According to a new study published Thursday, Afghan civilians increasingly are "angry and resentful'' at U.S. and allied military forces, blaming them for "civilian casualties, night raids, wrongful or abusive detentions [and] deteriorating security.''The study, based on interviews and focus group sessions with more than 250 Afghans, conveys bad news for Gen. David Petraeus, the top commander in Afghanistan and architect of the U.S. counterinsurgency strategy, and for President Obama. Together, they are gambling that the additional troops will be able to protect Afghan civilians from the Taliban and win their confidence.
The opposite seems to be happening, according to the study by the Open Society Foundations, a network of non-governmental organizations funded by philanthropist George Soros.
"Despite the outpourings of billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of troops over the last eight years, many Afghans are angry and resentful at the international presence in Afghanistan,'' the report said. "The perceived impunity of international forces have generated negative stereotypes of international forces as violent, abusive, and sometimes, deliberately malevolent in their conduct and nature.'' Pdf Report Here.
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