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Subscribe to RSSNATO said on Saturday its forces had accidentally shot dead two Afghan boys in the latest of a series of reports of civilian deaths at the hands of international troops.
The shooting in the southern province of Uruzgan could further strain the relationship between the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has demanded U.S. special forces leave another province over allegations of torture.
The two boys were shot dead when they were mistaken for insurgents during an operation in northwest Uruzgan on February 28, ISAF commander, U.S. General Joseph Dunford, said in a statement.
"I offer my personal apology and condolences to the family of the boys who were killed," Dunford said.
"The boys were killed when Coalition forces fired at what they thought were insurgent forces," he said, adding that a team of Afghan and ISAF investigators visited the village on Saturday and met local leaders.
The area, Lowar-e-Dowahom, was often patrolled by international troops, a spokesman for provincial governor Amir Mohammad Akhundzada said.
"They saw two young children who were apparently listening to a radio and they shot them - it is not yet clear why," the spokesman said.
Australian forces deployed in Uruzgan said earlier there had been an "operational incident" in the province's northwest but gave no details except that no soldiers were harmed.
On Feb. 13 a NATO air strike requested by Afghan forces killed 10 people - including five children and four women - in the eastern province of Kunar, prompting Karzai to ban his troops from requesting foreign air strikes.
Two weeks later he halted all special forces operations in the central province of Wardak after a series of allegations involving U.S. special forces soldiers and Afghan men said to be working with them.
Reuters
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If Karzai wants us gone just withdraw his security. when he gets blown up in a week's time we can see if the next guy is willing to play ball
Yep, notice the media skips over the following as a headline story:
And Karzai is probably working with the Taliban.
The only way to justify this is if they were listening to rap music.
"The two boys were shot dead when they were mistaken for insurgents during an operation in northwest Uruzgan on February 28, ISAF commander, U.S. General Joseph Dunford, said in a statement."
This is most ridiculous!
Are the NATO forces fighting insurgents or shooting some movies?
These mistakes do happen when one does not know whether these boys are insurgents or innocents.
If one is serious about such jokes, then no US/NATO forces in other nations, especially Muslim nations!
Give us a break from the jokes like Iraqi wars and Afghan war.
NO TO SYRIA AND IRAN FOR MORE HUMLIATIONS!
Okay, they shot a couple kids out probably scrounging ammo to give to dad, uncle, and big brother in the Taliban, which they'd be in a few years. Would they cry when the next NATO troop is shot by one of theirs? Can't blame NATO troops for shooting first!
Wow, that is one of the most ignorant statements I have ever read on here.
So you desperately want to stay? For what? To steal the vast MINERAL RESOURCES of Afghanistan?
awabnavi: What for Muslims are there in non-Muslim nations?
Are they there to tell lies, fool, steal, kidnap, riot, hate, rape, loot and kill non-Muslims?
Most of you people are not useful to a society/place, nation and world anywhere.
Although extremely unfortunate, and we can all feel for therse boys' families, it must be expected and acccepted that civilian casualties regularly occur when fighting takes place in the midst of a civilian population. That said, I am waiting to read Karzai's public statement and to see what action he will take. Oddly, when the Taliban kill citizens, he is mute.
That smug little worm wins the award for the head of state most ungrateful for what other countries do for him. I can't wait to leaver him behind and to his own devices. When the Taliban come crashing through his bedroom door, he will have but a second to regret our not being there.
How about GTFO of Afghanistan. Win-win. You won't have to try to justify killing children also.
Karzai, the most corrupt, and his gangs have looted enough of our tax monies.
He and many of his key gangsters will run before even Taliban come anywhere near them!
Next demand: give ASYLUM for HELPING YOU PEOPLE.
The jokes (this joke of killing of two boys) in the name of Iraqi wars and Afghan war definite reasons for not getting involved in Syria and Iran.
Let the Shiites and Sunnis do their battles.
We need not act as paid servants of oil rich Sunni rulers, oil companies and their lobbyists and decide the winners as was done with Iraqi wars.
$100 dollars says Karzai moves to someplace like Switzerland days after all NATO troops leave Afghanistan. In 2010 he admitted his net worth was over $6 million. Anyone not believe that number isn't low balled? He prob has 10 times that. So all Karzai is doing atm is keeping the Taliban from killing him till the troops are pulled out, then he'll leave as well.
Chris, way more. I'd say he's put at least 20 mils away each year for the last ten years. We all want a cut, right? And I think you are right, he will leave as soon as the troops do, maybe eve before.
Regardless, I'm sorry these boys got killed. MTRIP.
I see many are saying that we should leave Afghanistan and that after we do in a week’s time the Taliban will come back and take over. Does anyone else not see the problem with that? Or how it parallels with one of America’s previous wars there? After al what happened in 1973 when the US started the pull out of Vietnam? In 1975 the North over-ran the South and declared victory. This is how the history books will forever record that war, that in essence the tiny nation of North Vietnam beat the super power that was the US. So do you guys want history to repeat itself? And have it that in a few years’ time this tine group called the Taliban will be able to say how they too beat the super power of the United States?
Too late. They already have and everyone knows it.
patter123
Really Patter? I believe that there are plenty in the US military right now who’d disagree with you, just like there are huge numbers of posters on here who’d disagree too. Hell there’s even a number that would disagree with me and tell me how the US military won every battle it fought in Vietnam. The point I’m trying to make is that the only way the west can claim a victory in Afghanistan is that when we leave, we leave a government in charge that not only can control every province in under its rule. But also one that is strong enough to resist a Taliban counter attack. Which cannot be achieved in a few years, may take decades and is not helped by people back home advocating a cut and run approach nor by incidents such as the one reported in this article.
Chris, why would Karzai move to Switzerland when he still owns a home in Sacramento? When we finally pull out of Afghanistan, he won't stick around very long after we're gone though, you got that part right.
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@havingfun68: You don't seem to have much to say.
I will never accept innocent children being killed. There is no excuse. And yes, I served. Trigger happy or out looking for revenge. Both reasons are so wrong. We have did enough harm to those people. Time to leave them once again. War will not free them. And no government will help unless money is involved. We are just supporting the military industrial complex at the expense of our troops and people so backward that you have to call them innocent. How can they help us when we say we are leaving? When we leave anyone who helped us is dead.
Shame on you for passing such judgement unfairly. These men and women are in a combat zone where people not in uniform explode devices of all kinds to kill you. They lie in ambush looking for the opportunity to end your life. Put yourself in their shoes and think how nervous you might be if it look like someone was getting ready to detonate a device. Compare this to the soldiers in past wars who had little children approach them with a bomb strapped to them. War is pure hell and bad things happen all the time. When your life is hanging by a split second decision then the chance of error certainly does exist. There is no clear answer unless you advocate sending troops back in body bags.
Larry did you serve?
Let me guess, you served in the 70's and came home with a flower in your rifle barrel.
I can't speak for Larry, but I gave the government 13 awesome years of active duty. Your point?
To Chris from Yucaipa
„ I gave the government 13 awesome years of active duty.”
At least you are acknowledging not have served your country only being a drone with a Prozac soaked brain of the government.
Oh way to go boyzz.
and we are over there for a symbolic reason still.......
Exactly, two years ago ~93% of those people didn't even know why we were there.
Saudis and Pakis had hands in 9/11.
Bushes and co and their great military advisors had Saudis and Pakis as "strategic allies."
They could "symbolically" locate Iraq and Afghanistan on the map.
In Afghanistan, Pakis have backstabbed the US and NATO forces big time. Half of NATO forces deaths are due to ungrateful and backstabbing Pakis.
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 Paki Haqqani militant network leaders.
Hope people remember about Pakis sheltering Osama.
These Paki Islamic religious Nazis don't bother about their people and they are into reckless killing games in the name of jihad.
Only those who did not care/know much about what they were doing could go to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and also pour tax monies, soldiers (stationing US forces in Saudi Arabia) and arms to support most ungrateful and backstabbing Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
liberals and islam animals should get nuked
Jon: I think ya need to use the word 'paki' a few more times... otherwise the KKK wont accept your application.
Soviet Canuckistan: KKK is almost dead. I have some brains and so I won't apply for KKK.
I am currently more worried about Pakis and Saudis, the fountainheads all problems in the world including economic ones.
If there are lesser numbers of oil rich Sunni rulers in the world, oil prices will naturally come to their levels of $30.
If House of Saud go down the drain, then it will be liberation for females, sane Muslims, non-Muslims and minority sect/tribe Muslims like Shiites, Kurds and others.
I am waiting for our liberation day!
English as a second language much John? I dont think you're from North America my friend. Nice troll attempt though... or if you think Pakistan and Saudi Arabia the 'fountainhead' of all the worlds ills, then your research is myopic.
Soviet Canuckistan: If I am not from North America, you are from Russia!
About my English, I am an English writer. My books are being published in the US.
As your head won't get more details, I am not writing about the topics of the books.
Soviet Canuckistan: So you agree with contents of my post, as you were left with only option of commenting on my English!
If you want a "stan" in some Muslim nation, let me know. I will support you fully.
If your battle for "stan" is going to be in Saudi Arabia or Pakistan, I will give daily advices.
huh? Whatever guy. Stick to books... because your ability to author a coherent thought on a forum seems a bit limited. Just saying...
We have been there long enough. It is time we leave that place.
Damn Obama you said GM was alive and Bin Ladin was dead. How about getting the "F" out of Afghanistan? How many more soldiers do you want to die? Mission has been accomplished.
islam animals dont mind killing our kids so if islam animals kids get killed to bad,all of the islam animals should be nuked and take the liberals with them
While going to wars, one should know the history, religion and place well.
Also one should know who the friends and enemies are.
If one does not know what one is doing, then the results are most disastrous for whole of nation.
We are worst hit by these wars and high oil price manipulations.
At least, please learn from these Iraqi wars and Afghan war.
It does not always work: war, war and war and then withdraw, withdraw and withdraw.
In this whole process, many are badly hurt.
KEEP AWAY FROM SYRIA and IRAN.
Pull out and let those ragheads fight it out. Deal with the last one standing. See how far Karzi gets without out US propping him up.In a real war you are going to have casualties regardless of how much high tech you have. Perhaps this is the reason so many soldiers commit suicide.
If the US and republican Charlie Wilso wuld have left the Russians alone to finish thier work in the 1980s. Na because the US like to spend hungreds of billions of dollars to finance wars and coups all over the world. We are a nation of haters and murders and we justify it!!!! God bless the world and all its inhabitants!!! we are going to need it!!!
I wonder how soon it will be before they will start calling our men insurgents in our own country... Maybe NATO should have a gun ban put in place.. So the NATO forces wont shoot innocent kids any more .... Get the hell out of those countries and leave them well enough alone... Hasn't history taught you people anything ...ssssshhhhh
time to leave !!! these sand @!$%#s arnt worth @!$%# so lets get out and let them continue to kill each other off!!! sides this is just two more dead terrorists
It is pointless to be there.
The US has blurred the line between fighting Al-Qaida and fighting The Taliban. Are they now one and the same? It's time for the US to GTFO of these conflicts. Do we arm the Syrian rebels, or do we let 'em sink or swim. Do we let Iran continue their nuclear weapon program, or do we let our good buddies in Tel Aviv turn The Mossad loose upon them. These are the questions that will shape the next 4yrs. Good luck Mr. President....you're gonna need it.
12 years is enough. Just how much money does the military-industrial complex need? Jesus...
Our country, our people need help at home. Just let our people come home.
Let's seriously rethink our strategic foreign policy. There are bigger fish to fry.
And what about that whole pesky "national debt" thing? When do we deal with that mess?
If I didn't know better, I'd be tempted to think our politicians wanted the smoke screen of middle-east conflict so they could continue kicking the can down the road...leaving the financial mess for someone else to clean up, rather than dealing with it themselves.
But that's just me, I'm just one guy watching things and thinking about them. It's not really important what I think.
Why put our military men and women down on the front-page news by saying they shot two boys. We have a boy in the White House that has killed American citizens with no explanation and I am sure his drones have killed more than he was aiming for, young and old. Let's hear about Benghazi, Fast and Furious, some of the lies we have been told about how we will suffer for this wee little spending cut, and why he wants our guns, but has Homeland Security buying guns and ammo like crazy. One more thing we would like on the front-page is who authorized letting all those illegals out from behind bars and plans to let more out.
Btw how many little boys may get shot by people through the door with a shotgun because of our insane VP which has been nominated as take away gun czar by the commander in chief.
MSNBC how about giving us some real news about what is taking place in our country before you try to make those saving your azz look bad.
I understand that the troops involved were Australian and the Aust. Defence Forces are now in their "justifiable not our fault mode". The familys involved will be offered an apology, as little amount of money as possible and told to shut up, and p*ss off.
Yes, I hear that the United States has lost close to 10,000 boys in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Then don't send a boy to do a man's job. Oh wait. No man would have signed up for such nonsense,
I am sure that there has been a significant number of civilians killed by our forces in Afghanistan. But, a 10 year old child can be killed planting a mine. Or woman can be killed when her suicide belt explodes.
If a combatant uses his family for cover, does that mean we don't shoot at him? Our government uses our troupes as live meat targets.
Get us the hell out of Afghanistan or let our troops fight to win.
I am sick to death with the irresponsibility of the media. Yes, killing two boys is horrible and I grieve for the families...BUT, what about the 7 soldiers killed in an ambush about 9 months ago...nothing mentioned about that. What about the video I recently saw, posted by a soldier, about how they are teaching the ANA about artillery and how they are protecting themselves due to the efforts of our soldiers. WHAT ABOUT THAT? What about all the work our troups are doing to HELP the Afghan nationals? What about all of OUR boys being gunned down in unprovoked attacks? I am DISGUSTED with the media in this country. They are low life, bottom feeders who couldn't care LESS for all the good that's being done and only want to report how WE are the enemy. Traitors.
Don't try to JUSTIFY yourselves. You are INVADERS and OCCUPIERS and MURDERERS. PERIOD. The Afghans have a right to fight you in ANY WAY they chose to.
Lets just bring them all home
When the insurgents don't distinguish themselves from civilians how is one supposed to know. They do not dress any different from anyone else. As we all know but are too politically correct to say all the insurgents have to do is plop down $25k and they have themselves a suicide bomber. In county that poor anyone is a potential threat.
You mean the troops can not distinguish between two small boys and adults. LOL! That was DELIBERATE MURDER. If Afghanistan gives the remaining troops of the USA and the FORTY THIEVES immunity from prosecution such incidents will occur on a regular basis. NO IMMUNITY FOR FOREIGN TROOPS. They should be asked to leave and if they don't they should be FORCED to leave.