As Ramadan approached, the wheels of the propaganda machine were quick to turn. The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operating in Afghanistan pledged to remain "honourable and respectful" throughout the month. Meanwhile, its US counterpart revealed that it had freed three detainees early in keeping with the spirit of the occasion. Then the bad news arrived. First came reports that foreign and local troops had stormed a house in Kabul, killing a man, his wife and two children. Next, ISAF admitted four children had died in the south-eastern province of Paktika after being hit by its artillery.
The question Afghans are asking is "Why do they do these things?" and, increasingly, there appears to be no obvious answer. Even Hamid Karzai, the country's president, struggles to explain the reasons his allies make so many mistakes that cost innocent lives. This has been an issue from the beginning but now, almost seven years since the war started, it is creating a rift that no longer has time to be repaired.
Although the 2001-invasion is usually touted as a great success, the devastation caused was substantial. One independent survey estimated that about 4,000 civilians were killed in the early stages of the bombing campaign. The US often relied on faulty intelligence in those days, unwittingly carrying out the vendettas of tribal leaders who wanted their rivals eliminated. Rather than commit large numbers of troops, it used massive air power against a country that was already in ruins.
Little has changed since then, and it is this failure to learn from the past that makes Afghans angry. Six years ago, US-forces bombed a wedding party in Uruzgan, leaving scores of innocent people dead. This summer, they repeated the mistake, only in a different province. In both cases most of those killed were said to be women and children. When incidents such as these occur, the response is almost always the same. A denial is quickly issued by Nato or the Americans. Then, having caused an uproar, they accept some responsibility but dispute the death toll.
They also like to compare their own actions with the Taliban's, pointing out the different motives and tactics of the opposing sides. One statement issued by an ISAF spokesman in May had the long-winded title "An asymmetric confrontation in the field of values and ethics". It said: "The unethical behaviour of the insurgents can be seen in the way they conduct their attacks. Hiding behind civilians and intentionally putting them in harm's way shows their intent to blur the lines between the innocent Afghan and the insurgent fighter."
The statement added that ISAF shows "respect of human values" and uses "appropriate force". All of which is of no consequence to the relatives of people who lose their lives because of mistakes or errors of judgement. The Nato and US-led coalitions are meant to be operating on the moral high ground, but each time they shed innocent blood it suggests they are not. Now, when there are claims and counter-claims, the general public will believe the highest death toll. Last month the United Nations found "convincing evidence" that 90 civilians, including 60 children, died after an air strike in Herat province.
That is the number Afghans will remember for generations to come, not the American's rebuttal that between five and seven innocent people were killed. Of just as much importance are the less well-publicised tragedies. On a regular basis cars are shot up in what ISAF calls "escalation of force" incidents. German troops killed two children and a woman in Kunduz province late last month. The "reckless actions of the vehicle driver", who failed to stop at a checkpoint, were blamed.
Each civilian casualty creates new enemies for the foreign soldiers and the Afghan government. Aside from the personal heartbreak of the victims' families, the broader impact must not be underestimated. ISAF and the US-led coalition have both denied any involvement in the Kabul raid that heralded the coming of Ramadan. But it is already too late. Protesters have taken to the streets, and the damage has been done.
@Email:csands@thenational.ae
