US Marines Shrug Off Afghan Anger at Civilians Killings
Most Complaints in Sangin District Not Even Investigated
As Taliban leadership admonish their fighters to avoid civilian deaths, locals in the Sangin District of Afghanistan’s Helmand Province are increasingly angry, complaining that the US Marines who recently took over the district have been regularly killing the civilians and refusing to investigate.
The US denies the allegation of the killings, but admitted that they don’t both the investigate the vast majority of the complaints because they assume them to be “Taliban propaganda.” The commander of the Marines is the district says that the Taliban are to blame for “every single instance” of a civilian casualty in the district.
The US took over the district in September from British forces, who had been holding it for years and expressed concerns that any good will they built up with the locals would quickly be lost when the more aggressive US troops took over and started launching operations. It seems this fear is panning out.
Indeed, tribal elders regularly complain to the Marines about the killings. Officials said no investigations would be taken on the basis of the elders complaints, and said the fact that the elders haven’t been killed by the Taliban was “proof” that they were in league with the Taliban and the complaints were a trick.
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Same Asalways
November 26th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Murderers.
Valerianus
November 26th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
"The commander of the Marines in the district says that the Taliban are to blame for 'every single instance' of a civilian casualty in the district."
This tripe is spewed by a representative of the organization that coined the phrase, "We had to destroy the village in order to save it."
Roger Lafontaine
November 26th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Under the cover of 'Saving Afghanistan' is the rape and plunder of Afghanistan. Unlike Bush Obama believes in killing with a smile on his face and a friendly "Hi neighbor" to his victims. This war is beginning to turn out worse than the Vietnam war and yet our people are still sitting on their hands waiting for a better outcome. That's because we are not allowed to criticize the warrior. He or she is doing his/her sacred duty and let's not look at the details please. But conscience sometimes objects and so we have the increase in suicide. That did not happen during Vietnam because there was an outlet: the anti-war movement. Soldiers were able to redeem themselves by protesting and fighting against the military establishment which brought them into this genocide.
Max
November 26th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
The Afghans have long memories and when they close their fists on these Americans, no quarter will be given.
JDonald
November 26th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
The US didn't investigate the killing of between 100,000 and 1,000,000 civilians in Iraq so why should they investigate killings of Afghans? Everyone knows that Iraqs, Alfghans and Palestinians are not important life forms. The exceptionalism displayed by the USA and Israel is at the heart of the problem.
davidgrayling
November 26th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
These Afghans need some urgent, deep therapy. Don't they know that America's favorite activity is killing unarmed civilians? It's what Americans are born for. It's their destiny, their manifest destiny even.
The U.N. should pass a Resolution that excuses the killing of civilians by Americans. I mean, can a lion stop killing antelope? Can a bear stop eating salmon? Can the Pope help being a Catholic?
The other solution is to keep all Americans in cages, like the ones in Guantanamo. In cages, they wouldn't be a threat to anyone although they might try to bite each other through the bars.
Be considerate of Americans. They are fulfilling their destiny, demonstrating their exceptionalism. Why are they exceptional?
They are the greatest nation of killers in the history of the world!
http://www.dangerouscreation.com
theothercanada
November 27th, 2010 at 12:56 am
The Anglo-American goal is eradication of Muslims, they are working diligently towards their goal.
FreedomFries
November 27th, 2010 at 1:44 am
Silly Afghans…don't they know that to build democracy in a country, you first need to bomb it and kill its people?
Nabi
November 27th, 2010 at 2:12 am
The US Military leaders (supported by the US government/elite) care less for any civilian casualty. In fact they prefer as many as they can get away with. And they would avoid prosecuting any soldier on the basis that their soldiers did the right thing in their mind and if they did prosecute they would lower moral. This is just the bare minimum :/
handala is watching
November 27th, 2010 at 3:36 am
America: You came-You fought-You lost- Go the f*** home!
Druthers
November 27th, 2010 at 4:08 am
Chalk up yet another example of American "exceptionlism."
joe
November 27th, 2010 at 5:21 am
Afgans are not american, they are not even caucasian, therefore they are not important in caucasian eyes.
KSB29
November 27th, 2010 at 8:59 am
No one is important in the eyes of Americans, even themselves. That's what's so scary about modern day America. It doesn't matter what your ethnic, political, or religious leanings are; DC will bomb the piss out of anybody that dares resist them.
The only discrimination that takes place is if the enemy of the hour is capable of shooting back effectively or not.
MoT
November 27th, 2010 at 9:59 am
Dead men tell no tales nor can they defend themselves from the falsehoods of those who killed them. Just ask those gunned down by Las Vegas PD or countless others around the US.
Henry_Clemens
November 27th, 2010 at 11:14 am
Part 1. "US Marines Shrug Off Afghan Anger at Civilians Killings." This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Isn't this what imperial armies of conquest are trained to do? They don’t free people from tyranny; they enslave them or kill them. Now Americans know what our Federal government troops are really fighting for. They’re fighting for the Federal government’s presumed right to not only establish police states and authoritarian governments around the world, but they’re also fighting for the Federal government’s presumed right to do the same thing right here in America.
Henry_Clemens
November 27th, 2010 at 11:15 am
Part 2. Whether the troops know it or not, they’re fighting for the Federal government's presumed right to irradiate and sexually assault their relatives and fellow citizens at America’s airports while, at the same time, they're fighting for an unconstitutional empire half a world away. And, according to the TSA, in the near future, they plan to do the same despicable things they are now doing at America’s airports at train and bus stations too. Simply put, the Federal government’s TSA plans to turn America into a despotic police state! But all we hear from the empire's MSM is the same old mantra “support the troops.” But what I want to know is this: when are American troops going to support the Constitution, support the Bill of Rights and defend the American people from Federal tyranny? Did they not, after all, swear an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and DOMESTIC? The truth speaks for itself.
wesupportyou
December 2nd, 2010 at 10:10 am
"The commander of the Marines is the district says that the Taliban are to blame for “every single instance” of a civilian casualty in the district."
"The commander?" Does this commander have a name? How about some references and names to go along with the quotes. In my opinion this article is poorly written but, because it suggests that the U.S. doesn't care about civilian casualties everyone hangs on to every word.
"commander IS the district?" What does that mean? Do you not proof read these hastily written articles?
If you're such a serious journalist…why don't you go embed with the 3rd Battalion 5th Marines in Sangin and find out what's really going on for yourself. Heaven forbid you actually enlist and do your part.