With a month of advance notice of the massive NATO invasion, Marjah’s civilian population had ample opportunity to slip away. But while a few thousand families managed to get out of the agricultural region, most stayed, apparently reassured by NATO’s urging to “stay put” through the offensive.
But those who didn’t flee are paying a growing price, as the fighting lasts longer than anyone expected and food and medicine supplies run out. For many Marjah civilians, over a week of fighting has meant staying indoors, unable to forage for food or work their farms.
NATO went into the operation with an eye toward making it a public relations coup in the Western world, where the war is met with growing scrutiny. A quick victory was expected, and a “liberated” civilian populace left untouched by the massive operation was key to the narrative.
After over eight years, however, NATO’s operations have seldom gone to plan, and shortly after the invasion began troops hit a house full of women and children, killing 12. In the long run, however, as the Taliban continue to hold out in pockets across the region, the civilian toll could be far greater, and the NATO admonishment to “stay put” will no doubt loom large for civilians starving in what was once the pride of Afghanistan’s farming industry.
What does it matter if a few thousand innocent Afghan civilians die?
It does not matter in the least as long as Gen.McChrystal boosts a few more medals on his chest and dreals of one day being President of the USA.
Genghis Khan was a Lamb compared to the bloodlust of the current American Administration. But at least Genghis Khan rode at the head of his troops and shared the dangers of the men he led – unlike McChrystal, Obama et al who are comfortable in plush surroundings and just order the "killings" far from danger to themselves.
This is like calming an ant hill by poking small sticks in the hole.
"We made the country a wasteland and we called it peace" – Tacitus
"There has never been an instance of a country having benefitted by prolonged warfare" – Sun Tsu
"We won't ever have to attack the United States. One day they will fall like a rotten plum from a tree" – Nikita Krueschev
And NOW the U.S. is about as 'rotten' at the top of our Government and Military as 'rotten' gets – rotten to the core in ALL areas of our society!
One day someone will remark: "America didn't fall because its armies became weak; America fell because its citizens forgot what it was like to be Americans" – and they became a nation of war criminals!