Nederland en Afghanistan 105

In het kader van de Nederlandse militaire wederopbouw van Afghanistan wordt het land zwaar gebombardeerd.

De New York Times bericht:

'U.S. ENGAGED IN MASSIVE BOMBING OF AFGHANISTAN.

[The "growing demand for American air cover' presumably doesn't from
those being killed or injured by it]

DAVID S. CLOUD, NY TIMES - The Air Force has conducted more than 2,000
air strikes in Afghanistan over the past six months, a sharp increase in
bombing that reflects the growing demand for American air cover since
NATO has assumed a larger ground combat role, Air Force officials said.
. .

To carry out the heavier mission load, the Air Force’s entire complement
of B-1 bombers was shifted over the summer from the British air base at
Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to a Middle Eastern airfield closer to
Afghanistan. . .

The 2,095 attacks by American aircraft since June is many times greater
than the number of air strikes in Iraq, where the terrain and nature of
the conflict are less susceptible to bombing campaigns. There have been
only 88 attacks by American aircraft in Iraq since June, according to
Air Force figures. Unlike in Afghanistan, insurgents in Iraq are largely
in urban areas and do not often mass in groups large enough to warrant
use of airstrikes, Air Force commanders said. . .

This year in Afghanistan, American aircraft have dropped 987 bombs and
fired more than 146,000 cannon rounds and bullets in strafing runs, more
than was expended in both categories from the beginning of the
American-led invasion in 2001 through 2004, the Air Force said. During
those years, a total of 848 bombs and just over 119,000 bullets were
used by aircraft, according to Air Force figures.

Zie: http://select.nytimes.com/gst/

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