When the record 2009 civilian death toll began to emerge, NATO was quick to brag that they had actually killed fewer civilians than the Taliban. This appears to be the case still, though UN reports suggested the difference wasn’t nearly as dramatic as NATO initially claimed. There is one thing the Taliban can’t compete with NATO on, however, and that’s the killing of children.
According to a report released today by the United Nations, some 346 Afghan children were killed in the fighting in 2009, around 15 percent of the overall civilian toll. A significant majority of these children were killed by NATO.
The report broke down 131 children killed in NATO air strikes alone, 22 others killed in nighttime raids, and several others killed in other incidents. The Taliban were responsible for 128 total childrens’ deaths, seven of them as suicide bombers.
The numbers provide a stark reminder of the enormous NATO toll inflicted on children, particularly when one considers that the Taliban deliberately attacked numerous schools and still didn’t manage to kill as many.
It also adds additional questions to the validity of the previous “civilian death” totals. When the Taliban kills adults, they are assumed to be civilians, yet when NATO forces have killed adults there is a burden of proof on local officials to establish that they weren’t militants, and in many cases they are written off as “suspects.” As NATO killed more children, if they really killed fewer civilians overall that would mean they are disproportionately endangering children in their operations, compared to the insurgency’s.
taht your right but how maney civilens were human sheilds in this war remember these people have no regard for humam life .they just dont care about life as we no it all they no is war for 1000 of years
Gee, I wonder where all of the child protective agencies in America and Europe at when you need them? Shouldn't they be arresting NATO military officers for child abuse? And while we're on the subject of child abuse, shouldn't TSA officials be arrested for child pornography since they take pictures of naked children at America's airports with their full-body scanning devices? Just asking.
No "comment" is needed. The facts speak for themselves. The United States and its lapdogs are evil incarnated. This is what evil does – kill the innocent. I have nothing but contempt for this government and its military. How long oh Lord, how long until you fulfill Your promise to bring them to their knees.
Be patient my friend. God is not mocked. Justice will be done.
I hope that the new ROE and how serious McChrystal is taking civilian lives, will change these numbers dramatically. Also, with a defeated Taliban, the overall numbers should drop considerably.