Posted in Afghanistan, Air Strike, Central Asia, Civilian Casualties, Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Government, Gunfire, Military, NATO/Allies, NGOs, Police, Property Damage, Study, Targeted Death, Terrorists, United Nations, United States, tagged Afghanistan, airstrikes, Al Qaeda, Central Asia, Civilian Casualties, civilian deaths, Diplomacy, explosive device, Government, Gunfire, innocent civilians, innocent victims, intelligence, Military, Nato, NGOs, night raids, Oxfam International, Police, Property Damage, RAND, terrorism, United Nations, war victims on April 8, 2009|
By The Huffington Post
Last night, on a cool clear night lit by floodlights, a Boeing 747 touched down in Dover, Delaware. In a solemn 20-minute-long ceremony, a team wearing white gloves and camouflage fatigues carried a flag-draped casket off the plane. The casket carried the remains of Staff Sgt Phillip Myers, who was killed when an improvised explosive device exploded in Helmand province. This ceremony, with its media witnesses, ended an 18-year ban on covering the return of fallen U.S. service members.
President Obama is to be commended for ending the ban and for increasing the emphasis on diplomatic and civilian approaches to the war in Afghanistan. But wielding the American military is so expensive and complex it remains to be seen how much of a shift from the status quo Obama can accomplish.
(more…)
Read Full Post »