"Afghan Protesters Try to Break Into U.S. Base"

[GreenPartyVoter]

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - More than 1,000 stone-throwing protesters tried to break into the main U.S. base in Afghanistan to free eight detained villagers Tuesday, and Afghan troops fired warning shots and used clubs to beat the mob back. U.S. troops also fired into the air.

It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties in the melee outside the base's main gate as protesters chanted "Die America!" Black smoke billowed from burning tires. An Associated Press reporter was hit by a stone and an AP photographer was punched by a protester.

In southern Afghanistan, meanwhile, a provincial governor said about 50 suspected insurgents and two Afghan soldiers died during an overnight battle. It was one of the deadliest clashes in recent fighting between the government and militants heading into parliamentary elections.

The violence in Bagram erupted when six U.S. military vehicles tried to enter the base. Demonstrators massed outside to protest the arrests threw stones at the convoy and soldiers in the vehicles fired into the air with handguns.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0726-08.htm

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. kick

[manic expression]

2. Ah, the freedom

That is very interesting/scary. Does anyone know why, other than the fact that Afghanis are sick of the US?

At least we didn't shoot into the crowd (like in Iraq).

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Well, for starters we have turned their country to crap. Warlords

have everyone quaking in their boots. (The Taliban, horrid as they were, kept the "peace". Much like Saddam did in Iraq.)

[manic expression]

4. True

I forgot about "our" warlords.

Another possible reason might be that we are trying to cut down on the Opium Trade: the only way Afghanis can live. Living conditions might be another reason. Anyway, I think their sentiment is pretty obvious.