WE CONTINUE TO LOSE "HEARTS AND MINDS"

Especially in Afghanistan.

Karzai urges West to review Afghan war strategy
Tue Jan 20, 2009 4:39am EST

By Sayed Salahuddin

KABUL, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Tuesday the killing of civilians by foreign troops was a main source of instability in Afghanistan, and urged the West to review its strategy in fighting the Taliban and delivering aid.

"This persecutes us," Karzai said of the killings. "Our international friends should know that it is a physical and mental obsession," he told the annual opening of parliament.

The speaker of the upper house of parliament, Sibghatullah Mojadidi, warned of further unrest if civilian casualties were not stopped.

"We are fed up ... this is really an important issue and I fear that, God forbid, the Afghan nation will rise up. I have told my American brothers and friends to exercise caution and if the nation does rise, the situation will be worse than Iraq," he told parliament.

Karzai said administrative corruption, the booming drugs trade and attacks by Taliban insurgents were the other main sources of instability.