Research Notes

1. Number of Civilians Killed: The United Nations, International Red Cross, and other nongovernment agencies confirmed that more than 2,000 Afghan civilians were killed in one year
during this conflict. That number is lower than the civilians killed each year of the Iraq war. The
United Nations and other independent agencies reported that the Taliban and other insurgents
caused most (about 3/4s) of the civilian deaths in Afghanistan, primarily through suicide bombers
and roadside bombs.
2. Reactions to Civilian Deaths: Some experts contend that the anger over civilian deaths could
undermine NATO and U.S. efforts to build the trust of Afghan citizens--an essential part of
NATOs counterinsurgency strategy. Some polls indicate that many Afghanis support a U.S. and
NATO military presence in their country. In one survey, for instance, a majority acknowledged
the need for foreign aid, given the countrys violent past, drug issues, tribal differences, foreign
support of insurgents, and government corruption. However, strong protests occur in reaction to
civilian casualties.
3. NATO Policies and Procedures Civilian Casualties: NATO Commanders implemented rules
to reduce civilian deaths by limiting night raids and airstrikes. Even so, casualties still occur, such
as the deaths of 23 people in a bus bombing, and the death of the brother-in-law of an Afghan
parliamentary member during a night raid. NATO Commanders also implemented new
procedures when civilian casualties occur, including more rapid investigations, and prompt
explanations and apologies when needed. Before these policies were implemented in 2010, the
Taliban capitalized on the Western militarys poor communication by claiming the U.S. and its
allies were responsible for all the casualties (its estimated that U.S. and NATO troops were
responsible for about one quarter of the deaths).
4. Will Withdrawal Reduce Civilian Casualties? Because insurgents intermingle with Afghan
civilians, casualties are likely to occur, no matter how effective the military policy is. One option
would be a U.S. and NATO withdrawal. But, some experts contend that if those troops withdraw
before the Afghan National Army and Police Force are fully staffed and trained to handle the
countrys security needs, the Taliban and other Islamic extremists could use violence to battle for
power, including deadly attacks to control areas currently held by the government.

Adapted from:
Tony Capaccio and Edward DeMarco, Petraeus Confirmed as Afghan War Commander by Senate,
Business Week (June 30, 2010) (Retrieved at: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-30/petraeusconfirmed-as-afghan-war-commander-by-senate.html); Julius Cavendish, Afghanistan War, Christian
Science Monitor (February 23, 2010) (Retrieved at: www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-SouthCentral/2010/0223/Afghanistan-wary-As-civilian-deaths-rise-NATO-says-Sorry; Dexter Filkins, Afghan
Civilian Deaths Rose 40% in 2008, New York Times, (February 18, 2009) (Retrieved at
www.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/world/asia/19afghan.html?_r=2); Carlotta Gall and Taimoor Shah, Civilian
Deaths Imperil Support for Afghan War, New York Times (May 6, 2009) (Retrieved at
www.nytimes.com/2009/05/07/world/asia/07afghan.html); Fred Kaplan, Confessions of an Uncertain
Columnist, Slate Magazine (November 30, 2009) (Retrieved at www.slate.com/id/2236148/pagenum/all/);
Michael O'Hanlon and Hassina Sherjan, Five Myths About the War in Afghanistan, Washington Post
(March 14, 2010) (Retrieved at www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2010/03/11/AR2010031103394.html); Steve Rendall, In Afghan Debate, Few Antiwar
Op-Eds, FAIR (December 2009) (retrieved at www.fair.org/index.php?page=21&extra_issue_id=246);
Habib Zahori and Matthew Rosenberg, Afghan Death Sparks Protest, The Wall Street Journal (April 30,
2010) A12; Bombs and Baksheesh, The Economist (January 21, 2010) (retrieved at:

www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15331099); Should the West Be Fighting in

Afghanistan? Pros and Cons, The First Post (February 25, 2009)
(Retrieved at www.thefirstpost.co.uk/46600,news-comment,news-politics,pros-and-cons-western-militaryintervention-in-afghanistan).