Mutually mistaken identity? WTF

[rgbecker]

Nato helicopters mistake Afghan troops for the American hating, islamo-fascists, Talaban who are a direct Threat to America's freedom and way of life and blow them away and the Afghan troops I suppose think the helicopters are somehow there to help them. Or What?



http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/23/world/asia/23afghan.html?scp=5&sq=afghanistan%20air%20strike%202008/10&st=cse


KABUL, Afghanistan — An overnight air strike by coalition forces that Afghan authorities said killed nine Afghan Army soldiers may have been a case of mutually mistaken identity, the United States-led military coalition said Wednesday.

Gen. Zahir Azimi, the spokesman for the Afghan Defense Ministry, said the air strike in Khost Province in eastern Afghanistan killed nine soldiers and wounded three others, one seriously. Other officials in the area said the attack might have been carried out by helicopter gunships.

In a statement, the coalition said a convoy of its troops had been “involved in multiple engagements” that led to the deaths of the Afghan soldiers. “Initial reports from troops on the ground indicate that this may be a case of mistaken identity on both sides,” the statement said.

[peacetalksforall]

1. Can someone help me out?

Excerpts:
American and NATO airstrikes have killed some 500 Afghan civilians in the past five years...""

"An overnight airstrike by coaliion forces ..."

"the United States-led military coalition said Wednesday."

So the coalition is NATO? 26 countries, including Turkey -

I always thought the coalition was comprised of individual countries, not a NATO consortium?

Am I totally missing something. The truth is, that it's very hard for me to keep reading about death and torture. I've never followed war news.

So, was NATO there in the beginning in Iraq?

I seem to remember someone saying that they would not perform war missions in Iraq. Why is Afghanistan OK and why are they called coalition, meaning one on one agreements with the U.S. - coaltion partners means the U.S. and whoever will help them. Right?

[rgbecker]

2. This is Afghanistan, not Iraq. Nato Countries have formed a Coalition to help

Karzai (The American stooge) get control of his Afghanistan after the Americans killed and de throned the Talaban, who are now fighting their way back. The question is what does the NYTimes think the Afghan troops mistook the helicopters for? Do the Talaban have Airpower?

Finally, why are Americans wasting our money and their time fighting in Afghanistan. I can't believe they are any real threat to the US. Sure find Osama if you can, but killing a bunch of local warlords over some local drug growing dispute? WTF?

[peacetalksforall]

3. Ahhh. Maybe that's it - use the military to protect drugs. A grander scale than in Columbia.