Strike on Afghan hospital last year not a war crime: U.S. military

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

World | Fri Apr 29, 2016 12:56pm EDT

Strike on Afghan hospital last year not a war crime: U.S. military

WASHINGTON | BY IDREES ALI

A U.S. military investigation has concluded that a deadly air strike in Afghanistan last year that destroyed a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders did not amount to a war crime but was caused by a number of factors, including human errors.

Forty-two people were killed and 37 were wounded during an Oct. 3 strike that destroyed a hospital run by the international medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres.

"The investigation concluded that certain personnel failed to comply with the rules of engagement and the law of armed conflict, however, the investigation did not conclude that these failures amounted to a war crime," General Joseph Votel, commander of U.S. Central Command, told reporters on Friday.

Votel said it was not a war crime because none of the service members were aware that they were striking a hospital.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-afghanistan-msf-investigation-idUSKCN0XQ24T

[atreides1]

1. Okay

So, it's not a war crime, unless you're aware that it's an illegal target???

[thereismore]

2. Just shy of a war crime? It makes me so proud.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

3. Oopsie...

Let's all just hug and forget about who killed who.

[KansDem]

4. I find this statement a bit hard to believe...

Votel said it was not a war crime because none of the service members were aware that they were striking a hospital.

It doesn't say much about our intelligence agencies.