We have our doubts. It is indisputably true that a lot of Afghan civilians are being killed by NATO troops and American Marines. And what is also true is that every time an Afghan civilian is killed (even by the Taliban), Americans in particular are blamed - which makes pacification harder. Finally, as the Bell among other publications has pointed out, the Taliban are actually made up of Pashtuns - and this 40 million strong tribe constitutes the populace that the war is being fought over.