Hugo Best: Afghan president warns NATO against airstrikes that kill civilians

Civilian Deaths Growing Concern for NATO in Afghanistan

The Afghan government said Monday that a NATO airstrike that killed 27 civilians in southern Afghanistan was "unjustifiable." A massive NATO operation is underway around Marjah in that part of Afghanistan and allied officials said the airstrike targeted insurgents. As the fighting escalates in Afghanistan, civilians are increasingly caught in the crossfire. VOA's Laurel Bowman has more.

NATO Forces in Afghanistan Can't Deny They Killed Civilians in Sangin Anymore

bit.ly For weeks, US and allied forces in Afghanistan have denied they killed several dozen civilians in Sangin District of Helmand Province on July 23. But our new video exposes the truth about one of the worst civilian casualty incidents of the war. Watch our exclusive interviews with survivors and demand that your elected officials act to prevent future catastrophes like this. rethinkafghanistan.com First, NATO denied knowing anything about the incident. Then, they said only six people were killed and that most of them were insurgents. They can't deny it anymore. http Working with a brave team in Afghanistan headed by Anita, Brave New Foundation's Rethink Afghanistan project sent an intrepid local blogger into Sangin District of Helmand Province--one of the most dangerous areas of the country. He brought back extraordinary first-person accounts from survivors of the Sangin catastrophe. Thanks to his work, there's no doubt anymore: as many as 52 people were killed by a rocket fired by NATO forces. Survivors tell of a scene of absolute carnage and despair, and when the smoke cleared, according to one local, "They [NATO] did nothing and afterwards they said nothing, just like nothing ever happened." But something did happen, and we have to act. Watch our new video and send it to your elected officials: rethinkafghanistan.com Tell them you'll remember how they reacted to Sangin when you enter the voting booth this November.

Afghan civilian casualties skyrocket

The United Nations has released a report about civilian deaths in Afghanistan and it states that civilian casualties are sky rocketing. Nearly 1300 Afghan civilians have been killed already from the start of the year; the deceased are mostly women and children. The Afghanistan people don't want NATO led forces into their provinces because once the coalition forces come in, Taliban insurgents are not far behind.

Big rise in Afghan civilian deaths

Attacks against Afghan civilians have jumped in frequency and intensity in the first half of 2010, according to a report released on Tuesday by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. The 3268 casualties mark a 31 per cent increase over the same period in 2009, the report said. The UN said that the Taliban was responsible for around 76 per cent of those casualties. Nato pointed out that the UN report showed a 64 per cent drop in the number of Afghans killed or wounded in coalition airstrikes. Clayton Swisher reports from Kabul.

afghanistan outrage at civilian deaths by us airstrikes

afghanistan people and government are outraged by civilian deaths in us/nato airstrikes. afghans demand that nato and the united states to leave their country as soon as possible. analysts believe that civilian casualties help the taliban's recruiting drives. this as many of the people who lost their loved ones in us attacks join the militants and this results in more nato casualties. the taliban claim that they have shot down a nato (canadian) helicopter in southern kandahar province killing all onboard. nato, however, says that the helicopter has only made an emergency landing due to technical issues. nato says only one soldier has been injured in the incident. in pakistan floodwater's are spreading to the central and southern areas of the country and more than 1500 people have lost their lives in the worst floods in nearly a century. waterborne diseases such as cholera are rapidly spreading among the survivors. press tv correspondent javed fana live in islamabad reports that the flooding is now heading fast towards pakistan's southern province of sindh. in the northern province of punjab the biggest losses is the crops. 1.3 million hectares [3212370 acres] of crops are now underwater. this will affect pakistan's economy because this is its agriculture hardland. if the flood continues, pakistans import and export are going to be affected. major crops produced in pakistans punjab and sindh provinces include: cotton, rice and sugercane. the flooding, besides affecting <b>...</b>

NATO night raids; civilian casualties

NATO now admits that it was responsible for the deaths of three Afghan women during a night raid in Kabul on February 12, 2010. What Afghan officials have called a cover-up, NATO officials are saying was a mistake by its International forces. Jerome Starkey said that the families of the dead civilians told him they felt that their dead bodies had been violated and the troops dug the bullets out of them.

Afghan civilian casualties, protests insue

NATO has killed more civilians; the international troops were trying to ward off an approaching vehicle. This occurred right outside Kandahar; the US servicemen said that the bus was warned multiple times with flares and even gunshots. After the deaths, many civilians swarmed the streets in protest of the circumstances and were chanting anti-American sentiment.

Civilian deaths spark Afghan unrest

Nato forces have claimed a victory in eastern Afghanistan, saying they have captured a key Taliban commander. But the raid that led to that success may have come at a heavy price, as Afghans vent their anger over three villagers killed in the assault. Clayton Swisher reports.

More civilian deaths in Afghanistan

Another deadly day in Afghanistan after western troops opened fire on a bus in the southern city of Kandahar. Afghan authorities are once again looking for answers from NATO, while survivors say four civilians were killed in the attack. NATO says the incident occurred as international troops tried to ward off an oncoming vehicle.

US General: Civilian Casualties Hurt US, NATO Mission in Afghanistan

The commander of US forces in the Middle East and Central Asia, General David Petraeus, says civilian casualties in Afghanistan undermine the US and NATO military mission there. On Monday, US troops fired on a passenger bus, killing four civilians and further stoking Afghan anger over civilian casualties by coalition forces. VOA's Laurel Bowman examines what lies ahead for US and NATO troops in Afghanistan.

Afghans angry over civilian deaths

In southern Afghanistan, the fight for control is taking an increasing toll on civilian lives. As Nato and Afghan troops battle the Taliban, villagers are increasingly being caught in the crossfire.

US "concerned" over civilian casualties in Afghanistan - 5 S

At least 70 people, including civilians, have been killed in a Nato attack in northern Afghanistan. The US administration has expressed "great concern" over the civilian casualties in the air strike, which it said targeted Taliban fighters. Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, said in an interview with Al Jazeera that the high civilian casualty rate is a problem for the allied effort in Afghanistan. "Civilians casualties are a problem for us and we are doing everything conceivable to try and avoid them," Gates said. Al Jazeera's Anand Naidoo reports on how civilian deaths could undermine the support for Nato's operations in Afghanistan.

NATO chief defends Afghan mission after civilian deaths

Watch enhanced version @ www.videocrux.com The US command in Afghanistan has been forced to apologise for the third off-mark NATO bombing in a week which the Afghan government says killed at least 33 civilians, including four women and a child. The air strike on Sunday came a week into a major NATO-led offensive in the south, which US commanders says is the first step of a region-wide campaign against the Taliban.

NATO regrets Afghan child deaths

Nine children have been killed in a NATO air raid in Afghanistan's Kunar province. They were out collecting firewood on Tuesday when a they were hit. General David Petraeus, the international forces commander, has personally apologised to Afghan President Hamid Karzai for the deaths. Afghan officials say as many as 65 civilians were killed in another air raid in February, claims that Petraeus have denied. Al Jazeera's Sue Turton has this exclusive from the village in Pech valley where the killings took place. Viewers may find some of the images disturbing.

Afghan civilian death toll rises - 31 Jul 09

A new UN report says the number of civilians killed in Afghanistan has jumped by 24 per cent compared to last year. It says while car and roadside bombs used by the Taliban and other fighters are the biggest overall killers of civilians, airstrikes are the main cause of civilian deaths by coalition forces. James Bays reports from Kabul

Journalists die, mainstream media doesn't care

As civilian casualties add up in Afghanistan following a NATO raid, the mainstream media in America looked elsewhere today. Where exactly? To sex scandals and fashion shows. As members of the press put themselves on the battle field, are the risks that come with reporting worth being in the line of fire? Sebastian Junger worked alongside Tim Hetherington, a filmmaker and journalist killed while covering the Libyan Civil War this year. Despite taking a back seat to more sensational stories at times, Unger says the press must continue to rally from the front line of war so the world has a chance to experience it as well. Follow Lauren on Twitter at twitter.com

General Stanley McChrystal, US and NATO commander on Afghanistan push

www.timesofearth.com Kabul - Nato has expressed its "deep regret" over the loss of civilian lives in its offensive against the Taliban in the town of Marjah in southern Afghanistan. Despite the deaths of 12 civilians, officials appeared pleased with the Marjah campaign's progress, with Afghan officials saying on Monday that almost total control of the area had been wrested from the Taliban. "Marjah has been almost cleared and our forces are in control," General Mohammad Zahir Azimi, the Afghan defence ministry spokesman, said. "There are some small-scale, sporadic firefights. We are mostly busy with clearing the area of IEDs [Improvised Explosive Devices]. The operation is nearing its end." General Aminullah Patiani, the senior Afghan commander in the operation, echoed that "all of the areas of Marjah and Nad Ali have been taken by combined forces". "Much of Marjah is safe enough for dignitaries to visit. Forces have set up a cordon of three kilometres around the town and they are trying to extend that cordon." But the offensive, known as Operation Moshtarak, was overshadowed on Sunday by the death of 12 Afghan civilians killed when two rockets missed their target and landed on homes in Nad Ali district, where Marjah is located. Nato acknowledged responsibility for the deaths. General Stanley McChrystal, the head of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, called the loss of life "regrettable" and said the operation was being conducted with "the protection of Afghan people in <b>...</b>

WikiLeaks 90000 Afghanistan Civilian Deaths

Pakistan plane crashes in Islamabad WikiLeaks 90000 Afghanistan Civilian Deaths

Civilian Casualties Mount During US Offensive in Afghanistan

Full video: www.democracynow.org Democracy Now! Tuesday, February 16, 2010 In Afghanistan, thousands of US and NATO forces have entered the fourth day of a major offensive in Marjah in southern Helmand province. At least nineteen civilians have been killed so far, including six children who died when a missile struck their house on the outskirts of the city. Meanwhile, the Italian NGO Emergency says that dozens of seriously injured civilians are being prevented from reaching hospitals in the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah, due to military blockades. We speak to Wall Street Journal reporter Anand Gopal in Afghanistan.

Lt. Col. John Shirras on NATO and Afghan Civilian Casualties

British Lt. Col. John Shirras addresses young leaders at the Warsaw Transatlantic Forum on March 12, 2009

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Source: http://article.wn.com/view/2011/05/31/Afghan_president_warns_NATO_against_airstrikes_that_kill_civ/

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Hugo Best

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Afghan president warns NATO against airstrikes that kill civilians

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