Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Protecting Civilians Delays Afghan Offensive - WSJ.com

Protecting Civilians Delays Afghan Offensive - WSJ.com: "MARJAH, Afghanistan—As Capt. Anthony Zinni monitored a live video feed from a Predator drone circling overhead, he spotted four men planting a booby trap in the middle of the road here.

For Capt. Zinni, one of the officers responsible for approving airstrikes in the nine-day-old battle for Marjah, it seemed like an easy call: The men were digging a hole alongside a road where a Marine supply convoy was scheduled to pass within hours. But just as he was about to give the order to strike, Capt. Zinni spotted even-smaller white figures on the video running along the path south of the canal.

Children. Maybe 50 feet from the men planting the booby trap. 'It's not a good shot,' Capt. Zinni said, ordering the Predator drone to delay the strike. 'It's not a good shot.'"

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