More Than 70 Taliban, Civilians Killed in 2 Airstrikes By JAYSON DITZ
September 25, 2010
At least 70 people and possibly many more were killed today in a pair of major NATO air strikes against what NATO are calling insurgent targets. Locals launched public protests in the wake of the attacks to complain over civilian deaths in the strikes.
NATO denied that any civilians had been killed in either while protesters said that most or all of the victims of the Laghman strike were actually innocent civilians. Taliban spokespeople denied having any forces in the area as well, suggesting civilian deaths.
The other strike in Khost Province targeted people trying to cross the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The identities of these people arent known either, but while NATO said they killed 42 suspects in the strike, the provincial police chief said NATO had actually killed as many as 200.
Since Gen. David Petraeus took over in Afghanistan the number of air strikes has been increasing, and so have the number of civilian deaths. Shortly before last weeks election NATO launched an air strike against a vehicle convoy which they assumed to be insurgents but which later turned out to be campaign workers, killing 10 and wounding a candidate for parliament.
Poster Comment:
There was a public relations push some time ago where the US general was trying to tell the afghan people that efforts were being made to avoid killing civilians. here they are attacking civilians. Even according to the US military on average about 90% of the people killed in these attacks from the air are civilians. There are times when even the US military will admit that they killed a bunch of people and not one of them was the target.
we're supposed to think 'truth justice and the american way', but in reality it is about 'death, killing and destruction.' for a good person to support this government means that psychosis is necessary. we are a captive nation.