US Rockets Kill 12 Civilians in Helmand Province
NATO Suspends Use of Artillery System Pending Review
NATO officials confirmed today that an incident involving US troops has left at least 12 Afghan civilians killed. The US troops say they fired rockets at suspected militants, but missed and hit a crowd of civilians 300 meters away.
Gen. Stanley McChrystal expressed regret over the killings, coming as NATO and Afghan forces raid the Marjah district. The deaths of the civilians will be of particular embarrassment after NATO blanketed the region with leaflets urging civilians to “stay put.”
NATO has reported that the “High Mobility Artillery Rocket System,” (HIMARS) involved in the attack, has been suspended pending further review. The Karzai government is also planning an investigation into the killing of civilians in the raid.
The forces are invading Marjah, a region which has been totally outside government control since the 2001 invasion, to install Haji Zair, a Karzai appointee, as the new governor. Zair has been unable to even visit the region.
Though officials predicted the offensive, the largest since the war began, would be quick and clean, they have encountered heavy resistance and officials now say that the conquest of the farming community could take upwards of a month.
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a moral question « Pissed Off Peoples Demanding Change
February 14th, 2010 at 9:15 am
[...] 1. Professor’s arrest roils Alabama campus after shootings 2. US Rockets Kill 12 Civilians in Helmand Province [...]
Robert Fisher
February 14th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Civilians please stay put, the Americans have arrived. the most powerful army in the word that is unable to control a few Goat herders with makeshift bombs. just think how this powerful army would stand up to an German Army like in WW 2. all the fancy names you give your Operations will not change the fact that your Army is made up of Child Volunteers, not seasoned Soldiers like the Taliban. Parents, take your Children home for they are dying in vain.
Blowing Cheney « The Vigilant Lens
February 14th, 2010 at 11:01 am
[...] diaper of incontinent freedom. Evidently the black man in their White House, by following the Cheney/Bush doctrine almost deed for deed, is somehow endangering all of white [...]
MvGuy
February 15th, 2010 at 1:39 am
Gee, I guess the rockets were to protect "the people" Isn't it McCrystal methin atound with the "we are there to protect the people" line of horsepukey.. Yeah, the foreign invader from half way round the planet with a different religion is gonna protect the Afghan loscals from WHOM…?? Maybe the Canadians or would it be the Icelanders..?? Just WHO do they need protection from..?? UUGGHH well except the Americans and NATO with their ROCKETS and BOMBS and DRONES…. YES..!! If tha Afghans need to be protected, better to send Muslims and not the NEOCONS…out to kill as many Muslims as they can get their lackey dogs to off…. Some day, Some way, somebody's gonna PAY..!!… Hint, it won't be the Buddhists…!!!
MoT
February 15th, 2010 at 4:02 am
Such insanity. I've had the unfortunate "privilege" of hearing out of the mouths of people I thought were my friends spout off about how they support such murderous nonsense. I don't think we'll be hanging out much more.