NATO Official: Night Raids to Continue

[unhappycamper]

NATO Official: Night Raids to Continue
Dec 6, 2010, 10:44 GMT

Kabul - A NATO spokesman said Monday the alliance would continue night operations in the fight against Taliban insurgents, despite strong objections from Afghans including President Hamid Karzai.

NATO spokesman General Josef Blotz said the night operations - conducted chiefly by special forces - were part of a wide range of tactics used by allied forces against the Taliban militants.

'In this concept night operations still have significance. They are still necessary,' Blotz told a press conference. 'In 80 per cent of all the night operations, there is not a single shot fired and since we look at the comprehensive strategy, we must not get distracted by focusing too much on night operations.'

Such raids by US Special Operations troops have increased sharply to about 200 a month, a five fold rise since 2009. In the past three months, the troops have reportedly killed or captured 368 insurgent leaders.

But night raids have also become a major area of contention between international forces and Karzai, who has long been publicly critical of the amount of civilian casualties.

[hobbit709]

1. 368 insurgent leaders?

Why do I think of the Number Two Al Qaeda guys in Iraq.