Winning hearts and minds, not

Somehow, I have a feeling that there is a fundamental disconnect between Afghans and most Americans on this one.

Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, has launched an investigation after claims that scores of civilians were killed in US-led air raids in the south of the country.

Local officials said on Sunday that the bodies of 45 civilians and 62 Taliban fighters had been found in villages in Helmand province.

I'm sure that most Afghans (perhaps all Afghans) would say that even one innocent death is not worth risking to kill a few Taliban, and certainly not 45.

I fear most Americans would say, "gee, that's great. We got more of the bad guys than the good. And, anyway, they're all foreigners so who cares?"

However, whatever most Americans would say, this does not help us win the hearts and minds of the Afghans.