Despite the fact that between 400 and 1,000 insurgents have 15,000 NATO and Afghan troops bogged down in Marjah, an operation in which the overwhelming numbers were supposed to make short work of those insurgents but which the Pentagon now admits is “moving more slowly than expected,” a “similar operation planned in Canadian-led Kandahar province will largely use the same tactic, its commander says.” Kandahar has a population 6 times that of Marjah. The quagmire deepens.

I’m reminded of the old George Carlin line about oxymorons, “jumbo shrimp and military intelligence.”

The Marjah offensive was also to be the first test of “a new NATO strategy focusing on protecting civilians.” How’s that working out so far? Not too good:

“The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission said in a statement Wednesday that it had confirmed 28 civilians deaths in the Marjah fighting, based on witness reports. Thirteen children were among the dead.”

A number Canadian Brigadier General Daniel Menard referred to as “not bad.”

I think the parents of those 13 children and the families of the people who Brig. Gen. Menard  called “collateral damage” might have a different perspective.