Children killed in NATO attack: Afghan officials
October 17, 2012 by Jack Blood
Filed under World
Winning Hearts and Minds huh?
(AFP) – 2 days ago
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Afghan officials said Monday that a NATO air strike killed three children while it was targeting Taliban insurgents planting mines on a road in southern Afghanistan.
NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed an air strike in Helmand province’s Nawa district on Sunday, saying that three insurgents died and it was investigating reports that children were also killed.
“Two Taliban mine-planters were identified and targeted by ISAF from the air and killed,” district police chief Ahmad Shah Khan told AFP.
“Three children, two boys and a girl, who were nearby collecting firewood were also killed,” Khan added.
Farid Ahmad Farhang, a spokesman for Helmand police, confirmed the incident and said the raid killed two insurgents and three children.
Civilian casualties caused in NATO operations against insurgents are a sensitive issue in relations between the US-led force and the government of President Hamid Karzai.
Karzai often reacts angrily, arguing that such incidents turn people against his administration amid an ongoing insurgency by Taliban Islamists trying to bring him down.
Thousands of civilians are killed in the war each year, with the United Nations saying the vast majority of such deaths are caused by insurgents.
QUOTE:”“Three children, two boys and a girl, who were nearby collecting firewood were also killed,” Khan added.”
What? So they only killed three children this time around!
Funny. The US military has the most sophisticated – accurate and precise weaponry ever known to mankind. Without doubt – they can pin-point strikes against any single individual from many – many miles off if they so chose without any co-lateral damage. i.e. avoiding any injury whatsoever to any bystanders of the intended victim.
More truly shocking evidence that a US/UK/French program to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan population is well and truly in place nowadays.
Kind of puts bullying into perspective.
“Two Taliban mine-planters were identified and targeted by ISAF from the air and killed,”
What evidence do we have other than their claim?
Many the kids wasn’t collecting firewood by them selves.
The difference between collateral damage and dead terrorist has traditionally been the placement gun