More civilians killed in Afghanistan

Afghan civilian casualty rate at highest since Taliban rule, the Guardian headline reads today.  A UN report says that more civilians were killed in Afghanistan in 2008 that in 2007.  The number of civilians killed by US, NATO and Afghan forces was up by 30%.  This is despite new battlefield rules designed to reduce civilian casualties.

I wrote recently on my blog about the arrest and charge of Colonel Owen McNally.  He was charged under the Official Secrets Act.  Did he give accurate information about civilian casualties in Afghanistan?  If that is what has led to his arrest I say why should it be a secret how many innocent civilians are being killed in a war that involves this country's forces?