Getting caught burning a number of religious texts and then facing massive protests wasn’t exactly NATO’s finest hour in its 11 year occupation of Afghanistan, but Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen sees it as vindication for the troops.
Comparing the ongoing death toll among protests to the hypothetical death toll if NATO troops had decided to crush the dissent militarily, Rasmussen insisted NATO troops were “showing great restraint.”
After a pair of US troops who were mocking the protesters were killed by an Afghan intelligence official, NATO has withdrawn all of its “advisers” from all Afghan ministries. Rasmussen insists that this is because of “enemies” attempting to divide NATO from the Karzai government, and vowed to resume deployments “as soon as possible.”
Rasmussen added that here would be no policy changes related to the riots across the country, echoing US comments on the situation. Though officials seem content to “wait out” the unrest, it shows little sign of subsiding.
Great restraint not to kill civilians, what a nobel idea from the guardians of human rights in the west.
I really do not mind what the west has to offer, but they can keep their hypocrisy for themselves.
You invade a country on flimsy non-existent reasons then you disrespect the populations beliefs and then show "great restraint" not to mow down civilians, what planet are these people on?
Wow Jason, what a short and loaded article!
"NATO troops were showing great restraint in not attacking Afghan protestors"? We are occupying their country and they don´t have the right to protest? Rasmussen is deplorably sick just making such statements. After 11 years of bringing democracy to Afghanistan, this is where we´ve arrived?
"After a pair of US troops who were mocking the protesters were killed by an Afghan intelligence official," which means they were doing their mocking in front of other Afghans. Should we expect Afghans to take that crap, especially since their country is under occupation and the heated reasons behind the protesting was due to the burning of their holy book by the same forces who were doing the mocking?
I said the same thing. You get a hand grenade chucked at you and your buddies, and you don't mow the crowd down? Now that's discipline. Never mind right or wrong or politics, those boys follow orders.
Just a point of reference…if "those boys" had followed orders (not to burn Islamic holy books) they wouldn't have to show "great restraint."
OOOOOOOOOOO I get the picture……. The occupation forces get CAUGHT burning the sacred text of those they occupy……… and when the outraged citizens protest, they are mocked and shot…………….. guess the grunts did-en wanna look stupid or weak….& never read Sun Tsu…
The flatulence of empire really doez appear to be hubris…………..!!!!
F*ck you, F*ck your boys and F*ck a large part of your country's population.
When you invade other people and kill a lot of them indiscriminately you should expect grenades to be thrown among your cowards.
You have achieved northing during your stay in Afghanistan, for them you can take your democracy and stick it up your collective bu**s.
Your leadership, military and your boys have lost in Afghanistan like many others before you, just leave and shut up already. You peopler have no shame to speak of.
P.S.—— Gotta love that Fogh of war guy with the brown nose…… the chief groveler of Europe……. Only goes to show, give-em enough (Eu) rope and they'll hang themselves….!!!
Help out, guys! Is there some fact about 'mocking the protestors', or is this one of our exaggerations up against all of theirs? Link maybe?