3/22 Afghanistan news

Suicide bombers in Afghanistan killed 4 Canadian troops and injured 8 in the province of Khandihar. Canada has about 2500 troops based in South Africa, aimed at fighting the Taliban. The death total of Canadian troops in Afghanistan is now 116. These attacks were followed by a particularly violent day, in which U.S. and Afghan troops killed 33 militants had opened fire upon them.
Canada’s mandate to end the war is 2011. We rarely remember that other countries are fighting the war in Afghanistan. American citizens think that this is “our” war, and we hear of having allies, but few rarely realize that citizens of other countries are dying in Afghanistan as well. Although Canadian troops will probably leave Afghanistan soon, the US plans to increase its troop numbers, and may ask for more assistance in the future if things get worse.


A new UN report says that civilian deaths in Afghanistan have risen nearly 40% since last year. The civilian deal tool in 2008 was 2,118, while in 2007 it was 1,523. The study found that most of the deaths were a result of insurgent violence, including suicide bombers, not by United States and its allied troops. However, Afghan forces and troops of the American-led coalition did kill 828 civilians, which is much higher than last year. There have been many episodes, in particular- airstrikes, in which civilians are killed by the US without intention. Suicide bombers, though, kill many more civilians because they look for the most popular areas people are in to try to kill as many as possible.
This not only looks bad for the US, but ultimately effects the citizens of Afghanistan. From day to day, their lives are consumed by fear. The UN’s survey also noted that 640 schools has closed down, depriving 230,000 children of an education because of the risk of suicide bombers. This rise is civilian deaths will look horrible upon the US- the war is already unpopular, and civilian deaths are one of the worst part of war. This UN study is very important to Obama in his decisions for future actions in Afghanistan.


A top UN envoy recently told Obama he should start talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Obama has said he was interested in reaching out to the “moderate elements” of the Taliban. Some people, though, say you need to include all members of the Taliban for an effective result. Therefore, president Obama’s negotiations with just some of the Taliban would not work. The UN special Envoy to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, says Obama needs to be ambitious and address the entire Taliban movement. Eide also said he has had some contact with the Taliban- and that they had responded positively to some “humanitarian requests”. Obama , though, has said he will be sending 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan to help fight the Taliban.
While adding troops may help stabilize Afghanistan, I think Obama needs to take Eide’s advice and start talking with the Taliban to work things out. The violence will not stop until more negotiations are made, and if Obama only addresses one sect of the Taliban, the other members may become even more radical. It will be interesting to see what Obama does in the future as far as talking to the terrorists and insurgents.