Support wanes for Afghan government

(The Afghan government is demanding a lot of changes regarding the targeting of civilians in military operations in the country. how are you responding?) Well the Human Rights Watch report on civilian casualties was careful to examine casualties under American leadership rather than ISAF or NATO forces. But the report stresses that the real responsibility is on the Taliban and other insurgents for the majority of civilian deaths. (But this is undermining support for the Afghan government.) It is a difficult situation for the government, but the people of Afghanistan realize the alternatives are not tempting. We take all the right measures to minimize casualties. (How do multi-national forces decide on air targets?) With ISAF, this process is happening from the ground. So a patrol might be engaged and then find themselves in a position of self-defense, those are the most difficult cases because a decision must be made quickly. They don’t take the responsibility lightly. (If there’s a risk that any civilians would be killed, could higher ups just call off the raid?) Absolutely, and that has happened numerous times. (But that puts the lives of the soldiers on the ground at risk.) Absolutely, and that’s where difficult decisions have to be made.