How can they tell the difference?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/06/af ghanistan-bomb-tractor-wedding-taliban

I think we can safely say that this tragic event and the separate killing of 5 Afghan policemen (also by a road side bomb), was the work of the Taliban.

But having said that, local police said an air strike killed five farmers loading cucumbers late at night, into a taxi in southern Afghanistan, but a US spokeswoman said the five were militants placing explosives in a van.

The US last month imposed rules attempting to limit civilian casualties in response to growing resentment at the deaths of ordinary Afghans.

The question must be asked, how do they limit civilian casualties when the civilians do not look any different to the Taliban?

[The Sherman]

Also AOG did you see that we might have killed one of the Taliban leaders today? Great news unfortunately followed by the deaths of 3 para's so the good news there lasted what, half an hour?

I do want us to win over there but i really dont see how we can without inspiring the locals to really stand up and be counted.
But as it was the americans that supplied the taliban with weapons and they prob don't trust us with our missiles always going off and killing civilians I can't see how we can hope to win them over.
I really think we have to ask them what they want! I know that sound silly but if they ask for something and we deliver....well thats the start of trust and thats something we can build on.

[Oneeyedvic]

One of the ways that the British Army was considered the best was because we won 'hearts and minds'. This involves going in and improving the lives of the majority of people with nothing being gained by ourselves. Opening hospitals, schools etc etc.

Carpet bombing any potential threat will only alienate the civilian population.

[Lonnie]

Oneeyedvic has given the best answer,