One reason we need to get out of Afghanistan
'I was still holding my grandson's hand - the rest was gone'
It was 7.30 on a hot July morning when the plane came swooping low over the remote ravine. Below, a bridal party was making its way to the groom's village in an area called Kamala, in the eastern province of Nangarhar, to prepare for the celebrations later that day.
The first bomb hit a large group of children who had run on ahead of the main procession. It killed most of them instantly.
A few minutes later, the plane returned and dropped another bomb, right in the centre of the group. This time the victims were almost all women. Somehow the bride and two girls survived but as they scrambled down the hillside, desperately trying to get away from the plane, a third bomb caught them. Hajj Khan was one of four elderly men escorting the bride's party that day.
"We were walking, I was holding my grandson's hand, then there was a loud noise and everything went white. When I opened my eyes, everybody was screaming. I was lying metres from where I had been, I was still holding my grandson's hand but the rest of him was gone. I looked around and saw pieces of bodies everywhere. I couldn't make out which part was which."
Relatives from the groom's village said it was impossible to identify the remains. They buried the 47 victims in 28 graves.
Stories like this are relatively common in today's Afghanistan. More than 600 civilians have died in Nato and US air strikes this year. The number of innocents killed this way has almost doubled from last year, and tripled from the year before that. These attacks are weakening support for the Afghan government and turning more and more people against the foreign occupation of the country.
"If things were going OK maybe we could accept the occasional mistake. But with the economy the way it is, the worsening security situation, and the lack of development - when they kill civilians on top of everything else, it's too much for people," says Jahid Mohseni who runs Tolo TV, Afghanistan's most popular television station, with his two brothers.
The US military initially denied any civilians had been killed in the Kamala bombing but later said they were investigating the incident. When asked this week for an explanation of events on that morning in July, the US military in Afghanistan said they were unfamiliar with the specifics but would look into it.
The latest figures from the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, taken a month ago, suggest about 750 civilians have been killed by foreign forces this year. Most were killed in air strikes. The remainder were shot by jumpy soldiers, who often open fire in crowded public places after an attack on one of their convoys.
Humanitarian aid agencies say privately that they believe the figure is significantly higher, as many victims classed as "insurgents" are actually non-combatants.
As the situation deteriorates across the country, the killing of civilians is seen as a final affront in a litany of mistakes by the foreign forces in Afghanistan. Patience among ordinary Afghans has worn thin and anger grows with each attack.
Civilian casualties are not new to Nangarhar province - last year a convoy of US Marines hit by a bomb attack subsequently opened fire in a bazaar killing 16 people. The marines involved were sent home and their officers charged, but a subsequent ruling cleared them of responsibility for the deaths.
Nato and US spokesmen say their forces go to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties. But all too often after an air strike, they deny civilians are among the dead or claim far fewer were killed.
A recent Human Rights Watch report said US investigations, when launched, have been "unilateral, ponderous, and lacking in transparency, undercutting rather than improving relations with local populations and the Afghan government".
The routine denials and hands-off attitude are contributing to a growing sense among Afghans that their lives are cheap in the eyes of the foreigners.
Full article..
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/16/afghanistan-taliban-us-forei...
Britexpat
Your point of view is very strong and well consider.
You are forgetting the essence and purpose of the collision forces in Afghanistan, is to curtail any terrorist organization and halt the drug shipments.
We are not exempt from any terrorist actions overseas or our own homelands, It has to end.
Lets not forget both the USA, the UK and many other nations 9-11'S and know India.
Don't you think that by bringing the fight to them in their own turf will help at all? Instead letting them roam around like a wild pack of hounds.
I believe in not turning our backs to terrorism, just because of our religious believes or political differences.
The line in the sand has to be drawn..
The Red_Pope is the next goodwill Ambassador to India and Pakistan.
Sorry buddy, but I disagree..
We went to Iraq and Afghanistan to do a job.. In Iraq, the time has come to leave. In Afghanistan, it is becoming clear that the Karzai government has no real power outside Kabul. The people in the regions give tacit support to the Taliban, so why should our soldiers give their lives.
Time for us to pull out to safe distant. let them fight it out. If they want us back, then they can come a begging..
I love it, when every living jackass in the UK, loves to point all the deaths of all the innocent Afghanis to the collision forces.
I'm Not denying that errors of war are committed by our collision troops, but you guys need to learn the enemies abusive tactics first.
Enemies tactics
You guys remember the Human shields tactics.
The hit and run tactics, then mixing with the local population and infrastructure.
The use of intimidation tactics, The death wishes from the Taliban and Alqaida to the local Afghani population and the destruction of what is left over, so called Infrastructure, such as hospitals, clinics and schools all in the name of God?
The Heroin production
Let us not forget the heroin production in Afghanistan. One of the best consumers are the European, I believe the UK is part of Europe.
I believe this NEWS article was writing by some extremist Islamist jackass out of the UK.
Most of the foreign fighters are from other Islamic states, specially the northern part of Pakistan.
Answer me this:
Have you forgot about the Taliban and Alqaida death toll on the civilian population before the invasion and present?
I believe the civilian death toll in the hands of the enemy combatants out source the collision forces by a long shot.
UK
If the British pull the small contingent of soldiers from Afghanistan, I'm going to start calling your politicians and all your Islamic extremist the typical English dog shit, always running with their thumbs up their assess. Then I will throw my steel toe boots into your faces.
The Red_Pope is the next goodwill Ambassador to India and Pakistan.
pretty shameless and cowardly to be targetting children and wome, utterly disgusting...
Yes! Everyone should be pulled out from these countries. They should learn how to defend themselves and their people. I sympathize with girlfriends, boyfriends, husbands, wives, fiances, brothers, sisters and most especially the kids who were left by the troops for this pointless conflict.
cheers,
paul
And to think of Barak hussain osama ooops i mean Obama wants to take the troops out of Iraq and send them to afghanistan.
I would say "same S*** different toilet".
He got plans for the US economy, a fall in unemployment, of course send them all abroad, then the rate of unemployment at home shows a fall and to keep the unemployment down send them to their death so they never come back and raise the employment figures.
Nice plan for the US economy
I think the West should pull all of their troops out of everywhere. Then in a 100 years when they've finished killing themselves off with ceaseless wars the West can waltz in a claim their land with no opposition...if they still want it.
Brit i agree with you, Britain USA and Nato claim they are protecting their security, what they can do is first protect their borders, make their security reliable. and from there if they want to influence other countries they should use other means except the war.
Poverty is not for the sake of hardship. No, it is there because nothing exists but God. Poverty unlocks the door -- what a blessed key!
- Jalaluddin al-Rumi
Oh, maybe.... I was about to start digging a bunker!
Perhaps the Emiri Airforce is practcing for a "Fly BY" during the National Day celebrations.
Once again politics and resources making some countries living hell...not fair!!!!!
SN fully noticed, air activity has been increased due to the National Day Celebration on Dec 18th. So far no worries!!
Regards!!!!
We need to get our troops home.. Let the Afghanis "resolve" their own issues and just secure our own borders..
Too many lives lost already in the conflict..
shame shame shame
realsomeone, I agree totally!!
P.S has anyone noticed alot of 'air' activity in the skies recently??
Absolutely these guys need to stop policing the world. and keep the security of their countries tight. and let the other people choose who will rule them and in what system.
Poverty is not for the sake of hardship. No, it is there because nothing exists but God. Poverty unlocks the door -- what a blessed key!
- Jalaluddin al-Rumi
tragic.... :(