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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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6

NATO Airstrike Kills 7 Afghan Soldiers

Mistaken assault on joint NATO, Afghan base

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(AP) – A NATO airstrike in the western province of Badghis mistakenly hit a joint base housing coalition troops and Afghan security forces, killing four Afghan soldiers and three policemen, Afghan officials said today. An Afghan army commando unit, district police members and foreign forces were in the base in the Bala Marghab district at the time of yesterday's airstrike, which also wounded 15.

The Afghan defense ministry said NATO and Afghan authorities were investigating the incident and would issue a report soon. Also yesterday, more than 25 members of NATO and Afghan security forces were injured during a search for two US paratroopers missing from a resupply mission since Wednesday. Local police said the two Americans were swept away by a river in the western province of Badghis when they tried to retrieve supplies that had been airlifted and had accidentally fallen into the water.

Afghan children run as a NATO helicopter takes off with a container in the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009.
Afghan children run as a NATO helicopter takes off with a container in the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009.   (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
Afghans watch a NATO helicopter lifting up a container on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. More than 25 ISAF and Afghan National Security Force personnel were killed or wounded during a joint operation that involved multiple engagements over several hours Friday in Western Afghanistan, a NATO...
Afghans watch a NATO helicopter lifting up a container on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. More than 25 ISAF and Afghan National Security Force personnel were killed or wounded...   (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
An Afghan police officer orders a driver to stop as others stand guard at a roadside checkpoint in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. Afghanistan's Defense Ministry said Saturday that a NATO airstrike in the western province of Badghis mistakenly hit a joint base housing coalition troops and Afghan security...
An Afghan police officer orders a driver to stop as others stand guard at a roadside checkpoint in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. Afghanistan's Defense Ministry said Saturday that a NATO...   (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
An Afghan police officer stands guard as bicyclists ride past a roadside checkpoint in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. Afghanistan's Defense Ministry said Saturday that a NATO air strike in the western province of Badghis mistakenly hit a joint base housing coalition troops and Afghan security forces, killing four...
An Afghan police officer stands guard as bicyclists ride past a roadside checkpoint in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. Afghanistan's Defense Ministry said Saturday that a NATO air strike in...   (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
NATO French Foreign Legion soldiers stand at a joined NATO Afghan National Army and police checkpoint set outside the Rocco combat outpost in the Surobi disctrict, some 50 kms North-East of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday Nov. 6, 2009.
NATO French Foreign Legion soldiers stand at a joined NATO Afghan National Army and police checkpoint set outside the Rocco combat outpost in the Surobi disctrict, some 50 kms North-East of Kabul,...   (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
A NATO French Foreign Legion soldier is surrounded by goats at a joined NATO Afghan National Army and police checkpoint set up outside the Rocco combat outpost in the Surobi disctrict, some 50 kms northeast of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday Nov. 6, 2009.
A NATO French Foreign Legion soldier is surrounded by goats at a joined NATO Afghan National Army and police checkpoint set up outside the Rocco combat outpost in the Surobi disctrict, some 50 kms...   (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
Hundreds of Afghan men demonstrate against an overnight raid that killed a man, who they claim was a resident of Baramkhil village, in eastern Khost province, Afghanistan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. NATO forces said that the dead man was a militant killed when Afghan and international forces were pursuing an...
Hundreds of Afghan men demonstrate against an overnight raid that killed a man, who they claim was a resident of Baramkhil village, in eastern Khost province, Afghanistan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. NATO...   (AP Photo/Nishanuddin Khan)
NATO French Foreign Legion soldiers check for improvised explosive device (IED) outside a Rocco combat outpost in the Surobi district, 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday Nov. 5, 2009.
NATO French Foreign Legion soldiers check for improvised explosive device (IED) outside a Rocco combat outpost in the Surobi district, 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday Nov....   (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
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6 comments
VIEWING:
 
Fondue
Nov 7, 09 8:55 AM CST
Thanks NATO. Are you on our side? Reply
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0
IN RESPONSE:
bewilderbeast
Nov 9, 09 4:28 AM CST
So when troops (doesn't matter exactly whose - you're gonna catch the flak for it) stuff up, what's a Nobel Peace Prize Winner to do? Why, SEND MORE OF THEM, of course!!
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0
lumina
Nov 7, 09 9:00 AM CST
Agree Fondue. Great way to win the hearts and minds. There really is no such thing as a "smart" bomb, they are all dumb. Of course there is collateral damage, but why is so much of it "friendly fire?" Reply
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
Netstorm2k9
Nov 7, 09 1:55 PM CST
"Great way to win the hearts and minds." Damnit, lumina, I was thinking that from the moment I saw the headline. ; )-~
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objectivemind
Nov 7, 09 9:37 AM CST
They say NATO now but they mean US as they are the majority of the air support, etc. just a manipulative way of changing the pointed finger... Reply
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+1

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