US Military Admits to Afghan Civilian Killings

While stressing their allegations of Taliban complicity in the deaths, the US military admitted yesterday that it had killed 37 civilians in an air strike on a wedding party in Kandahar Province early last week. The report comes just days after Afghan President Hamid Karzai issued his government’s assessment of the attack.

Long delays and repeated denials have damaged the credibility of international forces with both the Afghan government and the civilian populace in the wake of previous US strikes which killed large numbers of civilians, such as August’s strike in Herat Province. The strike killed at least 90 civilians, but the US continued to deny any significant civilian casualties for over a month, finally revising their account in early October.

Even then, the US insisted the Herat strike killed “more than 30″ civilians, and in spite of an Afghan government investigation that concluded it was based on a false tip called in by a rival tribe, they continued to maintain that the killings were “legitimate self-defense.”

Admitting the latest killings more quickly may relieve tensions with the Afghan government somewhat, but President Karzai is still pressuring President-elect Obama to halt the growing US reliance on air power in populated areas of Afghanistan. In spite of this, Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher says he does not believe the killings have damaged relations with Afghanistan.

http://news.antiwar.com/2008/11/09/us-military-admits-to-afghan-civilian-killings/

US Helicopters, Commandos Attack Syrian Border Town Killing Eight

In a report from local witnesses later confirmed by a Syrian government spokesman, Two US helicopters landed in the Syrian border town of Al-Sukkariya while others remained in the air and eight American soldiers exited. The soldiers killed at least eight people in the attack, and wounded 14 others before reboarding the helicopters and returning to Iraqi territory.

The US military has yet to officially confirm the strike, the first US strike on Syrian soil, but an unnamed US official confirmed the strike, saying that due to Syrian inaction they were now “taking matters into our own hands” with regards to foreign fighters.

Israel’s Channel 10 reports that unnamed western defense officials told them that the troops were carrying out a military operation against “al-Qaeda activists” in Syria. Witnesses say those killed were construction workers.

It has been speculated that the attack might be related to US military operations in the area, but there really haven’t been any. Major General John Kelly described security incidents in that area of Iraq as “almost meaningless now” and was reportedly optimistic about cutting troops in the area.

The attack comes as particularly surprising considering the US was reported earlier this month to be mulling lifting sanctions against Syria in light of their indirect peace talks with Israel. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem had said there was “good progress” in a dialogue aimed at improving US-Syrian relations. Syria has reportedly summoned the US Charges d’Affaires to officially complain about what it calls an attack on its sovereignty.
http://news.antiwar.com/2008/10/26/us-helicopters-commandos-attack-syrian-border-town-killing-nine/

Before You Enlist