FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan – The rate of civilians killed by improvised explosive devices in eastern Afghanistan has risen 117 percent in the last year. Insurgents have shifted their primary focus from Coalition Forces, to target the local residents. While they continue to fight CF, effective IED strikes resulting in CF deaths have decreased by 70 percent, and the insurgents have begun to consistently target Afghan citizens. Army Col. Michael Howard, commander of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, controls the battle space comprised of the Paktika, Paktya...
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