You’ve no doubt heard the media reports saying that Taliban extremists use human shields. Their tactics are to launch attacks from civilian areas, retreat to civilian areas and then use those civilians as human shields. They want civilians caught up in the fighting, because they think this will undermine support for NATO/ISAF in Afghanistan and in the international community.

Well, we’ve got proof from a real operation on January 13. Although the video isn’t very informative, the audio is.  An ISAF plane, nicknamed COMET, was waved off its mission by the Joint Tactical Air Controller – WINDMILL – to prevent civilian casualties. 

We make every effort to minimise the risk of damage, injury or loss of life to civilians in conducting our operations. Why? Because we value human life. And that’s one way NATO differs from the Taliban extremists. We want Afghanistan to flourish and prosper. NATO is in Afghanistan because the country’s democratically-elected government asked us for our help in securing the country from terrorism, and asked us to help them rebuild infrastructure like schools, drinking wells and roads. So that’s why NATO and ISAF are in Afghanistan. And we cooperate and coordinate closely with non-governmental aid agencies that have the main responsibility for reconstruction and development.

But ISAF’s primary mission is security. And without security, there is no reconstruction and development. And without reconstruction and development, the people of Afghanistan can’t move forward. Which is what we want them to do. But you’ve heard that here before.

Click here to see and hear the video.