Reply #23: Here's an article by Christoper Torchia, who contributed to the article

[Judi Lynn]

as it said at the bottom.

This one may bring back some very odd impressions to some DU'ers who already read a little about this nightmare:

Afghan who buried dead Taliban wonders 'what's all the fuss?'

Topic: Military Situation

Archives: September 2002


cleveland.com
09/02/02
by Christopher Torchia

Dasht-E-Leili, Afghanistan
- A scattering of human bones, tufts of hair and robes marks the sandy burial site of possibly hundreds of Taliban who were captured during the war in Afghanistan last year.

The mass grave lies just off a main road on the outskirts of the northern Afghan town of Shibergan and is a five-minute drive from the jail where U.S.-backed Afghan forces held many Taliban prisoners. A former commander whose men had the task of burying the bodies guided several reporters to the site Saturday.

Most of those buried died of injuries suffered in fighting before they were captured, said the commander, who identified himself only as Taher. But people who claim to be witnesses say many of the prisoners suffocated during their four-day-long transport to Shibergan in unventilated metal shipping containers.
(snip)

There are no guarantees that an investigation would lead to the truth, as little has been done to prevent tampering at the grave. Fragments of jawbones with teeth still intact were visible above the mass grave, as well as a plastic cuff of the type used by U.S. troops to bind prisoners. American forces interrogated many captives.
(snip/)http://www.afgha.com/index.php?af=article&sid=16268