Protests erupted on Friday after a Nato-led raid overnight in a village in Surkhrod district angered residents who said the raid killed innocent civilians. So-called "night raids" on Afghan houses by foreign troops in the hours of darkness are a frequent source of friction between the Afghan government and the Nato-led force. The US and Nato commander, General Stanley McChrystal, has given instructions that night raids be carried out only as a last resort and with Afghan troops in the lead, to prevent incidents where Afghans defending their homes are mistaken for insurgents. McChrystal has however refused to ban night raids outright, as requested by President Hamid Karzai. McChrystal's instructions say they can still be an effective and necessary tactic. How does that make any sense and how do Karzai's now weekly condemnations of NATO atrocities (he ignores many of them) create anything but a picture of chaos? The picture shows local protests at the killings. Ali Khan, who lives next door to the homes which were raided, said he heard helicopters land at about 1am (2030 GMT). "And then the gunshots started. We were terrified and we couldn't come outside," he said. "Dozens of Afghan and foreign troops raided three homes and we found out in the morning that nine people were killed and two others are missing," Khan said.
Look very, very hard at the boy on the right of the picture dressed in blue.
ReplyDeleteHe is the future of Afghanistan. This night will be in his heart, and soul for eternity.
And the West keeps asking "why do they hate us so"?
Yeah, or as they usually spin it in the US 'Why do they hate our freedom and way of life'. I know why. Karzai has accused NATO again today. Will anything be done? I think we both know.
ReplyDeleteIt is like listening to an old vinyl LP record where the needle is stuck.
ReplyDeleteSooner or later the needle has to be replaced, and the LP needs to be thrown out.