Special Operations Night Raids in Afghanistan - Are they Counterproductive?

The use of night raids by Special Operations Forces (SOF) have become very controversial.  President Karzai has repeatedly asked for them to be halted but the optemo has only increased over the past year.  The military says the night raids are having a dramatic impact on the mid-level leadership of the Taliban.  The critics say too many innocents have died and that it is one of the single most damaging event for losing "the hearts and minds" of the population.  Read one critics view in "Because the Night Belongs to Raiders: Special ops in Nangrahar", Afghanistan Analysts Network, January 11, 2010.