As the United States is finding in Afghanistan itself, there is no surer way of angering local people, undermining a friendly government and boosting Taliban recruitment than killing civilians.

• 常在河边走，哪能不湿鞋，美国既已深入腹地，它不仅仅在当地人心中积怨，还削弱了一个友好国家，促进了塔利班的成长，而最劣等的行径就是造成无辜平民的流血牺牲。