nothing. I wonder if the US will allow them use of the facilities at Gitmo too.