Afghan President Karzai accuses Western forces of killing 14 civilians

[Coventina]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan, and Istanbul, Turkey -- Tensions between Western forces and the Afghan government flared anew Monday when President Hamid Karzai and a provincial governor accused the U.S.-led coalition of killing 14 Afghans who were guarding a road construction project.

Karzai has repeatedly demanded that Western troops take urgent measures to avoid killing and injuring Afghan civilians. Recent high-profile instances of civilian casualties have inflamed public sentiment not only against foreign forces in Afghanistan, but against the U.S.-backed government as well.

In a sign of confusion and disorganization within the Karzai administration, however, the Interior Ministry said in a separate statement that the 14 slain men had fired on coalition forces in Khowst province near the border with Pakistan. The U.S. military and the ministry said in a joint statement that the incident, which occurred Sunday night, was being investigated.

Last week Karzai greeted the news that Barack Obama had won the U.S. presidential election with a blunt demand that the new administration put an end to civilian casualties in Afghanistan. Obama takes office Jan. 20.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-afghan11-2008nov11,0,7565541.story

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And not a day too soon!!!

[High Plains]

1. It appears we are massacring Afghans on a regular basis.

Every week, there are two or three stories like this. Shooting innocent workers, bombing wedding parties.

How's that imperial adventure coming along? Ready for more blood under Obama?

[maxsolomon]

2. hearts & minds

the goodwill of the afganis is gone.