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Forum Post: So sorry, we blew up another Afghan family

Posted 11 years ago on May 8, 2012, 3:15 p.m. EST by bklynsboy (834)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

With screwups like this repeated ad nauseum, hundreds of billions of taxpayer money and US lives are hopelessly wasted. We'll NEVER succeed. Yet Obama signed a 10 year extension with Karzai and Romney wants to escalate. How NUTS are they?

May 7, 2012

U.S. Confirms Afghan Airstrike Mistake

By ROD NORDLAND

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/world/asia/united-states-confirms-airstrike-wrongly-killed-afghan-family-members.html?pagewanted=print

KABUL, Afghanistan — The American military claimed responsibility and expressed regret for an airstrike that mistakenly killed six members of a family in southwestern Afghanistan, Afghan and American military officials confirmed Monday.

The attack, which took place Friday night, was first revealed by the governor of Helmand Province, Muhammad Gulab Mangal, on Monday. His spokesman, Dawoud Ahmadi, said that after an investigation they had determined that a family home in the Sangin district had been attacked by mistake in the American airstrike, which was called in to respond to a Taliban attack.

Mr. Mangal summoned the American regional commander, Maj. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus of the Marines, to complain, and General Gurganus apologized, Mr. Ahmadi said.

A spokesman for the United States military in Helmand, Lt. Col. Stewart Upton, said, “We don’t have any issues with the governor’s statement.” He said American officials had been aware of the deaths and had immediately started an investigation.

“We expressed regret over the incident, and we’re investigating to determine how this happened,” Colonel Upton said.

“We are deeply saddened by any civilian death and particularly regret an incident where civilians are killed,” especially because of action by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, he said.

He added that General Gurganus “will be formally apologizing in the next couple of days to the family.”

The victims were the family’s mother and five of her children, three girls and two boys, according to Afghan officials.

In northern Afghanistan, 23 members of a wedding celebration drowned in severe flash flooding, according to the governor of Sar-i-Pul Province, Abdul Jabar Haqbeen, who went to the scene in the Dara Bala district. The bride and groom survived, he said.

The flooding in the mountainous northern province claimed at least five other lives, with four people still missing, he said.

Afghanistan had particularly heavy snowfall over the past winter, with numerous avalanches, and as spring melts begin, more flooding is feared.

Three members of the NATO coalition were killed on Monday in an improvised bomb attack in eastern Afghanistan, according to a statement from the International Security Assistance Force, which did not give their nationalities pending notification of next of kin.

In southeastern Paktika Province, Afghan authorities said four suicide bombers attacked government buildings in the capital, Sharana, on Sunday night, but were subdued after an eight-hour firefight, which ended Monday in the deaths of the attackers. There were no government casualties and one civilian was lightly wounded, according to the province’s police chief, Gen. Dulat Khan Zadran, who said Afghan forces handled the attack without ISAF support.

Taimoor Shah and Jawad Sukhanyar contributed reporting from Kabul, and Farooq Mangal from Khost, Afghanistan.

42 Comments

42 Comments


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[-] 1 points by Skippy2 (485) 11 years ago

Obama averages a drone stirke every 4 days. Maybe he should give that Nobel Peace Prize back. Oh wait, didnt Nobel invent Dynomite? Aww go ahead and keep it Morebomba.

[-] 1 points by bklynsboy (834) 11 years ago

Yeah! Isn't it great how there is zero mention of that?

[-] 1 points by amanofnoimportance (82) from Orlando, FL 11 years ago

When you apologize, it's usually followed by a promise to never do it again.

This isn't the first time.

[-] 1 points by bklynsboy (834) 11 years ago

We buy off Karzai and the families of those blown up.

[-] 1 points by gestopomillyy (1695) 11 years ago

death and killing are the most sustainable enterprises known to mankind. this is a company plan that can never go bankrupt. why would they ever stop?

[-] 1 points by bklynsboy (834) 11 years ago

There seems to be war fatigue which is pressuring withdrawl and disengagement, but not soon enough.

[-] 1 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 11 years ago

“We expressed regret over the incident, and we’re investigating to determine how this happened,” Colonel Upton said.

thank you sir

I will point out that this incident happened with a bomb

[-] 1 points by bklynsboy (834) 11 years ago

It's amazing karzai never kicks out the US with all its errors.

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[-] 1 points by Nevada1 (5843) 11 years ago

Hi Bklynsboy, Thank you for post. We need to get out of Afganistan.

[-] 1 points by Nevada1 (5843) 11 years ago

Agree.

[-] 1 points by bklynsboy (834) 11 years ago

Endless wars and intervention cause blowback to the US.

[-] 0 points by field (2) 11 years ago

would you have preferred that the usa to have not entered WWII?

[-] 1 points by bklynsboy (834) 11 years ago

That was the last just war against real formidable enemies. Korea, Vietnam and everything since were civil wars or fabrications (remember Gulf of Tonkein?) that cost us trillions in treasure, 10's of thousands GIs killed (55,000 in Vietnam) and hundreds of thousands maimed. 9/11 and everything before and since are blowback from our interventions. Do you want this to continue and expand?

[-] 1 points by ShubeLMorgan2 (1088) from New York, NY 11 years ago

We need to get out of Afghanistan right now.

[-] 4 points by bklynsboy (834) 11 years ago

Yes! But the military corporations control congress and both parties. They want endless war for profit.

[-] 1 points by ShubeLMorgan2 (1088) from New York, NY 11 years ago

bklynsboy I agree with you. That's why we need a movement like #Occupy. "Global Revolution" and in our lifetimes. In fact soon.

[-] 1 points by bklynsboy (834) 11 years ago

The Fortune 500 run the US and the globe. The only thing they respond to is voting with your wallet.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/the-next-us-president-will-be.html/print/

[-] 1 points by TechJunkie (3029) from Miami Beach, FL 11 years ago

"change"

[-] 0 points by Shule (2638) 10 years ago

Meanwhile back in the States, people are upset that they are finally getting health care.....

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[-] 0 points by TrevorMnemonic (5827) 11 years ago

But we need to have infinite war! The war in Afghanistan is the longest war in US history. Why stop now?

A vote for Obama or Romney is a vote for Goldman Sachs and war crimes.

[-] 1 points by bklynsboy (834) 11 years ago

Yes! Endless war except from Ron paul.

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[-] 0 points by beautifulworld (23767) 11 years ago

I wonder how we'd act here in the U.S. if innocent Americans were getting bombed on a daily basis by another government. I do remember how we reacted to 9/11, an attack that was not by a government. We started two wars. Hmmmm. Something to think about. Empathy can help to understand.

I don't know which is sadder: the killing of innocent people by our government or the 10 year extension. Pathetic all around.

[-] 2 points by bklynsboy (834) 11 years ago

There is no talk on WHY 9/11 occurred. There is no talk of WHY the Middle East targets NATO and the US and no other countries in the world. Our interventions and wars must be stopped.

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[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Nurdering? They were intellectualizing people to death? Wow who knew?

[-] 1 points by bklynsboy (834) 11 years ago

There were many years of peace in the past between Muslims, Jews, Christians when everyone traded and made money.

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[-] -3 points by beautifulworld (23767) 11 years ago

Agreed. None of this 10 more years. Get out now!

[-] 2 points by bklynsboy (834) 11 years ago

The only way is vote in a congress that agrees. That requires mass protests like the Vietnam war.

[-] 1 points by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD 11 years ago

IMO, protesting to people who could care less about you or your opinion is fruitless. I protested the Vietnam War and the only reason they ended it was because of the draft. So many kids were forced into an unjust war and died, that it wasn't manageable. People would no longer stand for it. Wars today have been re-engineered and we have a volunteer military; and well paid mercenaries. This is (in their eyes) manageable because the people that sign up, know what they're getting into. As far as voting, most candidates are bought and paid for and they'll do as they're told.

Cheers

[-] 2 points by bklynsboy (834) 11 years ago

Regrettably, you are right. However, the truth must be stated.

[-] 1 points by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD 11 years ago

I will concede to your and DKA's point; that the truth must be stated to those who are unaware, ignorant, or unhappy with the system; but if the purpose is to petition those in power to make changes, it is a waste of time and energy. I wish that wasn't the case.

[-] 2 points by bklynsboy (834) 11 years ago

Things change when enough people apply pressure. Posting can only help.

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

The protest may be presented at the uncaring corrupt/criminal sites, but the protest is for the benefit of those looking in from outside of the corrupt sites. Perhaps even to people inside that are unhappy with how business is being done.

[-] -1 points by totuus (8) 11 years ago

American elections are rigged, so voting is a waste of time:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/192687/hacking-democracy

[-] 0 points by bklynsboy (834) 11 years ago

A difference can be made if enough voters vote in their interests.

[-] 1 points by gestopomillyy (1695) 11 years ago

i think obama ran on the promise to withdraw all troops, look now. does it matter how you vote if they do not listen after they are in office.

[-] 0 points by bklynsboy (834) 11 years ago

Correct. Ron Paul is the only on not bought by the MIC.

[+] -5 points by torusngamble (9) 11 years ago

Forget the Rigged Elections.

Forget Obama and Romney.

Forget the rest of the Democratic and Republican corporate puppets.

Forget the feel-good mental masturbation of Third Parties.

Our system is broken and cannot be repaired from within.

FOCUS ON REGIME CHANGE.

[-] 0 points by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD 11 years ago

"It's not the vote that counts. It's who counts the votes." - Josef Stalin

[-] 1 points by bklynsboy (834) 11 years ago

Goebbles: Repeat a lie often enough it becomes the truth. Good for Fox, Teas.

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