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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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5

US Troops Stormed Afghan Hospital: Charity

Civilian deaths, intrusive searches prompt rising resentment

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(AP) – A Swedish charity today accused American troops of storming through a hospital in central Afghanistan, breaking down doors and tying up staff in a search for militants. Soldiers were said to have forced their way into the charity's hospital without permission, violating the neutrality of a medical facility. The allegation comes close on the heels of a NATO  airstrike in the country's north last week that may have killed as many as 70 civilians around two Taliban-hijacked fuel tankers.

The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan said the raid went against an agreement between NATO forces and charities working in the area, as well as "internationally recognized rules and principles." Troops forced patients out of beds during their search, and  barged into women's wards, a serious insult to the local Pashtun culture that could turn the community against international troops.

Anders Fange, country director of the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Sept. 7, 2009.
Anders Fange, country director of the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Sept. 7, 2009.   (AP Photo/Farzana Wahidy)
Anders Fange, country director of the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Sept. 7, 2009.
Anders Fange, country director of the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Sept. 7, 2009.   (AP Photo/Farzana Wahidy)
US soldiers secure the site of a suicide attack in Mehterlam, the capital of Laghman province, east of Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009.
US soldiers secure the site of a suicide attack in Mehterlam, the capital of Laghman province, east of Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009.   (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
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5 comments
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Reader64481089
Sep 7, 09 8:40 AM CDT
This crap get's worse by the minute and the tide of world opinion is quickly being turned against the American Presence in Afghanistan just as in Vietnam. The day GW Bush invaded both here and in Iraq I could not believe the ignorance being shown and I publicly stated to all that would listen it was a giant cluster f*ck waiting to happen. To my deep regret it is all coming true just as I said years ago, those that do not learn history are bound to repeat it and GW did not learn his history of Vietnam nor did the country as a whole and now we have this public relations disaster Reply
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thirdherd
Sep 7, 09 10:52 AM CDT
Let's hear the US side of it first before we make judgement. The Swedish get their panties in a bunch over J-walking.
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IN RESPONSE:
BoZo
Sep 7, 09 11:43 AM CDT
Yeah you would think that maybe we could have learned from the Russians.
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lumina
Sep 7, 09 8:54 AM CDT
Could not agree more!! Reply
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emptycalm
Sep 7, 09 12:13 PM CDT
We'll never leave. Why would we? It's creating so many jobs by building up the private capitalist army. The war party knows what it is doing. A long war is more profitable. Reply
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