American Soldier Allegedly Shoots 15 Afghan Civs

[Kreutz]

http://news.yahoo.com/american-opens-fi ... 59711.html

(paybacks a bitch I guess)

BALANDI, Afghanistan (AP) — A U.S. service member walked out of a base in southern Afghanistan before dawn Sunday and started shooting Afghan civilians, according to residents and Afghan and NATO officials. Villagers showed an Associated Press photographer 15 bodies, including women and children, and said they were all killed by the American.

The shooting could deepen strife between U.S. forces and their Afghan hosts just as weeks of violence set off by the burning of Muslim holy books at a U.S. base had started to die down. The burnings sparked violent protests and attacks that killed some 30 people. Six U.S. service members have been killed in attacks by their Afghan colleagues since the Quran burnings came to light.

NATO officials apologized for Sunday's shootings but did not confirm that anyone was killed, referring instead to reports of deaths.

"I wish to convey my profound regrets and dismay at the actions apparently taken by one coalition member in Kandahar province, said a statement from Lt. Gen. Adrian Bradshaw, the deputy commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan.

"This is an anti-human and anti-Islamic act," said Khan. "Nobody is allowed in any religion in the world to kill children and women."

Khan demanded that Afghan President Hamid Karzai punish the American shooter.

"Otherwise we will make a decision," said Khan. "He should be handed over to us."

Residents in Alkozai village also demanded that Karzai punish the American or hand him over to the villagers. The four people killed in the village were all from one family, said a female relative who was shouting in anger. She did not give her name because of the conservative nature of local society.

"No Taliban were here. No gunbattle was going on," said the woman. "We don't know why this foreign soldier came and killed our innocent family members. Either he was drunk or he was enjoying killing civilians."

It speaks to the amazing restraint our soldiers show that this doesn't happen every 10 minutes given what they have to put up with.

Well, I expect the apology (and gravy/hummus) train to start rolling through that town.

[WRW]

There's appropriate times to go berserk and inappropriate times.

[skeeterss0]

I'm intrested in hearing more about this. From what I've read it was a lone soldier. This brings up lots of questions like why did the gate guards let a lone guy off base? Is this standard operation procedures (SOP)? Especially after the Koran burnings and violence that resulted. Also from what I read the guy turned himself in back at the base. That seems to show he knows he did wrong.

Like I said I'm eager to hear more.

[ratherfish]

Too early to know the real facts other than what's already known about the Afganistan "war".

Obama ran on this being his "good war" and Iraq being the "bad war". It has always been the more unwinable of the two.

3/4 of the casualties of US troops in Afganistan happened on obama's watch and during his "surge".

The Obama rules of engagement are absurd and get GI's murdered.

If you won't let the US military win, you should get the hell out!

[thekinetic]

It's a good start, personally I think the whole of the middle east needs to turn into a sheet of glass. They seem to cause the majority of trouble, and have been constantly fighting for a 1000 years straight.

I believe in total war, where you move in and level everything until the enemy surrenders unconditionally. Besides the war is a joke, our government is making money from it and won't stop it anytime soon thanks to it gaining support.

So kudos to that soldier for going above and beyond the call of duty!

[skeeterss0]

If you won't let the US military win, you should get the hell out!

I agree 100 %.........politicians need to stay out of things they know little to nothing about

[Jakeiscrazy]

No kudos here. Shooting people that you are trying to convince to be your allies does not help your cause. Despite what some may think the US can not take on the whole world.

[VBshooter]

Surprised that this hasn't happened sooner and more often,,,Some of these guys are on 3rd and 4th tours or more of that shithole... Anyone could go nuckin futs in that scenario, Agree we do not need to take on the world,, just step back and let our"allies??" take care of their damn fights,,,and tell the UN to STFU and then throw their ass out of the country.Let em rebuild in Iraq or some other place

[davasmith]

Ahhhhh the magic bullet theory. One man, one rifle multiple kills? Multiple house or huts? Yeah right, if a kill squad went in then I say, nice shot. I don't condone killing innocent children, however I'm not over there right now being stalked and shot at by children. Remember the bread and fruit baskets in vietnam? I have a good friend who was a member of an elite kill squad who HAD to shoot children. Such is war suck it up, zero up and march on! Simple rule: if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck its probably a damn duck. I personally like orange glaze with my duck.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[ratherfish]

Are you aware that the Obama rules of engagement dictate that if someone shoots your friend at you side, scoots into a hut and emerges appearing to be without a gun, you can't fire on him?

Likewise you can observe a field piece and it being moved, but can't shoot until it's being loaded.

There's probably more here than meets the eye.

That being said there's no excuse for a breakdown of dicipline in a military unit. Could have easily been one individual who snapped. Someone should have known and acted. Either before or during.

Parallells to Nam are useless. This is not a conscripted force of unwilling soldiers. These are volunteers.

[M1A4ME]

http://news.yahoo.com/american-opens-fi ... 59711.html

(paybacks a bitch I guess)

BALANDI, Afghanistan (AP) — A U.S. service member walked out of a base in southern Afghanistan before dawn Sunday and started shooting Afghan civilians, according to residents and Afghan and NATO officials. Villagers showed an Associated Press photographer 15 bodies, including women and children, and said they were all killed by the American.

The shooting could deepen strife between U.S. forces and their Afghan hosts just as weeks of violence set off by the burning of Muslim holy books at a U.S. base had started to die down. The burnings sparked violent protests and attacks that killed some 30 people. Six U.S. service members have been killed in attacks by their Afghan colleagues since the Quran burnings came to light.

NATO officials apologized for Sunday's shootings but did not confirm that anyone was killed, referring instead to reports of deaths.

"I wish to convey my profound regrets and dismay at the actions apparently taken by one coalition member in Kandahar province, said a statement from Lt. Gen. Adrian Bradshaw, the deputy commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan.

"This is an anti-human and anti-Islamic act," said Khan. "Nobody is allowed in any religion in the world to kill children and women."

Khan demanded that Afghan President Hamid Karzai punish the American shooter.

"Otherwise we will make a decision," said Khan. "He should be handed over to us."

Residents in Alkozai village also demanded that Karzai punish the American or hand him over to the villagers. The four people killed in the village were all from one family, said a female relative who was shouting in anger. She did not give her name because of the conservative nature of local society.

"No Taliban were here. No gunbattle was going on," said the woman. "We don't know why this foreign soldier came and killed our innocent family members. Either he was drunk or he was enjoying killing civilians."

It speaks to the amazing restraint our soldiers show that this doesn't happen every 10 minutes given what they have to put up with.

Well, I expect the apology (and gravy/hummus) train to start rolling through that town.

Is this guy from the same planet as all his muslim brothers running around blowing up women and childred in their country and others? When a guy this far out there speaks, anyone who pays attention deserves to be ignored as well.