Gates expresses regret for civilian death, airstrike inaccuracy

The Defense Secretary Robert Gates offered the people of Afghanistan his “personal regrets” Wednesday for U.S. airstrikes that have killed civilians and said he would try to improve the accuracy of air warfare, the imperfect fallback for U.S. commanders who say they don’t have enough ground forces for the deepening Afghanistan war.

“As I told them, I offer all Afghans my sincere condolences and personal regrets for the recent loss of innocent life as a result of coalition airstrikes,” Gates said after meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. “While no military has ever done more to prevent civilian casualties, it is clear that we have to work even harder.”

Gates’ unusual apology followed a frank assessment from the top military commander in Afghanistan: There aren’t enough U.S. ground forces in Afghanistan, so the military is relying more heavily on air power. Air power runs a greater risk of civilian deaths in a country where insurgents do not wear uniforms and they intentionally mix with the general population.