Cutting civilian casualties key in Afghanistan, McChrystal says

By Mike Mount
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Barack Obama's nominee to command U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan said Tuesday that to be successful, an aggressive counterinsurgency campaign must minimize civilian casualties and collateral damage.

Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the mission requires more Afghan security forces, as well as a new focus on counterinsurgency to both decrease violence and build support for the allied mission among the Afghan population.

"From limited but necessary airstrikes to small unit search and detention operations, if confirmed, I would emphasize that how we conduct operations is vital to success," McChrystal said, touching on a subject that has become a flashpoint in Afghanistan.

U.S. air strikes against Taliban forces have also killed numerous civilians, angering Afghans and Afghan President Hamid Karzai and straining the relationship between the two countries.

In all cases, "a willingness to operate in ways minimizing causalities or damage ... is critical," McChrystal said. "Although I expect stiff fighting ahead, the measure of success will not be enemy killed. It will be shielding the Afghan population from violence."