Losing the propaganda war in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan the US frequently wipes out large numbers of civilians in misplaced air strikes. It invariably denies having done so, claiming that only Taliban fighters or "militants" were killed. In a recent case, the US has had to carry out a new investigation, after video footage suggested that up to 90 civilians had been killed, including as many as 60 children. According to the Guardian

"Killing civilians is not the best way to attract hearts and minds," one European official noted sarcastically yesterday.

Lying about it afterwards doesn't help either.

In the same piece, the Guardian says:

British officials believe they have stabilised the opium cultivation in Helmand province, questioning UN figures suggesting it has increased over the past year.

Or are they just saying that?