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Showing Original Post only (View all)Some Afghan kids aren’t bystanders [View all]
http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2012/12/marine-taliban-kids-120312w"CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan When Marines in Helmand province sized up shadowy figures that appeared to be emplacing an improvised explosive device, it looked like a straightforward mission. They got clearance for an airstrike, a Marine official said, and took out the targets.
It wasnt that simple, however. Three individuals hit were 12, 10 and 8 years old, leading the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul to say it may have accidentally killed three innocent Afghan civilians.
But a Marine official here raised questions about whether the children were innocent. Before calling for the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System mission in mid-October, Marines observed the children digging a hole in a dirt road in Nawa district, the official said, and the Taliban may have recruited the children to carry out the mission.
The incident underscores a continuing problem across Afghanistan. The use of children by the Taliban through recruitment and as human shields complicates coalition forces efforts to eliminate enemy fighters from the battlefield without angering civilians."
Really not a shocker that the Taliban uses children as pawns.
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Keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan(as I assume you support)can't be morally conscionable either.
Ken Burch
Dec 2012
#39
Disgusting, trying to excuse the killing of children. Why are we there? It is their country
sabrina 1
Dec 2012
#5
I don't believe that random killing of children by US in a country we invaded and occupy
KoKo
Dec 2012
#12
So who can figure out if "kids digging in dirt" are terrorists of just doing something
KoKo
Dec 2012
#14
If the observer knew where they were digging, there were other ways to deal with the IED.
leveymg
Dec 2012
#27
What would you expect from children who witness their parents being killed by bombs from the sky,
kelliekat44
Dec 2012
#21
Let's go back farther in history - at the end of WWII in the European theater,
hedgehog
Dec 2012
#22
Child soldiers are a fact of life probably from the beginning of warfare
riderinthestorm
Dec 2012
#36
I'm sure those boys' families will love the occupation now and never take up arms against the US.
LeftyMom
Dec 2012
#41