(Thumbnail image: The Washington Post)
An errant missile killed 12 Afghan civilians in the Taliban-dominant city of Marjah, leaving questions about the effectiveness of "Operation Moshtarak" – a NATO offensive some are calling President Obama's first major test in Afghanistan.
We’re examining perspectives from CNN, FOX News, Xinhua News Agency, MSNBC and Al Jazeera English.
On FOX News, Aaron Miller of the Woodrow Wilson Center says mistakes like this can greatly damage the public’s perception of the operation.
“I think McChrystal and his guys are going to great lengths to avoid this. To literally avoid airstrikes that cause collateral casualties because it will be damning. If our operations are associated with a loss of innocent life, and more to the point, incompetency, we are not going to be viewed as a credible force and Karzai won’t be viewed as credible either.”
But on CNN Newsroom, Senior Political Scientist Arturo Muñoz of the RAND Corporation says that situations like this happen in war. And, he says, people shouldn’t call the NATO offensive a failure just yet.
“It is a public relations setback, but I think we have to keep in mind that the Marines have taken extraordinary measures to avoid civilian casualties because they know full well the propaganda use that the enemy makes of civilian casualties.”
“I think it’s too early to say that because there was this one accident--the strategy hasn’t worked. I think that’s too early.”
But a Xinhua article suggests past NATO offenses in the Helmand Province have failed because of similar attacks on civilians.
“NATO and Afghan forces carried out large offensives in Helmand Province before but failed to secure the central government’s authorities. The reason is simple: people do not support those who killed their families and relatives. 'The Taliban kills, but the troops kill too,' they said.”
On MSNBC, retired U.S. General Barry McCaffrey says that the U.S. Marines will do their best to avoid civilian death, but it’s a dangerous situation for everyone, especially NATO troops.
“It’s a very difficult operation and the Marines are going to make every attempt to minimize civilian casualties, as well as their own I might add. They’re facing hundreds of roadside bombs as well as mines. Very perilous operation for everybody concerned.”
But in an interview with Al Jazeera English, former Afghan Prime minister Amadshah Ahmadozoy says the death of the Afghan people and the presence of NATO forces is pointless. The Taliban and the people of Marjah fighting alongside the Taliban will not give up so easily.
“They will not leave forever, as they did it before, they are natural forces. They are in very big huge number. The Taliban should leave for a while. But in the end, they will return back. It’s not possible that the Marjah people or the Taliban, those who are fighting for Marjah, will leave Marjah for NATO.”
So do you think that the accidental attack will turn the Afghan people away from “Operation Moshtarak,” or is this just a slight setback?
Writer:
Producer:
