US and the World

The sick leading the blind

International News Article | Reuters.com

Why anyone thinks they have anything to gain by killing innocent hostages is beyond me - but then, I don't pretend to really understand the thinking of religious fundamentalist.

In any event, their actions are disgusting, and bound to be viewed that way by most of the world.

I also don't understand what we're thinking as we continue to kill people in Iraq and Afganhistan. I don't mean to equate it with beheading hostages - but what exactly is it when you drop bombs onto suspect targets and the people who end up dead are innocent? Seems to me both actions just raise the temperature. Killing invite skilling. Hate invotes hate. Someone who is both strong and brave - hey, that could be us - has to stand up and say, "this is stupid. "

Of course, who knows what really happened in Afghanistan. We make mistakes - but we obviously can be right as well. And as you read the reports, it's nothiing but confusion and contradictions. The problem is, that means the people reading about this will simply follow their preconceived beliefs and hate and violence breed more hate and violence.

Here's the Reuters story on the US attack.

KUNAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A U.S. bombing raid killed at least six civilians and wounded nine in the eastern Afghan province of Kunar early on Tuesday after assailants attacked government positions, an Afghan official said.

A U.S. military statement said attack aircraft and ground forces from the U.S.-led force responded to militant fire during a firefight in the province.

It said several militants, who attacked U.S.-led forces with mortar, rocket and small arms fire, were estimated to have been killed, but made no mention of civilian deaths.

An earlier U.S. statement accused militants of firing indiscriminately at villagers while attacking U.S.-led forces and said seven children, one coalition soldier and two Afghan government soldiers were being treated for wounds.

"An insurgent blew himself up with a grenade, injuring the children," the military said, adding that one child was badly hurt, but the rest were stable. The wounded soldiers were also in stable condition.

Kunar's deputy police chief Mohammad Arif Nizami said the U.S. bombing was carried out at around 2 a.m., after Taliban and al Qaeda fighters launched attacks in Kunar's Manogi district.

"As a result of the bombing by American planes, six civilians have lost their lives, nine more have been injured and eight houses have been demolished in Manogi," he told Reuters in Asadabad, the provincial capital.