U.S. soldiers massacre 16 civilians in Afghanistan

[Churchill]

From what I understand the Koran burning was an accident, and it's very easy to make that mistake. There are all sorts of weird holy shit for Afghans that isn't very clearly marked, and if you're doing SSE you will undoubtedly handle this sort of thing with your dirty and subhuman infidel fingers.

From what I understand as well, the ANA have been mercing US troops in retaliation.

[Elvis]

http://abcnews.go.com/International/...3#.T1zqSDGwxss

Some villagers questioned whether a single soldier could have killed so many people. But a U.S. official in Washington said the American, an Army staff sergeant, was believed to have acted alone and that initial reports indicated he returned to the base after the shooting and turned himself in.

NATO spokesman Justin Brockhoff said a U.S. service member had been detained at a NATO base as the alleged shooter. The wounded people were evacuated to NATO medical facilities, he added.

So to be clear, so far reports are saying the guy turned himself in.

[Elvis]

And this story was mentioned in the ABC News article above:

US soldier admits killing unarmed Afghans for sport
Jeremy Morlock, 23, tells US military court he was part of a 'kill team' that faked combat situations to murder Afghan civilians

Morlock has told investigators that the murders took place between January and May last year and were instigated by an officer in his unit, Staff Sergeant Calvin Gibbs. He described how elaborate plans were made to pick out civilian targets, kill them and then make their deaths look like they were insurgents. In his confession Morlock described shooting a victim as Gibbs tossed a grenade at him. "We identify a guy. Gibbs makes a comment, like, you know, you guys wanna wax this guy or not," Morlock said in the confession.

Morlock now stands to be sentenced to at least 24 years in jail but with eligibility for parole after seven years. That has come about because Morlock struck a plea bargain that will see a lighter sentence in return for testifying against his fellow soldiers.

[Indeed]

Accidental or not, our forces should be fully aware by now how serious something like that can become. They can't afford these careless mistakes. What I'd be more interested to understand is how or why anyone brought that mistake to light, knowing what kind of harm it could cause. Just seems like a situation where the best course of action is to keep it to yourself and procure more Korans.

[Mazmaz]

This.

Those articles contradict themselves, the first one says its a group of people laughing and carrying on and the second one says its a single lone rogue soldier.

Yea must be those damn muslims.

[Kuya]

Just to be clear, churchill thinks we shouldn't trust afghan sources because he hates darkies?

[Milkster]

Just to be clear, churchill thinks we shouldn't trust afghan sources because he hates darkies?

He's seen things man! He's been over there so he has a right to hate an entire people/race/color!

[ronin sparthos]

Psst, why are we in Afghanistan again?

[Indeed]

Not really much to say, is there? Just have to wait to see how the ensuing shitstorm develops. The other troops he mentions may have something to add.

[Dimmauk]

All American soldiers are blood thirsty murderers just like all middle eastern people are terrorists.

[thetruepandagod]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1337427.html Somehow i found this from this thread and i found it infinitely more interesting.

[Milkster]

http://www.towleroad.com/2012/03/mor...28Towleroad%29

[Churchill]

I don't hate darkies, I just feel they aren't people

[Milkster]

http://chatroulettegifs.com/guy5.gif

[elison]

I don't hate darkies, I just feel they aren't people

lol.

[Mazmaz]

RON PAUL

[BaneTheBrawler]

While it's important to be aware of events like this, I'm never sure what to make of them. On the one hand, it's true, and someone's an asshole. On the other hand, it's false, and someone's an asshole. Doesn't really seem to make a difference.

[Siatdiat]

While it's important to be aware of events like this, I'm never sure what to make of them. On the one hand, it's true, and someone's an asshole. On the other hand, it's false, and someone's an asshole. Doesn't really seem to make a difference.

There is no difference, except that in one situation 16 people are dead and the other no one is dead, unless I am misunderstanding you.

[BaneTheBrawler]

Well yeah, but people die all the time. It doesn't change anything for the rest of us.

Stories like these should be remembered, once the facts are sorted out, but aside from that it doesn't matter. Talking about it just seems... pointless.

[Correction]

Well yeah, but people die all the time. It doesn't change anything for the rest of us.

Stories like these should be remembered, once the facts are sorted out, but aside from that it doesn't matter. Talking about it just seems... pointless.

I think a constant reminder of the human cost of wars is the only way we can convince enough people at home to stop supporting them. Willful apathy in the face of reporting or discussing the atrocity of human conflict makes it sound like an unavoidable natural disaster not unlike a hurricane or an earthquake that also costs human lives. I reject that wholly.

At the very least we can predict, and stop, war if we don't ignore or underplay the cost to innocents and how it perpetuates the violence forever.