Afghans Say Times Fixer Killed On Purpose

For Afghans, the good news of last week’s daring rescue of New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell by British commandos was overshadowed by the fact that his translator, Sultan Munadi, was killed in the operation.

Yesterday,  an Afghan journalism association held a press conference at the Central Hotel in Kabul to vent some of the frustration they feel at coalition forces over the death of their colleague. Munadi’s father and youngest son were there and the older Munadi piled scorn on the coalition.

“Coalition forces never respect the Afghan people,” Munadi’s father said, according to my translator. “They behave like animals. They deliberately killed my son. I ask the assembled Afghan media to stand up and show strength against the government and foreign forces. Ask them why they behave in this way. don’t be afraid. I am not afraid. I will retaliate. I will avenge my son’s death and the Afghan people must avenge his death.”

The view that Munadi was somehow purposely targeted, or at least that the commandos weren’t also sent to rescue him, was prevalent at the meeting. The question, “Why did they kill this man?” was asked over and over again.

The level of distrust and anger was through the roof. Every large and small Afghan media organization was represented and all of their questions or statements pointed to what they view as a reckless disregard for Afghan lives by NATO forces.

The fact that a British soldier also died in the rescue attempt was not mentioned.

Personally, I think that Munadi’s death was likely a tragic mistake. In Farrell’s account of the raid, he says that Munadi–wearing local dress–ran into the open, past a wall that had been providing cover for both men. He was shot almost immediately.

But what I think doesn’t matter one bit.

It is easy for Afghans to conclude that Munadi was killed on purpose, because many don’t think that the coalition cares about Afghan lives. This is a major problem for US forces here.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal made avoiding civilian deaths a top priority as soon as he took over, but Afghan civilians are still dying at an unacceptable rate. Humanitarian and moral reasoning aside, each of these deaths is a strategic failure for the coalition.

You cannot win hearts and minds when you are killing hearts and minds.