Astan ROEs: One Year Retrospective on Civilian Casualties

[roo_ster]

Net reduction: 8.6%

I'm not really surprised that the vacuum was filled by the enemy.  He is no longer as worried about survival and can concentrate more of his efforts on tasks other than survival.


http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htwin/articles/20100622.aspx

After a year of concentrated effort, NATO forces in Afghanistan have reduced civilian casualties, caused by foreign troops, 44.4 percent. There were 7.8 percent fewer battles even involving civilians, and 52 percent fewer civilians hurt by foreign troops. The most striking reduction (82 percent) was in civilian casualties from air strikes. All this is calculated by comparing the last three months with the same period from last year. All this despite nearly twice as many foreign troops in action, and much more combat. Meanwhile, civilian losses from Taliban action are up 36 percent.

[Scout26]

One of the interesting takeaways from Victor Davis Hanson's book The Soul of Battle: From Ancient Times to the Present Day, How Three Great Liberators Vanquished Tyranny was not that the Greeks, South, and Germans were upset with (us, 2 out of 3 times) killing them, but with taking and breaking their stuff.  I found that interesting.

Sherman is absolutely hated and despised in the South, but Grant killed far more (2-3x) southern boys then Sherman did in his little jaunt accross Georgia and the Carolinas.  In fact, there were substanially fewer casualties (on both sides) then in normal battles.

While the Libs get all bent out shape about collateral damage (Trust me, I'm not for it, and am glad that we go way out of our way to prevent it.), it's really the taking and breaking that's far more damaging to our side, then the spilling and killing.

[roo_ster]

Read that book.  I was always impressed by Sherman and VDH helped me to understand why the man was impressive.

I'd take VDH & Robert Kagan in a tag-team match vs any other two living historians.

[Scout26]

I'd take VDH & Robert Kagan in a tag-team match vs any other two living historians.

I'd low-crawl over broken glass to see either of them speak.