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'Rumsfeld's Renegades' Blamed for Afghan Deaths

Unit of 'cowboys' behind some of war's worst civilian casualty incidents

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted May 16, 2009 5:21 AM CDT

(Newser) – A Special Forces unit set up by Donald Rumsfeld is being blamed for some of the worst civilian casualty incidents in the Afghanistan war, the Independent reports. The Marine Corps' Special Operations Command—known as MarSOC—ordered the air strikes that Afghan officials say killed 140 civilians last week, and has been heavily criticized for at least two other incidents causing dozens of deaths.

The unit was created three years ago by Rumsfeld, then defense secretary, despite the objections of Special Forces and the Marine Corps. Its members have been criticized within the military as "cowboys" who brought shame on the Marines. A spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan denied that commanders have lost faith in the unit. "They have the same rules of engagement that everyone has," he said.

Students of Kabul University shout anti-U.S. slogans during a demonstration against last week's coalition airstrikes on Bala Baluk district of Farah province, in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Students of Kabul University shout anti-U.S. slogans during a demonstration against last week's coalition airstrikes on Bala Baluk district of Farah province, in Kabul, Afghanistan.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld responds to a reporter's question during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington in this 2006 file photo.
Then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld responds to a reporter's question during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington in this 2006 file photo.   (AP Photo/Dennis Cook, File)
An Afghan girl looks for her belongings in her house, which was destroyed in a coalition air strike in Bala Baluk district of Farah province last week.
An Afghan girl looks for her belongings in her house, which was destroyed in a coalition air strike in Bala Baluk district of Farah province last week.   (AP Photo)
Afghan villagers mark a burial site of victims who were allegedly killed during coalition airstrikes in Bala Baluk district of Farah province, Afghanistan, on Tuesday, May 5, 2009.
Afghan villagers mark a burial site of victims who were allegedly killed during coalition airstrikes in Bala Baluk district of Farah province, Afghanistan, on Tuesday, May 5, 2009.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
freethemall
May 16, 2009 8:58 AM CDT
Hey, I'm on your side! I voted for Obama; I support him, and consider him a vast improvement over George W. Bush. My statement: "But you see, Bush isn't a waffler like Obama, who keeps changing his mtind" was an attempt at sarcasm. I regret that my lack of articulacy caused this misunderstanding.
EKD
May 16, 2009 8:29 AM CDT
To freethemall - Obama is not waffling. He thinks things over carefully and then gets the opinions from the generals. At least Obama is NOT responsible for thousands upon thousands of deaths. I am happy to know that you never change your mind about anything. People might call you a waffler. You cannot run a war from a notebook that says 1 + 2 always comes up 3. Wars change on a minute by minute basis. We wouldn't even be in the war if Bush hadn't lied. Now our president is trying to clean up his mess.
freethemall
May 16, 2009 7:48 AM CDT
To be fair, Bush did finally get around to replacing Rummy. It's just took him 6 years to do it, But you see, Bush isn't a waffler, like Obama, who keeps changing his mind. He appointed Rumsfield, and stood by him for six years, in spite of what a disaster Rummy was. I'll take waffler. anytime, over a stubborn jackass!

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