Military apologizes for killing civilians "We never wanted this to happen"

[bigtree]

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The U.S. military defended Wednesday an air strike earlier this week on a southern Afghan village that killed at least 16 civilians, saying its soldiers were being fired on and they had the right to defend themselves.

U.S. military spokesman Col. Tom Collins also apologized to the victims' families, saying, "we never wanted this to happen." He added the coalition has offered assistance to the families, but didn't disclose details.

"The ultimate cause of why civilians were injured and killed is because the Taliban knowingly, wilfully chose to occupy homes of these people. We do everything we can to prevent killing civilians," Collins said.

Elsewhere, 60 Taliban militants and four Afghan soldiers were killed Tuesday evening in a firefight in southern Afghanistan, which also involved coalition air strikes, said Afghan army Gen. Rehmatullah Raufi.

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=46c2363f-b245-42a2-9995-0ba0366c4189&k=35045


about the rights of Afghans to defend themselves . . . ?


my 2 cents -- Trampling American Empire (5-24-2006)

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. "The ultimate cause of why civilians were injured and killed is because

the Taliban knowingly, wilfully chose to occupy homes of these people. We do everything we can to prevent killing civilians," Collins said.

IOW, it's open season on anyone we think might be harboring the Taliban. We shall bomb you and your home from the air, killing you and everyone you love if we even think there might be Taliban in your house.

Doesn't that qualify as 'terrorism'?

[bigtree]

2. of course it does

war crimes deserving of at least the same amount of hysteria that Iran's invisible threat has caused in the U.N.

Amnesty accuses US, British govts of war on terror abuses

LONDON (AFP) - Amnesty International on Tuesday accused the United States and its main ally Britain of jettisoning human rights in the wars they have declared against terrorism.

In its annual report, Amnesty lashed out at the US government for holding thousands of people without charge or trial in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Guantanamo naval base in Cuba, since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States.

The London-based human rights group also took British Prime Mini1ster Tony Blair's government to task for its security crackdown following the July 7, 2005 suicide attacks in London that killed 56 people, including the four bombers.

"Measures purporting to counter terrorism led to serious human rights violations, and concern was widespread about the impact of these measures on Muslims and other minority communities," the report said.

The developments were part of a broader trend, it added . . . more: http://www.brunet.bn/news/bb/wed/may24w11.htm

[tabasco]

3. Well, that makes it all better then.

The officers responsible for these murders should be prosecuted for war crimes.

I call it murder because, IMO, it was wilfull disregard for innocent lives.

Indiscriminate bombing is not a valid or effective tactic.

If some country bombed my house and killed one of my family, I would dedicate my life to fighting the bastards.

That is what the corporate cabal and their insane military tactics are doing. Creating new enemies for decades to come.

[Bandit]

4. Sure glad we won that Afghanistan War so quickly...

More Heroin for the USA...Gotta love the GOP...

[lpbk2713]

5. Is this any different from the assault on the Koresh compound?

Granted, the Pentagon was in charge of this operation, not ATF or FBI.

Should the potential number of civilian casualties have been considered beforehand?

Looks like things are getting way out of control.

[crikkett]

6. Pththt.

:nopity:

[Xenotime]

7. It wouldn't have happened if we were not over there...

ILLEGALLY!

[DemoTex]

8. Taliban knowingly, willfully chose to occupy homes of these people (2006)

The ultimate cause of why civilians were killed at My Lai-4 is because the Viet Cong knowingly, willfully chose to occupy homes of these people. We do everything we can to prevent killing civilians. (1969)

While not a direct quote, it could have been. In fact, it rings in my ears like a fucking bell. Fuck these disingenuous MoFos.


It did not wash then; it does not wash now.

[dailykoff]

10. Good analogy.

Chilling.

[dailykoff]

9. If we never wanted to kill innocent people

we wouldn't have invaded an innocent nation.

[pocket]

11. damn right. killing is what these jokers do

crocodile tears afterwards don't change a thing.