On 15 November, Afghan president Hamid Karzai demanded that NATO stop carrying out night raids on Afghan homes as a condition for a long-term US military presence.
As the following list of headlines makes clear, Karzai is powerless to control the occupation.
“Karzai: Stop the Air Strikes”, CBS News, 28 October 2007
“Afghan official says US-led air raid kills 22 civilians”, Reuters, 4 July 2008
“Afghanistan demands end to Nato air strikes on villagers”, Guardian, 26 August 2008
“US air power triples deaths of Afghan civilians, says report”, Guardian, 8 September 2008
“Karzai urges US to stop strikes”, BBC, 8 May 2009
“Victims’ families tell their stories following NATO airstrike in Afghanistan. ‘I took some flesh home and called it my son’’’, Guardian, 12 September 2009
“Karzai: US Should Reduce Intensity, Stop Night Raids In Afghan War”, Associated Press, 14 November 2010
“Cousin of Afghan President Is Killed in NATO Raid”, New York Times, 10 March 2011