War ain't pretty...

[Earthborn]

War crimes of Afghanistan: The death convoy
(scroll down a bit)
http://www.dailystarnews.com/200209/06/n2090609.htm

http://www.phrusa.org/research/afghanistan/report_graves_082202.html
http://www.byui.edu/scroll/090302/09.html

For broadband and with some sort of plug-in I don't have:

The Untold Story of the Massacre:
http://tv.oneworld.net/tapestry?link=3318

Why did US special forces let the massacre happen
http://tv.oneworld.net/tapestry?link=3320

Why haven't these events been investigated?
http://tv.oneworld.net/tapestry?link=3321

Witnesses tell of the Convoy of Death
http://tv.oneworld.net/tapestry?link=3319

:(

[J3K]

I don't think the point of war was ever to be pretty.

[Dymanic]

"Death by container" has been a cheap means of mass murder used by both the Taliban and the Northern Alliance for at least five years. "

"They opened the doors and the dead bodies spilled out like fish"

There's not pretty and then there's really not pretty.

"They suffocated. Died, not killed"

Important distinction there.

Officials across the administration did not respond to repeated requests by NEWSWEEK's for a detailed accounting of US activities in the Konduz, Mazar-e-Sharif and Sheberghan areas at the time in question, and Defense Department spokespersons have made statements that are false.

I have a feeling we'll be hearing more about this.

[DialecticMaterialist]

Such objective/mainstream sources. Who's next-the Sparticus League? Anarchist Alliance?

[Earthborn]

"They suffocated. Died, not killed"

Important distinction there.I first heard about this yesterday on dutch television. They also showed eye-witness reports of the truckdrivers. I suspect they showed the same footage as the report you can download at the tv.oneworld site, since I don't think there is much other footage.

They told that when the prisoners were starting to complain that they had difficulty breathing, some drivers were ordered to stop and shoot airholes in the containers. That's right: shoot! Several prisoners were killed because of this, as you can imagine. And there is no way others could get enough air from a few bullet holes. :(

And since when is putting hundreds of people in an almost airtight container not killing? As is clear from the quote you cited yourself: "Death by container" has been a cheap means of mass murder used by both the Taliban and the Northern Alliance for at least five years.

At the very least the american soldiers shouldn't have trusted the Northern Alliance with this transport.

I have a feeling we'll be hearing more about this.Let's hope so. Although I doubt it will be any time soon. Military organisations are not well known for their openess.

That's a pity really, even from their own point of view. By not being open about it they give rise to lots of speculation about the American involvement in this incident, and most likely in those myths the US involvement will appear a lot worse than it probably is... And even if American soldiers actively participated in the killing of these people who surrendered to them, being open about it would probably do more good than harm for the image of the US.

But unfortunately I never heard about any incident, where things went wrong, were openly discussed by any military...Such objective/mainstream sources. Who's next-the Sparticus League? Anarchist Alliance?Newsweek?

Check the article on the Daily Star website. It was typed over from Newsweek. I don't know about objective, but I think Newsweek is pretty mainstream.

And that television show where I first saw something about this? It was shown by a evangelist christian broadcasting foundation. Okay, Christian here actually believe in things like 'turning the other cheek' and 'do unto others like you want others to do unto you' but other than that, they are pretty right wing. In no way leftist anti-american communist sympathizers. Just so you know...

[Dymanic]

[i]And since when is putting hundreds of people in an almost airtight container not killing? [/b]

I was being sarcastic.

[DialecticMaterialist]

Ah one article among the batch was by news week.

And yes it does make a good case via saying that our allies in the area had committed war crimes. I do not doubt this, they are probably very pissed at the Taliban, hardened and perhaps even fanatical. This should be investigated I think at a prudent time.

[a_unique_person]

Originally posted by DialecticMaterialist
Ah one article among the batch was by news week.

And yes it does make a good case via saying that our allies in the area had committed war crimes. I do not doubt this, they are probably very pissed at the Taliban, hardened and perhaps even fanatical. This should be investigated I think at a prudent time.

much of the country has been run by tyrannical warlords since any semblance of government broke down.

I was amazed when the troops of these same warlords were pictured in the Murdoch Press as the 'Northern Alliance' freedom fighters. Funnily enough, those pictures are gone now.

[Earthborn]

I was being sarcasticOkay, I understand now. I'm afraid it wasn't clear to many though.And yes it does make a good case via saying that our allies in the area had committed war crimes.... while they were doing a job for the US... with American soldiers around that probably could have prevented it if they hadn't trusted them so much...This should be investigated I think at a prudent time.Would you agree that 'a prudent time' is while those bones are still lying there? And that somebody should make sure those stay there?... freedom fighters ...I personally think the words 'freedom fighter' and 'terrorist' are meaningless and should be avoided in objective journalism. They only tell you on whose side the news source is.

I think an announcement on Discovery for a show on terrorism said it best: "They fight for ideals and freedom... but not necessarily yours."