As it was to be expected in an operation as large as Operation Moshtarak which is under way in southern Afghanistan, some deaths have already occurred among the coalition forces. And then, and while the first phase of the operation had been declared a success, the mission was marred by the deaths of 12 civilians in a NATO missile strike. This is bound to make more difficult winning the Afghan villagers to the side of the US and coalition forces. Not that such a thing was to be completely expected. It was more the hopes and wishes of the US military in the design of an offensive that was made for consumption by the US media. Whatever is the outcome it will certainly become a propaganda release one way of the other. While the populations of the countries involved in the fighting are being told that this surge is an important moment in the fight against the insurgents, knowing the Afghan history it is hard not to be a little cynical. It is easy to think that even if were to get the Taliban away from their stronghold in central Helmand now, eventually, once the western forces would leave, they would return. How will the Afghans living in the area cope with that? What will the generals and politicians then tell to the families of all the fallen soldiers? A speech calling them heroes and medals will not help.
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