US-led troops kill 25 suspected Taliban

Afghan children

When reading the following my first thought was: how many civilians were bombed?

US-led coalition and Afghan security forces aided by airstrikes killed about 25 militants during raids on a Taliban command centre in southern Afghanistan, the coalition said today.

The joint force raided two compounds south-west of Kandahar city late last night after weeks of observing the area, it said.

“Local residents had been seen leaving the area for the last few weeks and intelligence has suggested that insurgent commanders were attempting to re-establish their control in the area,” it said in a statement.

The clashes, in which the troops also called in airstrikes, left 25 suspected militants dead, the coalition said. No coalition or Afghan soldiers were injured, it said.

Well, what do ya know? The story doesn't say and its probably because the military didn't report civilian deaths.

Perchance you've noticed I often focus on the civilians. That's because I'm one, but not living in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran. Civilian deaths is one of the main reasons I fucking hate armed conflicts and wars.

Civilians are innocent women, children, grandmothers, grandfathers, the infirm, mentally ill. In other words armed conflicts and wars kill so many who aren't fighting.

Which leads me to a subject I've avoided posting about. It may be those civilians are supporting or hiding the insurgents. Truth is, I would too. My guess is you would too. These insurgents are nasty and you don't wanna get on their bad side.

End of soapbox session.

Via BreakingNews.ie.