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| Afghanistan |
| Nato attack killed civilians in Laghman: Afghan govt |
| 2009-12-09 |
| [Dawn] Nato forces killed civilians during an overnight strike on militants in eastern Afghanistan, the Afghan government said. Nato said only militants were killed. Interior Ministry spokesman Zemeri Bashary said that a number of civilians were killed when Nato forces went after a Taliban operative in Laghman province. Regional officials said 12 Afghans were killed in Tuesday's pre-dawn strike, including some civilians. No one provided an exact number of how many civilians died. Nato said in a statement that seven militants were killed and four detained the strike, which targeted a militant leader who had been responsible for several suicide attacks in the region. Hundreds of residents took to the streets to protest the incident. Bashary said an investigation was under way. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 I would withdraw, with public notice, any protective forces for the Afghan |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-12-09 19:09 |
| #4 The afgan govt is playing the old "you fight and die for us, while we criticize you." The only thing new is it's now being played against Obumble rather than Bush. |
| Posted by: regular joe 2009-12-09 15:04 |
| #3 That is part of the reason the Geneva Conventions were written - to protect civilians during war. One of the most important protections is the requirement that combatants be clearly identifiable via a clear badge or uniform and not hide among and behind civilians. Combatants which are not clearly identifiable, hide behind and among the civilians are 'illegal combatants' and are 1) not given protections (can be executed in the field) and 2) are responsible for any civilian deaths they cause. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2009-12-09 08:25 |
| #2 Yes indeed, that is precisely what happens in war. Good, innocent civilians, women and children become irreversibly dead! |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-12-09 07:54 |
| #1 How does one know who are militants and who are civilians, before, during, or even after a battle? And define civilian - the militants are civilians and the civilians provide active support to the militants. Either accept the standard criticism of 'murdering innocent civilians', or don't fight at all, --- or kill them all so there's nobody to say you did it. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2009-12-09 07:52 |