14 civilians killed in two NATO airstrikes, Afghan officials say [View all]

[The Northerner]

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Two NATO airstrikes, one in the north of Afghanistan and one in the south, killed 14 civilians, including a mother and five children, Afghan officials said on Monday.

Word of the latest civilian fatalities came at a sensitive time, just two weeks before a major NATO summit in Chicago. At the gathering, the allies are expected to affirm plans to pull most combat troops out of Afghanistan, while pledging to continue training Afghan forces and providing long-term development aid.

In the past, President Hamid Karzai has strongly denounced the Western military over civilian deaths, although the United Nations and other observers say the bulk of such fatalities are caused by the Taliban.

The most recent deaths were reported in Badghis province, in the country's northwest. Officials said an airstrike on Sunday targeted a group of Taliban fighters, killing three of them -- but also eight civilians.

Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/05/afghanistan-14-civilians-killed-airstrikes.html


So, more Afghan civilians continue to be slaughtered again and again and yet the onslaught seems to continue without any remorse.

Why?