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US Operation Killed 65 Civilians: Afghan Officials

NATO, US officials cast doubt on claim

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 21, 2011 11:13 AM CST

(Newser) – A US military operation in the desolate, mountainous lands of northeastern Afghanistan last week killed 65 civilians, among them 22 women and 30 children, Afghan officials tell the Washington Post. US officials have launched an emergency probe into the situation, seeking to minimize damage to American-Afghan relations—while some cast doubt on the allegations. “It's just the challenging situation that goes on with these type of incidents: an isolated area, a tough area, tough terrain,” said a US military official, who noted the dead were wearing civilian clothing. “But civilians involved in hostilities, I think that was the majority of them."

“It's up in the mountains and it's not around villages, so we don't think it's very likely” that the victims were civilians, he added. NATO officials, meanwhile, say that 36 armed insurgents were killed. Afghan president Hamid Karzai, meanwhile, cited 50 civilian deaths, and said he “will take any steps necessary to prevent and stop civilian casualties.” (Today the Post also reports on our $1 million drone strikes ... that aren't hitting high-level targets.)

Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks during a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday,  Feb. 8, 2011.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks during a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
summerfairy
Feb 21, 2011 4:26 PM CST
Subject: Muslim Heritage In the USA Barack Obama, during his Cairo speech, said: "I know, too, that Islam has always been a part of America's story." AN AMERICAN CITIZEN'S RESPONSE: Dear Mr. Obama: Were those Muslims that were in America when the Pilgrims first landed? Funny, I thought they were Native American Indians. Were those Muslims that celebrated the first Thanksgiving day? Sorry again, those were Pilgrims and Native American Indians. Can you show me one Muslim signature on the United States Constitution? Declaration of Independence ? Bill of Rights? Didn't think so. Did Muslims fight for this country's freedom from England ? No. Did Muslims fight during the Civil War to free the slaves in America ? No, they did not. In fact, Muslims to this day are still the largest traffickers in human slavery. Your own half brother, a devout Muslim, still advocates slavery himself, even though Muslims of Arabic descent refer to black Muslims as "pug nosed slaves." Says a lot of what the Muslim world really thinks of your family's "rich Islamic heritage," doesn't it Mr. Obama? Where were Muslims during the Civil Rights era of this country? Not present. There are no pictures or media accounts of Muslims walking side by side with Martin Luther King, Jr. or helping to advance the cause of Civil Rights. Where were Muslims during this country's Woman's Suffrage era? Again, not present. In fact, devout Muslims demand that women are subservient to men in the Islamic culture. So much so, that often they are beaten for not wearing the 'hajib' or for talking to a man who is not a direct family member or their husband. Yep, the Muslims are all for women's rights, aren't they? Where were Muslims during World War II? They were aligned with Adolf Hitler. The Muslim grand mufti himself met with Adolf Hitler, reviewed the troops and accepted support from the Nazi's in killing Jews. Finally, Mr. Obama, where were Muslims on Sept. 11th, 2001? If they weren't flying planes into the World Trade Center , the Pentagon or a field in Pennsylvania killing nearly 3,000 people on our own soil, they were rejoicing in the Middle East . No one can dispute the pictures shown from all parts of the Muslim world celebrating on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and other cable news networks that day. Strangely, the very "moderate" Muslims who's asses you bent over backwards to kiss in Cairo , Egypt on June 4th were stone cold silent post 9-11. To many Americans, their silence has meant approval for the acts of that day. And THAT, Mr. Obama, is the "rich heritage" Muslims have here in America .. Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot to mention the Barbary Pirates. They were Muslim. And now we can add November 5, 2009 - the slaughter of American soldiers at Fort Hood by a Muslim major who is a doctor and a psychiatrist who was supposed to be counseling soldiers returning from battle in Iraq and Afghanistan .. That, Mr. Obama is the "Muslim heritage" in America . EVERY AMERICAN MUST READ THIS !!! Be sure to SEND IT TO ALL .
bewilderbeast
Feb 21, 2011 4:00 PM CST
Hey! "It's just the challenging situation that goes on with these type of incidents: an isolated area, a tough area, tough terrain”. Don't blame us. So some towelheads get killed. Tough shit. The USA winning hearts and minds. Your grandkids are going to read this and weep.
rothiri
Feb 21, 2011 12:15 PM CST
Sad, but how many innocents are killed by the Taliban in and outside of Afghanistan? - is it more humane to let the Taliban do their thing?
 

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