“Sorry” A New Tactic for US and NATO forces in Afghanistan?

Flikr photo by Fieldmedic used under a Creative Commons license.   How sincerely can the word “sorry” factor into improving relations with Afghans for the deaths of innocent civilians?  US and NATO forces need the cooperation of the Afghan people to gather intelligence and conduct an effective counter-insurgency operation, but as civilian deaths continue, apologies become meaningless.  In a recent Reuters news story:

Karin von Hippel said commanders were aware civilian deaths had cost them much needed support.  “It sets back all the other work they're trying to do in the larger counterinsurgency operation," she said.  She said the military's recent learning curve on responding to civilian casualties had actually been "pretty fantastic" but it was not clear if its new attitude would be enough to win back Afghans angered by earlier incidents.  Afghans themselves remain skeptical.  "Apologies are good things. But the foreign troops should convince the people that there will be no more such incidents," said Maolawi Hezatullah, provincial council head in Kunar, where U.S. troops killed six civilians this week.  "If such incidents continue to occur, there is no point for apologies."