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EPA/I. SAMEEM
Afghan security officials inspect the scene where of a suicide attack in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Wednesday.
A dusty marketplace in southern Afghanistan was turned into a gruesome scene of blood and bodies on Wednesday after at least two suicide attacks, which left 22 civilians dead and at least 50 others injured, officials said.
Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi said the militant group was behind the attacks in Kandahar, the capital of Kandahar province and the spiritual birthplace of the insurgency, The Associated Press reported.
In the east, two American pilots were killed in a helicopter crash amid enemy activity, an un-named senior U.S. defense official at the Pentagon told The Associated Press. NATO confirmed that two service members had been killed in the crash but not their nationality or any other information.
A ferocious 18-hour Taliban attack on the Afghan capital ended when insurgents who had holed up in two buildings were overcome by heavy gunfire from Afghan-led forces and pre-dawn air assaults from U.S.-led coalition helicopters. ITN's Bill Neely reports.
Also in the east, Afghan officials and residents said a pre-dawn NATO air-strike targeting militants killed civilians celebrating a wedding in Logar province, including women and children, although a NATO forces spokesman said they had no reports of civilians being killed in the overnight raid to capture a Taliban leader.
Seven killed in attack on NATO base in Afghanistan
NATO said a number of insurgents had been killed as a result of the operation, and that two Afghan women had received medical care after being wounded. The women had not received life-threatening injuries, NATO said.
A local member of parliament told NBC News that at least 18 people were killed in the attack.
AP Photo/Ihsanullah Majroh
Afghan villagers gather at a house destroyed in an apparent NATO raid in Logar province, south of Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday.
"Among those killed were civilians and members of the Taliban," Saib Khan told NBC News. "It is hard to obtain the exact number of casualties because a wedding party was staying in the same area where the airstrike occurred."
Local officials told Afghanistan's TOLOnews that 13 civilians had been killed in the airstrike.
There was no immediate explanation for the different accounts.
Kandahar attack
Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the Kandahar attack on civilians, saying it proved the "enemy is getting weaker because they are killing innocent people."
One suicide bomber detonated a three-wheeled motorbike filled with explosives first, Rahmatullah Atrafi, deputy police chief in Kandahar province told the AP. Then, as people rushed to assist the casualties, two other suicide bombers on foot walked up to the site and blew themselves up, he said.
The life of a female cardiologist in Afghanistan
The explosions left a bloody scene of body parts, shoes, soda cans, snacks and debris from three shops that were destroyed.
Mohammad Naeem, a 30-year-old shopkeeper, said he was selling soft drinks to a customer when the first blast occurred.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today expressed her shock and sadness after an American soldier murdered 16 civilians in Afghanistan - an attack that has further enflamed tensions in the country. ITN's Martin Geissler reports from Afghanistan.
"I dropped to the ground," he told the AP. "When I got up, I looked outside and I heard people shouting for help."
Naeem said he helped his customer, who was wounded, into his shop.
Obama hails 'new kind of relationship' with Kabul
Violence erupted in Kabul just hours after President Obama's visit to Afghanistan where he signed a peace deal with the country's president, Hamid Karzai. Rick Tyler of the pro-Newt Gingrich Super PAC, Politico’s Maggie Haberman, The Hill’s Karen Finney, and The New York Times Magazine’s Hugo Lindgren discuss US ties with Afghanistan.
"He was bleeding. I put cloth on his wound to stop the bleeding," he said. "I was busy with that when the other blasts occurred."
Islam Zada, a truck driver, was on the other side of the road having tea near his parked truck when the attack began.
"I couldn't see anything except for fire and dust," Zada said of the scene. "I found a wounded truck driver on our side of the road and went to help him," Zada said. "We gave him some water and when we were talking to him the other blasts occurred."
Protests spread for a third day throughout Afghanistan despite apologies from NATO and U.S. officials for the inadvertent burning of Qurans. NBC's Atia Abawi reports.
The number of Afghan civilians killed dropped 36 percent in the first four months of the year compared with last year, according to the latest figures compiled by the U.N. While the trend is promising, the U.N. laments that too many civilians are being caught up in the violence as insurgents fight Afghan and foreign forces.
The U.N. said last month that 579 civilians were killed in the first four months - down from 898 killed in the same period of 2011.
Anti-government forces caused 79 percent of civilian casualties and Afghan and foreign forces 9 percent, according to the U.N. It was not clear who was responsible for the remaining 12 percent.
NBC News' Atia Abawi and Akbar Shinwari, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Of course, things in Afghanistan will improve soon, as the U.S. combat withdrawal is imminent.
Yeah about that...
Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the Kandahar attack on civilians, saying it proved the "enemy is getting weaker because they are killing innocent people."
Haven't the Taliban been bombing civilians for the better part of a decade? How is this any different?
Bring are people home now....If these people don't want to help them selves, why shed any more of are blood...
Good God. A typo is one thing, but it's clear that you actually think that "our" is spelled A-R-E. Did you drop out after the third grade?
Lev, I teach english and I´ve written " we should of gone" and "when I get their" in emails on occasion. I think it´s OK to point out the mistake on your part, but the reference to dropping out of the third grade was unecessary. Unless of course you our perfect.
Marty,
"I teach english and I´ve written " we should of gone" and "when I get their""
"Should've" and "Should of" are homonyms just as are "they're", "their" and "there" so it is easy to accidentally type one when you meant another. I do the same thing occasionally and have to catch myself.
Point taken. I will also admit to occasionally making mistakes when typing "you're" and "your," but for some reason confusing "our" and "are" feels like a mistake of a different magnitude. When a person writes "are" twice when they mean "our," one suspects that they believe that this is how it is spelled.
That's true. After the US military and NATO leaves, the TAllywhackers will take over again, kick all the girls out of school, stop the sales of porn and life will be peaceful. Except for the secret assraping of boys and sisters, that is.
Whollie Crap, aint you fellas kind a driftin away from the point? I was not aware that there were so manty Gramer inspecters here. The third Grade comment was a bit much since his comment was conveyed well enough.
I believe that I had rad a previous story where the Chinese are looking at moving into the area as soon as we are gone. Fancy that!
The moment US allies and NATO enter a place, even Karzais get worried about civilians!
When Sunni militants bomb Shiites mosques in Pakistan and other places and then hospitals where injured are being treated, no one cares!
At least suicide bombers and that too the Islamic ones should not kill poor "innocents", "women and children"! These are for Syria.
When they are used to massive genocides of infidels, how can the killings be tolerated? Afghanistan, Pakistan's levels are far higher on scale.
They just seem to like to blow each other up for some reason. I wonder if that practice will end if our troops are no longer there, or if it will become a national pastime?
Master Joseph,
"They just seem to like to blow each other up for some reason. I wonder if that practice will end if our troops are no longer there, or if it will become a national pastime?"
If they take the country over again after our troops leave, the Taliban will just have to content themselves with stoning women for adultery, flogging homosexuals and blowing up 2,000 year old statues of the Buddha like they did before when they were running that country.
Look at Iraq. More bloody sectarian and tribal battles between Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds are going to be there!
Where is the outrage? Where are the marching pickets? Where is the burning Afghan/Taliban flags? Where are hordes decrying the violence? Where are the threats against the government? Where are pictures of a bloody street and pointing fingers? Where are mullahs crying out for revenge. Oh that's right. It's their own people, so it's okay to murder and kill, just so it's a bunch of homeys doing the deeds. Yeah, right.
It's very hard for me to work up any sympathy for any of them. They continually prove that they accept death, destruction and violence, just as long as they get to do it.
Yeah, especially where is the outrage by the Islamic proponents who say it's not a violent culture? NONE of them say ANYTHING!
A dirty filthy country that exports the worlds herion supply.
and along with Pakistan Islamic terrorists all over the world!
This is the way to start my day by receiving good news. Somehow these animals will blame the US for this. Let them kill off each other until there is no left in this rotten country. They export herion to the world, we should wipe the entire country off the face of the earth, what has anybody in the country done for mankind.
These Muslims do not know how to live in a civilized world so let them live like animals and kill each other off. The same thing goes for Pakastan
They ruin their places and sneak in the US, Britain, European nations giving all sorts of excuses.
See the increase in numbers of Muslim, especially Pakis, in these nations and the uncivilized mess they brought in.
Was travel a big problem two decades back?
This is the way to start my day by receiving good news. Somehow these animals will blame the US for this. Let them kill off each other until there is no left in this rotten country. They export herion to the world, we should wipe the entire country off the face of the earth, what has anybody in the country done for mankind.
These Muslims do not know how to live in a civilized world so let them live like animals and kill each other off. The same thing goes for Pakastan
Pull our troops and money out of this hellhole, and let them just be, growing their poppy and killing themselves.
Just another normal day in Afghanistan.
And the Taliban continues with it's strategy of "winning the hearts and minds of the Afghan people." Since most of them are savages anyway it will probably work.
I know I'm just a dummy but why would they kill so many civilians in the reported birthplace of their insurgency? What message are they trying to get across? That they are A-holes?
Havn't you heard, Killig someone is doing them a favor in Muslim Terms since that is where the virgins are. I hope our troops remember to do their good deeds today.
Our gov't couldn't care less about the Afgan people. Keep on spending $ for the military and drag it out as long as possible. It's all about the $ folks so get used to it. From Bush B-1 bomber all the way to Obombya and all the puppets inbetween, the huge military corp. have everything they want. How many more boogymen will there be before Americans wake up and put a stop to all this. RON PAUL 2012
Just another day at the office in Muslim Land.
Does anyone know why the Administration keeps a tight lid on USA casualties. They do not report them as if they never happen. I can tell you that approach is devistating to our troops. When their own Government will not even acknowledge. Sad
The pictures look like the 2nd century, why are we still in that hellhole? We will NEVER eliminate the Taliban or Al Quaida, they hate our guts as they should as we are occupying their country. We have learned nothing since Vietnam, where are we getting the money to constantly fund these wars? We need to use this money to fix our infrastructure, create jobs, pay down our debt, etc, I am not faulting Obama on starting this but for once and for all can he please end this madness in Iraq and Afganistan, this has been going on for too long.
Nope. Hussein Obama's buddies be getting rich off of the war. The want him to keep on keeping on. Why else?
Wakani, I agree and disagree with you, not sure how rich Obama is getting but yes by fueling these wars somebody is DEFINITELY getting paid a lot of money. Don't forget to include Bush and his cronies who started the war, if you just want to knock Obama then that's fine but include the architects of this war too please.
Oh yeah, Harley, I forgot, GW Bush's fault. Hussein doubled down on Afghanistan, continues to spend our national treasure and sending our sons and daughters to their death in that gawd forwaken place. He could stop it if he wanted, but gotta be some coin involved.
Either fight the war properly or just get out.
If we have to win the war, we have to carpet bomb Paki Islamic militant areas, especially the Paki Haqqani ones just like 1991 Iraqi war.
During Vietnam war even the neighboring nations were bombed. So why worry about civilians. Afghan and Paki militants themselves don’t care about their civilians.
When the NATO forces were entering Kandahar in 2001, Pakis airlifted key al-Qaida, Taliban, ISI and others militants by back door from Kandahar.
This includes Mullah Omar, Osama and many including Haqqani militant network leaders.
Despite the backstabbings, the US and allies pumped in huge economic and military aids into Pakistan.
Dump backstabbing Pakistan, the dirtiest swamp on earth.
Good God these people are incredible. Every day they demonstrate what a bunch of barbarians they are. There seems to be no limit to the anguish and terror they bring upon their own people. They place no value whatsoever on human life. Our people are dying for no worthwhile cause and they will continue to die until this government declares an end to this carnage. They time is now...today...our people must be brought home!
TVAR, agreed...they have no value at all on human life, we need to leave today but that is not going to happen, if Obama pulls the troops then Romney will say we are cutting and running and that Obama is weak and this could doom Obama's chances, on the other hand upon winning the election Romney will work to speed up the ending of these wars I believe. He will have nothing to lose since he already won the election, anyway there is a timetable in place and these wars are going to end anyway but not before the November elections. Besides we have Iran, Syria, Egypt, Yemen just waiting to be Liberated by the United States with open arms and throwing flower petals at our feet.
Yep, Harley, you spot on again. Lacking a pair, Obama be hiding in the corner, shaking in his boots that Mitty will say something back about him. I understand all that.
And I have spent my time in the 'Stan, it ain't at all nice. No win, we need to leave and leave now before another our our men or women 's blood is spilt on that horrible, ungrateful land.
Agreed Wakani, this war is not going to end until the election is done, no matter who wins the election this war is done because Obama or Mitt will have nothing to lose by ending the war. The sad part is that how many more soldiers (who are the pawns in this game) will lose their lives or limbs during this time. We need a period of 10 years with no wars just to get back to where we were before this madness started but I doubt we will go that long with creating a new enemy to invade.
Everyone should be required to go where I was this morning, Walter Reed Medical Center. To see so many, I mean dozens of young men, missing arms, missing legs, missing both, blind, horribly burned, all for some misuided notion that we can accomplish something in Aghanistan. Horrible. It just ain't right.
Not scientific of course, but I would bet that of the 100,000 troops we have in the 'Stan, clearly half will have lifetime wounds. Not all physical, majority are mental. They live like dogs in the sand, horrible food, the friendlies that you just trained and gave weapons to, are trying to kill you. Your family back home is not properly cared for. Horrible to do this to our own. We are doing it, daily. And the so called Press will not report it. Horrible. Ok I will STFU.
Wakani, you are so right. The war will never end for most of those that are lucky to make it back, you are commended for visiting the sick and wounded. These wars have been meaningless for years and our stupid politicians (Dems & Repubs) are too busy with the corporations in their pockets to stop the war, but mark my words Wakani that within 2 years all troops will be home God willing. Take care.
Well I was not there for a vist; that said I am far better off than so many that I saw.
For the sake of so many, I hope you are correct and this foolishness stops.
In other news today it has been reported that oranges were grown in Florida followed by several grapes in California.
I picked a bad week to stop sniffing glue...
The double whammy. Just like the murders in Saigon did 40 years ago. And just like the murders in Saigon they will win too.
Just think how good those brave Muslim Taliban fighters must feel after they walked into a place with a bunch of unarmed civilians, and killed and maimed many. It must have been a fearsome situation, sneaking up on unarmed women, children, and old folks. I'm sure their parents would be proud of how their offspring have developed the courage to attack the the unarmed, the weak and the unprepared.
Surely their God will be proud also.
Why do these Muslims tolerate the killing of their own people by these same religion fanatics? They have no feeling towards their fellow man. Their God, their Mohammed commands they act like this?
Blowing innocent people to bits while committing suicide is just a Muslim sacred ritual. Osama Bin Laden admitted it when he said “We love death. The US loves life. That is the difference between us two."
They are getting better at the suicide bombing...I have never heard of a repeat offender.
Didn't Obumma say that the war on terror is over? Didn't he suggest we sit at a peace table with the taliban? The taliban know that America is ready to pull out of their hellhole, and things will return to the former times once that happens. Is Karzai the leader of the country? He is nothing more than a puppet. This war will have the same ending as did the Vietnam war, with thousands of Americans killed, billions of dollars wasted and America leaving with its tail between its legs.
Big Ed from Pickering Tell that to Mr. McCain and Hillary , Lieberman , Graham and all these war monger politicians we got . They want to go to Syria and Arm the rebels ( Alqaeda , Muslim Brother hood rebels ) , I know McCain is a Wacko , But what about the rest of these jerks . I know that the Saudis And Qataris paying somebody off , But we need to find out , Most of our politicians get money from different countries to send our troops into harms way . If you do not believe that , Try the Iraqi and the Libyans and now in Syria . We are letting the love of Israel that our politicians have , Dictate our foreign policy , Our economy going to hell and these guys going to war with Syria and arming Alqaeda , And going to china to bring an activist and start a trouble with country that lends us money , over human rights , ( you know , we really not the best teachers when it comes to human rights ) Our own people deserve more attention the the Chinese and who ever we keep trying to protect .
Hoo haa !! Those wild and crazy Taliban Muslims at it again!!
I could be totally wrong about this.. all this decrying that it was an attack on civilians.. I think it was an attack on civilians catering to the Nato military presence there.. Collaborators.. attacking those who would give aid and comfort to the enemy.. (that would be NATO, American and coalition forces).
Civilian targeting?? not so much..
And I would add..
I believe we have gone about this bit of nastiness in Afghan Land all wrong..
Instead of the Military we should send our Police agencies over there to help Mr, Karzai get a handle on these miscreants..
They can root out all sorts of Anarchists, Terrorists, Illegal aliens, Homegrown Militias, Biker Gangs, you name it.. they can police it!!
BATFE along with the FBI and the Secret Service, oh.. and the IRS .. to keep the money in the proper hands,
What were we thinking.. a restructure in strategy is called for!