Despite Gains Against Taliban, Night Raids Split U.S. and Karzai.

WASHINGTON -- For the United States, a recent tripling in the number of night raids by Special Operations forces to capture or kill Afghan insurgents has begun to put heavy pressure on the Taliban and change the momentum in the war in Afghanistan. For President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, the raids cause civilian casualties and are a rising political liability, so much so that he is now loudly insisting that the Americans stop the practice. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]