Interesting discussion. I will add a couple of comments...
I do not see how the leaking of these documents furthers the discussion on fundamental issues:
1) Why are we there?
2) Should we be there?
3) What should we do, once there?
4) How long should we stay?
Fundamentally, whether our soldiers died through Taliban action directly or due to friendly fire is irrelevant - crap happens in war, and in the end they are still dead. How many and how exactly civilians died is also in the end irrelevant. Some civilians always die - the only real issue is whether civilians are intentionally targeted...
The release of these documents does not help any sort of reasonable debate. It's just more fodder for those who are already prejudiced against this enterprise. I'm sorry, FDW, but your comment about Americans being the biggest terrorists around is very revealing...
Now, I happen to agree with you that we should not be there, but not out of any irrational anti-Americanism or "love of all human life". My belief is that we simply cannot win, if by "win" we mean to change Afghanistan into a civilized, democratic, peaceful, modern nation. On a military level, I do not believe that you can defeat these well-armed savages, in that particular terrain, with the geopolitical situation as it is (Pakistani havens), especially not fighting the "Western" way, that is trying to minimize collateral damage and casualties. I even have my doubts that the Chinese could "win" this war, fighting with complete disregard for the lives of soldiers and civilians alike.
I think that 9/11 demanded an American response, but not this war, fought in the wrong manner for the wrong goals...
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