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Subscribe to RSSArmy officials are conducting a criminal investigation into newly revealed photographs showing U.S. troops posing with body parts of dead Afghan suicide bombers. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.
Updated at 2 p.m. ET: KABUL: The Los Angeles Times published photos showing U.S. troops posing with the body parts of dead suicide bombers in Afghanistan on Wednesday, prompting condemnations from American officials even before the pictures were posted on the newspaper's website.
A total of 18 pictures showing soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division were taken in 2010 and given to the Times by a soldier who served with the 82nd Airborne's 4th Brigade Combat Team from Ft. Bragg, N.C., the newspaper reported. Only two of the 18 photos appeared on the site.
In an apparent attempt at damage control, the commander of NATO-led forces in Afghanistan said in a statement -- issued before the photographs and story appeared on the Times' site -- that he condemned the apparent actions of U.S. personnel in the pictures.
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"The commander of the International Security Assistance Force, Gen. John R. Allen, strongly condemns the actions depicted in photos released by LA Times that appear to show U.S. Army personnel posing with the bodies of insurgents who killed themselves in suicide attacks in 2010," NATO said in a statement, according to NBC News.
"The actions of the individuals photographed do not represent the policies of ISAF or the U.S. Army," Allen said.
Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Wednesday also condemned the photos. In addition, he made a point to slam the L.A. Times for publishing them, saying he regrets that they were ever made public.
"This is war and I know that war is ugly and it's violent and I know that young people sometimes caught up in the moment make some very foolish decisions," Panetta said. "I am not excusing that. I am not excusing that behavior but neither do I want these images to bring further injury to our people or to our relationship with the Afghan people." Panetta said.
Pictures taken two years ago showing American soldiers posing with the severed legs of a dead Taliban suicide bomber are being condemned by the Pentagon. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.
"We had urged the LA Times not to run those photos. The reason for that is those kinds of photos are used by the enemy to incite violence and lives have been lost as a result of the publications of similar photos in the past. We regret that they were published," Panetta said.
In an earlier statement issued by the Pentagon, Panetta said: "These images by no means represent the values or professionalism of the vast majority of U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan today.
Panetta said an investigation that could lead to disciplinary measures is underway.
The news comes at a time of growing sensitivity over the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan after a series of damaging and embarrassing incidents involving U.S. troops.
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In January, a video surfaced showing U.S. Marines urinating on Taliban corpses and then came widespread uproar in Afghanistan over the burning of copies of the Quran at the main American base in the country.
Then on March 17 people, mostly children and women, were killed in two villages of Kandahar province in an unexplained shooting rampage blamed on a U.S. soldier. At the time, Afghan President Hamid Karzai called for NATO forces to pull out of rural areas and stay in their bases, saying he was at the "end of the rope."
A spike in so-called green-on-blue attacks -- by Afghan army and police on U.S. and other foreign forces -- has stoked concern that some of that anger is spilling over into the security forces and turning them against their Western allies.
The Pentagon said it was investigating Wednesday's incident, which could lead to disciplinary measures.
"Anyone found responsible for this inhuman conduct will be held accountable in accordance with our military justice system,” the statement said.
"The danger is that this material could be used by the enemy to incite violence against U.S. and Afghan service members in Afghanistan. U.S. forces in the country are taking security measures to guard against it," it added.
A spokesman for President Hamid Karzai declined to comment on the report, telling NBC News it would be inappropriate to do so for the time being.
U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker also condemned the actions depicted in photos.
NBC News and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Since the advent of the camera, there have been servicemen taking pictures with the dead.
I don't see an issue here, they were suicide bombers, they don't deserve dignity.
I agree. How is this any different from the unwashed, Islamic radical,
ragheads televising them cutting off heads and displaying them? I support the troops
Sure, it's okay to take pictures of coffins of dead Americans coming home from war, but god forbid we should be proud of defeating our enemy and take a photo of some scum bag terrorist!! Can you imagine what it would have been like to fight WWII with the bs political correctness we have to deal with now. The Army would have had to write environmental impact statements before every bombing mission!! Maybe the Army should send condolence letters to the families of the dead terrorists!! What a travesty this administration is!!
the pc police need a tour. God save us from the libs, they're as bad as the taliban. keep the media out of all combat environments.
These people were SUICIDE bombers. They deserved death, not dignity. If anything, we should be congratulating our troops, not condemning them. Enough with the PC bull crap. Personally I think our military should take and post more pictures like this and show those terrorist scumbags what happens when you mess with America.
I think that is exactly what the enemy was doing when they paraded our dead soliders around... remember, they consider US their enemy... we are in THEIR country killing THEIR people. In their minds, our soldiers deserved death and no dignity. Their people were congratulating their own! So enough with the double-standard talk already! We appear to be no better than they are!
"I think that is exactly what the enemy was doing when they paraded our dead soliders around... remember, they consider US their enemy"....yep. Which is why I have NO PROBLEM with our AMERICAN SOLDIERS taking pictures of their moronic suicide bombers. And I hate to break it to you, but we are better than they are. Once American soldiers start strapping bombs on to themselves and on to children and blowing up our own people THEN you can say we are no better than them. Once American soldiers walk in to their own country's schools and poison the female children THEN you can truly say "we appear to be no better than they are". Once we start beheading journalists and innocent people and posting videos of it whilst making demands for money/weapons/etc THEN you can spew your dribble about us being no better than them. Once our soldiers stop fighting FOR YOUR freedom and protection from these terrorists and start fighting AGAINST you, then you can feel free to condemn our troops. Until then, sit down, shut up, and be thankful you have men and women out there who are willing to rummage through these $#!tholes so that you can sleep peacefully at night.
Obama and media matters hates and has no respect for those that protect them. They get thrills out of making our country look bad around the world and the enemy look good. God Bless America!
It is a shame that Obama praises the likes of Sharpton and the New Black Panthers in the news when they are threatening us at home but our military are partrayed as the enemy.
Yes Paranoid Pat, I'm certain that Obama himself was in collusion with the SOLDIER that turned the photos over to the LA times. Because we all know, Obama has complete control of EVERYTHING.
You need some serious therapy.
Or maybe just a high school education would help...
Well you all are right, the military does need to follow orders. With that being said, there is pictures of dead enemies from the beginning of time. Now what the real issue is here is that the news will only report what we as the US are doing wrong over there, they believe that it is the only news wroth reporting. Let’s get real, it’s a war; there is going to be good and bad from all aspects of it. In the long run, let the news report what they want to, we all know that only a ¼ of it is true anyways. All that matters is that we continue to support OUR military, say thank you to them when you see them, shake their hand, say welcome home and God Bless.
Tiger,
You are so correct.
There is no NEWS...its just biased B.S. that the media puts out...
Tiger
Some of the mainstream media will print anything anti-American. They share the goals of many of our politicians, such as Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Boxer, Feinstine, Nelson, and nearly all the Progressives, to force us into their imagimary Utopia of the New World Order.
The Politicians and Intellectuals, appearently believe that they will be called on to lead this government. I guess they missed the History lessons that make it pretty clear that they will, instead be the first too be eliminated!
I don't see a problem here. The guys blew themselves the F-up. WTF's the big deal?!
Did MSNBC fire all the editors?
That got through unedited, seriously? Wow, way to tie together two unrelated events in a way that gives the impression that the same group did both or that the motivation was even remotely similar.
Lets see if I recall the events as they actually occurred
A video of some marines turned up of them urinating on some dead insurgents
and a month later
some Korans were erroneously sent to the burn pit.
MSNBC, biased, no not at all.
PMSNBC...ever watch those biased asses in the morning...they just pick and choose what to yak about, and then spin it for their and their idol. barry's benefit....
Tattle-tale reporting. Serves only yourself and hurts our soldiers. Does nothing to help the American public and these soldiers die so you can print self-serving crap like this about them to better your name as a reporter. This has to be the saddest type of reporting there is.
Dude, what is the deal with people taking pictures with dead bodies??? It is a sickness. What is next? they want to F... them??? It is also a sickness called necrophilia.
Maybe. I have pictures taken of me when I shoot a deer as a trophy. These guys are fighting for their lives and I guess, the stress makes them not realize what they're doing.
We, "the people" see it differently since we don't know the stress of knowing when it's your turn to take one between the eyes.
You are an ass---e Sam . Damn libtard!!!
These photos have been taken by troops ever since it was possible to take cameras into battle. Certainly our enemy does the same thing and worse. Our troops bodies have been dragged through the streets, hung for display, etc. Often these acts though known are sanitized and don't make it back to the U.S.
It is understandable that we would not want to make available to our enemy, photos that could be used as propaganda for the purpose of rallying there personnel.
Despite orders, this is not a practice that will end completely.
Mike,
Yeah, the difference between then and now is, then..... the photo's had to be taken back to a dark room and processed and even at that, they had to be slowly distributed around whereas, now with satellites, the photo's/video goes viral around the world within a minute. BOOM! Sent!
Creek Dog - I agree that the instantaneous photos and being able to transmitt them all over the place in a matter of seconds makes control of who sees these photos problematic.
Best keep the "ear" collection out of the public domain.
Copy that....
Political correctness is dismanteling america.....
The most acurate defination of Political Correctness I've found is this one " Political Correctness is the belief that one might pick-up feces by its clean end "
Who cares, they are muslim terrorist trash.
Matthew Brady photographed hundreds (thousands?) of bodies during the Civil War and his work is considered a national treasure.
Makes you wonder who's side the media is on in this country. It is fine for the Muslims in these countries to show be-headings, pictured with dead bodies, and perform all kinds of atrocities to bodies. But we are all quick to judge what an American does, no matter what the rest of the world does. If Americans attack first, they are monsters of war, but if the Muslim attacks first and usually it is their own kind, then they are soldiers. The American forces need to get out now, take all of our equipment, armaments and leave these people to their own misery and their own way of life, if you want to call it that. They hate us no matter what and it is time to stop helping those that consistently spread this hate. If they want money, then let China hand it out, they have all of our economy anyway, so they can be the new America.
Tony,
Very good point. The problem with our country is we are a "free" country and that is how we started. We pull all our troops and we won't be able to stop them before they get over here and wreak havoc. Well, it helps anyway.
On another note, if we pull our troops now, we'll save billions a year on government $ which comes out of our pockets. UGH! It's a stalemate man. We're already Fu-ct.
Sounds like it would make an ironic Christmas card. Peace on Earth, Goodwill To Man.
"Anyone found responsible for this inhuman conduct will be held accountable "
What's "inhuman" is blowing yourself up and taking women and children with you.
Jim462... didn't your Mom ever teach you that two wrongs don't make a right???
If you don't want troops posing with dead enemy soldiers, don't send 18 year old kids over there to fight!
There is alot of killing in america already, people walking into malls shooting other people for no reason, children going to school with guns to shoot other children that bullied them. Now imagine these soldiers must still go home to america, I feel sorry for everyone, because they will be letting the dogs loose.
Yes, cleokl, that is the really scary part. These soldiers will be coming home and mingling with society and dating our daughters... scary thought indeed! This is not, and I repeat "not", a slam against ALL soldiers. The overwhelming majority have served their country with dignity and respect. These pigs in these photos and others like it are nothing more than pigs and deserve nobody's respect. I owe them absolutely nothing... they are not fighting for my freedom. I actually feel less safe with these idiots over there creating more hatred for Americans worldwide.
Reminds me of the scene in Full Metal Jacket when they pose with a dead VC for the documentary crew that is filming.
If the Afghanis are upset over this then screw them. They have their priorities all upside down. Why is it okay to castrate,burn and beat there women and it is so wrong to have a picture taken of body parts of a religious fanatic. Will there be rioting again?
I was wondering why their are never any pieces of toast with Muhamed's likeness accidently burned into it.
And to all you self rightous Muslims, You remind me of Nazis.
You are insulting every Nazi that ever fought!
Well said. The toast part was funny too. Heh heh
I'm right with #42 - just great for the muslim animals to do movies of beheading David Pearl, drag our dead soldiers through the streets, but heaven forbid that we record the fools that blow themselves up. As far as I am concerned, we should maintain a fleet of HUNGRY dogs to clean up what is left of the bombers. Video it and publish it for all the rest to see what they are going to get. Politically Correct is for those who are too cowardly to fight and too weak to stand.
We are not expecting them to be politically correct but to have a moral conscience. They lack both!
This Bravo Foxtrot, Blue Falcon, that gave the pictures up, is nothing but garbage. Probably cried to his mommy in basic. How can you have real soldiers if you are not able to train them properly. People join the military and they are still a civilian after basic. What do you civis expect?? Soldiers not only protect our country and way of life, but protect you from sights you would never have to see on a daily basis in your entire sheltered lives. You're welcome!
For those who don't know...
"Buddy Fu*ker" or screwing another serviceman over.
I am appalled.
Unless it is a trophy, it should not be photographed.
It is a trophy silly. When two people trying to kill each other, there can only be one winner. Trophy goes to the winner.
Amen...the only good muslim is a dead one...esp if they are shooting at our soldiers.
What is the problem with this??? Quite sure this has been done in about avery war. UUURAAA!!!!!
The English used to put the head of their enemies on a stake.
Native Americans used to attach the scalps of their dead enemies to their loin clothes.
My cat struts around our house with dead prey.
What's the big deal?