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Date :
2009/06/03 |
Type : Military
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US 'must Reduce Afghan Deaths'
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The US president's nominee to take over command of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan has pledged to reduce Afghan casualties as the US steps up its war against Taliban fighters in the country.
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Lieutenant-General Stanley McChrystal told the senate armed services committee on Tuesday that the US had to lessen civilian deaths in order to maintain "credibility".
"Our willingness to operate in ways that minimize casualties or damage - even when doing so makes our task more difficult - is essential to our credibility," he said.
McChrystal said he believed the war to be "winnable" but that an increase in casualties was to be expected, and said that such a victory would require a well resourced "classic counterinsurgency strategy".
Al Jazeera's Cath Turner in Washington DC says the main difference between McChrystal and his predecessor is his effort to outline from the start his aim to support the Afghan civilian population.
The objective is to win the civilians over and assuage their anger over casualties inflicted by US raids.
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