War Crimes in Afghanistan. Or: What You Don't Learn in Science Class

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) demonstrated in a more than impressive way this week how science and technology can advance the cause of human rights. Using forensic analysis and satellite imagery, they did an excellent job in documenting a war crime—and the subsequent US supported cover-up—in Afghanistan, where in the wake of the US led invasion in 2001 hundreds of prisoners of war were killed by a US backed warlord and dumped in a mass grave in Dasht-e-Leili. Check out this must see video:

The New York Times has covered the story in an extensive piece last weekend. PHR has set up its own website, where you can also urge Attorney General Eric Holder to halt the cover-up.  The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)—who supported the project and with whom AIUSA’s own Science for Human Rights project has a longstanding partnership—also provided a detailed analysis of the gravesite and its cover-up. Here’s a quick summary of the story:

In 2002, PHR investigators discovered the presence of a mass grave site in Dasht-e-Leili, outside of the city of Sheberghan in northern Afghanistan.  The grave site is reported to contain anywhere from hundreds to thousands of Taliban prisoners of war. Forensic analysis suggests that most of the prisoners died from suffocation. They reportedly died while inside closed metal shipping containers.

Upon returning to the site in 2008, Stefan Schmitt, Director of PHR’s International Forensic Program, noticed that the mass grave might have been tampered with.  To gather additional evidence, PHR requested satellite imagery from the area, which showed two sizeable pits, compromising the original area. The satellite imagery obtained by the AAAS indicated that there was earth-moving equipment present on August 5, 2006 along with one of two new pits.  Later imagery on October 24, 2007, revealed the second pit in the same location as the earth-moving equipment from August 5.  

The left image shows the Dasht-e-Leili site on August 5, 2006, and indicates one open pit visible at the mass grave site, with two likely vehicles atop the area which would become the second pit. The right image shows the Dasht-e-Leili site on October 24, 2007, with both open pits visible. © 2009 Digital Globe. Images taken from http://shr.aaas.org/geotech/afghanistan/afghanistan.shtml

 

The Bush Administration discouraged any attempts to investigate the episode, as the warlord suspected of committing the crimes, Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, was on the C.I.A.’s payroll, while his militia worked alongside the United States Special Forces in 2001.  The Department of State has urged the Obama administration to oppose Gen. Dostum’s reappointment in the Afghani government; however the president has yet to take action on this issue.
As we still wait for the President to ensure accountability for past human rights violations of the Bush administration, this is another test of Obama’s commitment to human rights.  It will be interesting to see if the administration fully investigates the 2001 killings in Afghanistan, at a time when Obama is sending an additional 21,000 more troops to battle the increasing Taliban insurgency. A first response by Obama to PHR’s work seems at least promising.

Jacki Mowery contributed to this post

AIUSA welcomes a lively and courteous discussion that follow our Community Guidelines. Comments are not pre-screened before they post but AIUSA reserves the right to remove any comments violating our guidelines.

77 thoughts on “War Crimes in Afghanistan. Or: What You Don't Learn in Science Class

  1. LOL. This post by Christoph Koettl has to be some kind of sick joke right?
    Amnesty International has itself been at the forefront of a co-ordinated effort to cover-up the massive war crime ordered by President Obama in Afghanistan in May, in which over 140 civilians, women, children, were killed by white phosphorus dropped by the US Air Force. It really takes a lot of nerve to accuse the Bush Administration of covering up war crimes from 5 years ago when Amnesty International itself is actively covering up a war crime committed by the current President only 3 months ago.

    It is beyond belief that you could, with a straight face, call on President Obama to prosecute the previous administration, when instead if Amnesty International had even a shred of decency and fairness, you would be calling for President Obama's impeachment for this war crime this war committed just 3 months ago.

    ************************************************************************************* http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/arti
    “Reuters reported last week that U.S. military doctors had confirmed that they had treated an 8-year-old girl with white phosphorus burns in hospital. Her case was not on the list the military released on Monday.
    The girl’s father told Reuters their house was hit by a volley of artillery fired by Western troops.
    Human Rights Watch has urged the military to release more details of the incident.
    Since Reuters published its account last week, Afghanistan’s human rights commission has said it is investigating whether white phosphorus played a role in an incident last week in which Afghan officials say over 140 civilians were killed.
    That incident, in western Farah province, has caused a crisis between Afghanistan and the United States. President Hamid Karzai has demanded a halt to all U.S. air strikes, something Washington says it cannot do.
    Many of the victims in the Farah incident had severe burns. The U.S. military acknowledges bombing two villages after participating in ground fighting nearby, but says it did not fire any white phosphorus ammunition in the battle.”

    ***************************************************************************************** http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/

    “Up to 100 civilians, including women and children, are reported to have been killed in Afghanistan in potentially the single deadliest US airstrike since 2001. The news overshadowed a crucial first summit between the Afghan President and Barack Obama in Washington yesterday.
    US military officials in Kandahar said that the number of fatalities was nearer 30, but the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that the death toll was far higher.
    Jessica Barry, an ICRC representative, said that an international Red Cross team in Bala Baluk saw “dozens of bodies in each of the two locations” on Tuesday. “There were bodies, there were graves, and there were people burying bodies when we were there,” she said. “We do confirm women and children.”
    Many of those killed and injured had taken refuge in the villages to escape the fighting between the Taleban and the Afghan National Army, which had US “trainers” embedded within it. They had the ability to call in the US jets, part of a new command operating outside the auspices of Nato but under a new command known as US for Afghanistan. “

    ****************************************************************************************
    May 16th, 2009
    KABUL (AFP) — The latest “outrage” of massive civilian casualties in US air strikes needs to be the last if the United States wants to have credibility in Afghanistan, campaign group Human Rights Watch said Friday.
    An investigation ordered by President Hamid Karzai into the strikes in the western province of Farah in early May found 140 civilians were killed, 95 of them aged under 18, and 15 houses destroyed, Afghan officials say.
    “Afghans have heard promises from the US before that they would take all possible steps to avoid civilian casualties,” Human Rights Watch’s Asia director, Brad Adams, said in a statement.
    “But if the US is to have any credibility, this latest outrage needs to be the last of its kind,” he said.
    New York-based Human Rights Watch said accounts from villagers and officials contradicted US statements that the Taliban were responsible for many of the deaths because they had used civilians as “human shields”.
    Locals had told HRW investigators that the insurgents had left their area before the most of the bombs hit.
    Dozens of those killed were said to be among villagers who had taken shelter from fighting in the compounds of religious and tribal leaders that were hit by the bombs, it said.
    Villagers have given similar accounts to AFP, saying this is why a high number of women and children were among the dead.
    The Afghan investigation that found 140 people had died was based on local accounts as bodies had already been buried by the time the team arrived.
    HRW said the US military should have known there were many civilians in the village at the time.
    Nine Afghan non-governmental organisations also condemned the “humanitarian tragedy” in a separate statement.
    “Incidents like this one create fear among Afghans, erode support for the government of Afghanistan and the presence of the International Security Assistance Forces, have a negative impact on efforts to build peace,” they said.
    The US military meanwhile reiterated that it believed the Farah incident was a deliberate attempt by insurgents to create civilian casualties.
    “They forced them into these buildings and they created this fight,” spokesman Colonel Greg Julian told reporters late Thursday.
    “We had no idea that they had forced these people into these buildings, and they were holding them at gunpoint,” he said.
    “We own up to it when we’re responsible, and I feel that there is a responsibility in this,” he said.
    Copyright © 2009 AFP

  2. LOL. This post by Christoph Koettl has to be some kind of sick joke right?
    Amnesty International has itself been at the forefront of a co-ordinated effort to cover-up the massive war crime ordered by President Obama in Afghanistan in May, in which over 140 civilians, women, children, were killed by white phosphorus dropped by the US Air Force. It really takes a lot of nerve to accuse the Bush Administration of covering up war crimes from 5 years ago when Amnesty International itself is actively covering up a war crime committed by the current President only 3 months ago.

    It is beyond belief that you could, with a straight face, call on President Obama to prosecute the previous administration, when instead if Amnesty International had even a shred of decency and fairness, you would be calling for President Obama's impeachment for this war crime this war committed just 3 months ago.

    ************************************************************************************* http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/arti
    “Reuters reported last week that U.S. military doctors had confirmed that they had treated an 8-year-old girl with white phosphorus burns in hospital. Her case was not on the list the military released on Monday.
    The girl’s father told Reuters their house was hit by a volley of artillery fired by Western troops.
    Human Rights Watch has urged the military to release more details of the incident.
    Since Reuters published its account last week, Afghanistan’s human rights commission has said it is investigating whether white phosphorus played a role in an incident last week in which Afghan officials say over 140 civilians were killed.
    That incident, in western Farah province, has caused a crisis between Afghanistan and the United States. President Hamid Karzai has demanded a halt to all U.S. air strikes, something Washington says it cannot do.
    Many of the victims in the Farah incident had severe burns. The U.S. military acknowledges bombing two villages after participating in ground fighting nearby, but says it did not fire any white phosphorus ammunition in the battle.”

    ***************************************************************************************** http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/

    “Up to 100 civilians, including women and children, are reported to have been killed in Afghanistan in potentially the single deadliest US airstrike since 2001. The news overshadowed a crucial first summit between the Afghan President and Barack Obama in Washington yesterday.
    US military officials in Kandahar said that the number of fatalities was nearer 30, but the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that the death toll was far higher.
    Jessica Barry, an ICRC representative, said that an international Red Cross team in Bala Baluk saw “dozens of bodies in each of the two locations” on Tuesday. “There were bodies, there were graves, and there were people burying bodies when we were there,” she said. “We do confirm women and children.”
    Many of those killed and injured had taken refuge in the villages to escape the fighting between the Taleban and the Afghan National Army, which had US “trainers” embedded within it. They had the ability to call in the US jets, part of a new command operating outside the auspices of Nato but under a new command known as US for Afghanistan. “

    ****************************************************************************************
    May 16th, 2009
    KABUL (AFP) — The latest “outrage” of massive civilian casualties in US air strikes needs to be the last if the United States wants to have credibility in Afghanistan, campaign group Human Rights Watch said Friday.
    An investigation ordered by President Hamid Karzai into the strikes in the western province of Farah in early May found 140 civilians were killed, 95 of them aged under 18, and 15 houses destroyed, Afghan officials say.
    “Afghans have heard promises from the US before that they would take all possible steps to avoid civilian casualties,” Human Rights Watch’s Asia director, Brad Adams, said in a statement.
    “But if the US is to have any credibility, this latest outrage needs to be the last of its kind,” he said.
    New York-based Human Rights Watch said accounts from villagers and officials contradicted US statements that the Taliban were responsible for many of the deaths because they had used civilians as “human shields”.
    Locals had told HRW investigators that the insurgents had left their area before the most of the bombs hit.
    Dozens of those killed were said to be among villagers who had taken shelter from fighting in the compounds of religious and tribal leaders that were hit by the bombs, it said.
    Villagers have given similar accounts to AFP, saying this is why a high number of women and children were among the dead.
    The Afghan investigation that found 140 people had died was based on local accounts as bodies had already been buried by the time the team arrived.
    HRW said the US military should have known there were many civilians in the village at the time.
    Nine Afghan non-governmental organisations also condemned the “humanitarian tragedy” in a separate statement.
    “Incidents like this one create fear among Afghans, erode support for the government of Afghanistan and the presence of the International Security Assistance Forces, have a negative impact on efforts to build peace,” they said.
    The US military meanwhile reiterated that it believed the Farah incident was a deliberate attempt by insurgents to create civilian casualties.
    “They forced them into these buildings and they created this fight,” spokesman Colonel Greg Julian told reporters late Thursday.
    “We had no idea that they had forced these people into these buildings, and they were holding them at gunpoint,” he said.
    “We own up to it when we’re responsible, and I feel that there is a responsibility in this,” he said.
    Copyright © 2009 AFP

  3. LOL. This post by Christoph Koettl has to be some kind of sick joke right?
    Amnesty International has itself been at the forefront of a co-ordinated effort to cover-up the massive war crime ordered by President Obama in Afghanistan in May, in which over 140 civilians, women, children, were killed by white phosphorus dropped by the US Air Force. It really takes a lot of nerve to accuse the Bush Administration of covering up war crimes from 5 years ago when Amnesty International itself is actively covering up a war crime committed by the current President only 3 months ago.

    It is beyond belief that you could, with a straight face, call on President Obama to prosecute the previous administration, when instead if Amnesty International had even a shred of decency and fairness, you would be calling for President Obama's impeachment for this war crime this war committed just 3 months ago.

    ************************************************************************************* http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/arti
    “Reuters reported last week that U.S. military doctors had confirmed that they had treated an 8-year-old girl with white phosphorus burns in hospital. Her case was not on the list the military released on Monday.
    The girl’s father told Reuters their house was hit by a volley of artillery fired by Western troops.
    Human Rights Watch has urged the military to release more details of the incident.
    Since Reuters published its account last week, Afghanistan’s human rights commission has said it is investigating whether white phosphorus played a role in an incident last week in which Afghan officials say over 140 civilians were killed.
    That incident, in western Farah province, has caused a crisis between Afghanistan and the United States. President Hamid Karzai has demanded a halt to all U.S. air strikes, something Washington says it cannot do.
    Many of the victims in the Farah incident had severe burns. The U.S. military acknowledges bombing two villages after participating in ground fighting nearby, but says it did not fire any white phosphorus ammunition in the battle.”

    ***************************************************************************************** http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/

    “Up to 100 civilians, including women and children, are reported to have been killed in Afghanistan in potentially the single deadliest US airstrike since 2001. The news overshadowed a crucial first summit between the Afghan President and Barack Obama in Washington yesterday.
    US military officials in Kandahar said that the number of fatalities was nearer 30, but the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that the death toll was far higher.
    Jessica Barry, an ICRC representative, said that an international Red Cross team in Bala Baluk saw “dozens of bodies in each of the two locations” on Tuesday. “There were bodies, there were graves, and there were people burying bodies when we were there,” she said. “We do confirm women and children.”
    Many of those killed and injured had taken refuge in the villages to escape the fighting between the Taleban and the Afghan National Army, which had US “trainers” embedded within it. They had the ability to call in the US jets, part of a new command operating outside the auspices of Nato but under a new command known as US for Afghanistan. “

    ****************************************************************************************
    May 16th, 2009
    KABUL (AFP) — The latest “outrage” of massive civilian casualties in US air strikes needs to be the last if the United States wants to have credibility in Afghanistan, campaign group Human Rights Watch said Friday.
    An investigation ordered by President Hamid Karzai into the strikes in the western province of Farah in early May found 140 civilians were killed, 95 of them aged under 18, and 15 houses destroyed, Afghan officials say.
    “Afghans have heard promises from the US before that they would take all possible steps to avoid civilian casualties,” Human Rights Watch’s Asia director, Brad Adams, said in a statement.
    “But if the US is to have any credibility, this latest outrage needs to be the last of its kind,” he said.
    New York-based Human Rights Watch said accounts from villagers and officials contradicted US statements that the Taliban were responsible for many of the deaths because they had used civilians as “human shields”.
    Locals had told HRW investigators that the insurgents had left their area before the most of the bombs hit.
    Dozens of those killed were said to be among villagers who had taken shelter from fighting in the compounds of religious and tribal leaders that were hit by the bombs, it said.
    Villagers have given similar accounts to AFP, saying this is why a high number of women and children were among the dead.
    The Afghan investigation that found 140 people had died was based on local accounts as bodies had already been buried by the time the team arrived.
    HRW said the US military should have known there were many civilians in the village at the time.
    Nine Afghan non-governmental organisations also condemned the “humanitarian tragedy” in a separate statement.
    “Incidents like this one create fear among Afghans, erode support for the government of Afghanistan and the presence of the International Security Assistance Forces, have a negative impact on efforts to build peace,” they said.
    The US military meanwhile reiterated that it believed the Farah incident was a deliberate attempt by insurgents to create civilian casualties.
    “They forced them into these buildings and they created this fight,” spokesman Colonel Greg Julian told reporters late Thursday.
    “We had no idea that they had forced these people into these buildings, and they were holding them at gunpoint,” he said.
    “We own up to it when we’re responsible, and I feel that there is a responsibility in this,” he said.
    Copyright © 2009 AFP

  4. Wow, one tiny press release from Amnesty International in response to a massive war crime invovling the horrible deaths by white phosphorus of hundreds of civilians, women children committed by your hero, the current President not 3 months ago.

    No, not a cover up at all.

    Did you follow up with any investigations of yourselves: No !
    Did you follow up with even more press releases or calls for investigation: No!

    Did you protest that even though the Bush agreed to the Afghan government's request to halt bombings by the US Air force in 2007 on the basis of mass civilian deaths being counter-productive to wining the war, the moment, literately the first day Obama took office in January he canceled the Bush policy and ordered an immediate resumption of Air Force bombings and Predator Drone assassinations in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Even though under international law these bombings are illegal due to the reckless disregard for the civilians that inevitably, predictably die and have died in the hundreds since Obama took office and gave a direct order to resume these bombings

    No, of course you did not protest any of this.

    One measly little press release and then you, AI, go right back to pretending this war crime 3 months ago never happened.

    Because otherwise, if you Amnesty, did not participate in the suppression of coverage of this war crime, then how could you ever call for the baby killers currently occupying the Whitehouse to investigate the baby killers who previously occupied the Whitehouse like you do in this blog post above.

    This is because you know that morally and also under international law, if a party, such as the Obama administration, is guilty of deliberate or reckless mass killings of civilians, which even the US military spokesman in Afghanistan admits they are, then they have no right, legally or morally to investigate or prosecute anyone else, like Bush for example, for the same crime.

  5. The Obama administration deserves criticism absolutely. Why the focus on AI though when they have been criticising the Obama administration? (http://pubrecord.org/law/627/obama-sharply-criticized-for-reviving-bush-era-military-commissions/)
    They are still bringing atrocities to light and advocating for the innocent. The horrifying white phosphorous incident clearly needs public outcry and I agree AI needs to be much more active in slamming the new administration for re-starting the deadly bombing. (While I believe they were not targeting civilians I also bet they know how the Taliban loves to use civilians as human shields.) However this doesnt discredit all of AI's efforts to help those who are suffering around the world.

  6. The Obama administration deserves criticism absolutely. Why the focus on AI though when they have been criticising the Obama administration? (http://pubrecord.org/law/627/obama-sharply-criticized-for-reviving-bush-era-military-commissions/)
    They are still bringing atrocities to light and advocating for the innocent. The horrifying white phosphorous incident clearly needs public outcry and I agree AI needs to be much more active in slamming the new administration for re-starting the deadly bombing. (While I believe they were not targeting civilians I also bet they know how the Taliban loves to use civilians as human shields.) However this doesnt discredit all of AI's efforts to help those who are suffering around the world.

  7. The Obama administration deserves criticism absolutely. Why the focus on AI though when they have been criticising the Obama administration? (http://pubrecord.org/law/627/obama-sharply-criticized-for-reviving-bush-era-military-commissions/)
    They are still bringing atrocities to light and advocating for the innocent. The horrifying white phosphorous incident clearly needs public outcry and I agree AI needs to be much more active in slamming the new administration for re-starting the deadly bombing. (While I believe they were not targeting civilians I also bet they know how the Taliban loves to use civilians as human shields.) However this doesnt discredit all of AI's efforts to help those who are suffering around the world.

  8. Obama's act in May, authorizing that horrible bombing, and really ever since that day in January when, by his direct personal orders on assuming the role as Commander in Chief, he personally ordered overturned the Bush ban on Air force bombing attacks in Afghanistan, is a war crime and against the international Laws of War because of the reckless endangerment of the civilian lives, even if the American forces are legally fighting the Taliban.

    In Obama's May bombings that killed so many children by burning them alive with white phosporus just 3 months ago, according to the New York times, it was US Air Force B52 bombers that were used in May in Farrah Province to drop bombs from 40,000 ft. on a Afghani village they knew was full of civilians, resulting in the predictable mass loss of civilian life. If that is not reckless endangerment and the illegal war crime of knowingly exposing civilians to death I don't know what is.

    Amnesty International, which is so outspoken in condemning atrocities committed by Bush, has done whatever it could to sweep Obama's record under the carpet, even in this blog above going so far as to ask the Obama regime to investigate Bush activities in Afghanistan from 7 years ago.

    This is a scandal for Amnesty International considering AI barely raises their voice above the peeping of a tiny mouse against Obama, who after only 4 months in office, is already just as soaked in the blood of innocent civilians, women blown to bits, babies burnt alive, as Bush ever was.

    Time for AI to stop worrying about supposed Bush crimes of 7 years ago, and stop being Obama's lap dog today.

    Time for AI to stop trying to get Obama to prosecute Bush for supposed war crimes from 7 years ago when Obama himself is daily, right this minute authorizing more war crimes, and has been since the moment he took office in January, in which so many hundreds of civilians have died, and which AI has almost completely ignored and gone so far as to actively covered up for thier own political reasons.

  9. LOL. This post by Christoph Koettl has to be some kind of sick joke right?
    Amnesty International has itself been at the forefront of a co-ordinated effort to cover-up the massive war crime ordered by President Obama in Afghanistan in May, in which over 140 civilians, women, children, were killed by white phosphorus dropped by the US Air Force. It really takes a lot of nerve to accuse the Bush Administration of covering up war crimes from 5 years ago when Amnesty International itself is actively covering up a war crime committed by the current President only 3 months ago.

    It is beyond belief that you could, with a straight face, call on President Obama to prosecute the previous administration, when instead if Amnesty International had even a shred of decency and fairness, you would be calling for President Obama’s impeachment for this war crime this war committed just 3 months ago.

    *************************************************************************************
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/11/AR2009051101937.html
    “Reuters reported last week that U.S. military doctors had confirmed that they had treated an 8-year-old girl with white phosphorus burns in hospital. Her case was not on the list the military released on Monday.
    The girl’s father told Reuters their house was hit by a volley of artillery fired by Western troops.
    Human Rights Watch has urged the military to release more details of the incident.
    Since Reuters published its account last week, Afghanistan’s human rights commission has said it is investigating whether white phosphorus played a role in an incident last week in which Afghan officials say over 140 civilians were killed.
    That incident, in western Farah province, has caused a crisis between Afghanistan and the United States. President Hamid Karzai has demanded a halt to all U.S. air strikes, something Washington says it cannot do.
    Many of the victims in the Farah incident had severe burns. The U.S. military acknowledges bombing two villages after participating in ground fighting nearby, but says it did not fire any white phosphorus ammunition in the battle.”

    *****************************************************************************************
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6237189.ece

    “Up to 100 civilians, including women and children, are reported to have been killed in Afghanistan in potentially the single deadliest US airstrike since 2001. The news overshadowed a crucial first summit between the Afghan President and Barack Obama in Washington yesterday.
    US military officials in Kandahar said that the number of fatalities was nearer 30, but the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that the death toll was far higher.
    Jessica Barry, an ICRC representative, said that an international Red Cross team in Bala Baluk saw “dozens of bodies in each of the two locations” on Tuesday. “There were bodies, there were graves, and there were people burying bodies when we were there,” she said. “We do confirm women and children.”
    Many of those killed and injured had taken refuge in the villages to escape the fighting between the Taleban and the Afghan National Army, which had US “trainers” embedded within it. They had the ability to call in the US jets, part of a new command operating outside the auspices of Nato but under a new command known as US for Afghanistan. “

    ****************************************************************************************
    May 16th, 2009
    KABUL (AFP) — The latest “outrage” of massive civilian casualties in US air strikes needs to be the last if the United States wants to have credibility in Afghanistan, campaign group Human Rights Watch said Friday.
    An investigation ordered by President Hamid Karzai into the strikes in the western province of Farah in early May found 140 civilians were killed, 95 of them aged under 18, and 15 houses destroyed, Afghan officials say.
    “Afghans have heard promises from the US before that they would take all possible steps to avoid civilian casualties,” Human Rights Watch’s Asia director, Brad Adams, said in a statement.
    “But if the US is to have any credibility, this latest outrage needs to be the last of its kind,” he said.
    New York-based Human Rights Watch said accounts from villagers and officials contradicted US statements that the Taliban were responsible for many of the deaths because they had used civilians as “human shields”.
    Locals had told HRW investigators that the insurgents had left their area before the most of the bombs hit.
    Dozens of those killed were said to be among villagers who had taken shelter from fighting in the compounds of religious and tribal leaders that were hit by the bombs, it said.
    Villagers have given similar accounts to AFP, saying this is why a high number of women and children were among the dead.
    The Afghan investigation that found 140 people had died was based on local accounts as bodies had already been buried by the time the team arrived.
    HRW said the US military should have known there were many civilians in the village at the time.
    Nine Afghan non-governmental organisations also condemned the “humanitarian tragedy” in a separate statement.
    “Incidents like this one create fear among Afghans, erode support for the government of Afghanistan and the presence of the International Security Assistance Forces, have a negative impact on efforts to build peace,” they said.
    The US military meanwhile reiterated that it believed the Farah incident was a deliberate attempt by insurgents to create civilian casualties.
    “They forced them into these buildings and they created this fight,” spokesman Colonel Greg Julian told reporters late Thursday.
    “We had no idea that they had forced these people into these buildings, and they were holding them at gunpoint,” he said.
    “We own up to it when we’re responsible, and I feel that there is a responsibility in this,” he said.
    Copyright © 2009 AFP

  10. Wow, one tiny press release from Amnesty International in response to a massive war crime invovling the horrible deaths by white phosphorus of hundreds of civilians, women children committed by your hero, the current President not 3 months ago.

    No, not a cover up at all.

    Did you follow up with any investigations of yourselves: No !
    Did you follow up with even more press releases or calls for investigation: No!

    Did you protest that even though the Bush agreed to the Afghan government’s request to halt bombings by the US Air force in 2007 on the basis of mass civilian deaths being counter-productive to wining the war, the moment, literately the first day Obama took office in January he canceled the Bush policy and ordered an immediate resumption of Air Force bombings and Predator Drone assassinations in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Even though under international law these bombings are illegal due to the reckless disregard for the civilians that inevitably, predictably die and have died in the hundreds since Obama took office and gave a direct order to resume these bombings

    No, of course you did not protest any of this.

    One measly little press release and then you, AI, go right back to pretending this war crime 3 months ago never happened.

    Because otherwise, if you Amnesty, did not participate in the suppression of coverage of this war crime, then how could you ever call for the baby killers currently occupying the Whitehouse to investigate the baby killers who previously occupied the Whitehouse like you do in this blog post above.

    This is because you know that morally and also under international law, if a party, such as the Obama administration, is guilty of deliberate or reckless mass killings of civilians, which even the US military spokesman in Afghanistan admits they are, then they have no right, legally or morally to investigate or prosecute anyone else, like Bush for example, for the same crime.

  11. The Obama administration deserves criticism absolutely. Why the focus on AI though when they have been criticising the Obama administration? (http://pubrecord.org/law/627/obama-sharply-criticized-for-reviving-bush-era-military-commissions/)
    They are still bringing atrocities to light and advocating for the innocent. The horrifying white phosphorous incident clearly needs public outcry and I agree AI needs to be much more active in slamming the new administration for re-starting the deadly bombing. (While I believe they were not targeting civilians I also bet they know how the Taliban loves to use civilians as human shields.) However this doesnt discredit all of AI’s efforts to help those who are suffering around the world.

  12. Wow! It seems that all of your comments and claims are truly a big "F*** you!" to AIUSA and Christoph Koettl! You truly hate AIUSA more than anybody and falsely accuse it of harboring evil! You hypocrites! I'm through with your insults hurled at AIUSA. From now on I'll just ignore your insults on this blog to avoid the hate you throw at AIUSA! May God forgive you, and may God forgive us all. 🙁

  13. Obama’s act in May, authorizing that horrible bombing, and really ever since that day in January when, by his direct personal orders on assuming the role as Commander in Chief, he personally ordered overturned the Bush ban on Air force bombing attacks in Afghanistan, is a war crime and against the international Laws of War because of the reckless endangerment of the civilian lives, even if the American forces are legally fighting the Taliban.

    In Obama’s May bombings that killed so many children by burning them alive with white phosporus just 3 months ago, according to the New York times, it was US Air Force B52 bombers that were used in May in Farrah Province to drop bombs from 40,000 ft. on a Afghani village they knew was full of civilians, resulting in the predictable mass loss of civilian life. If that is not reckless endangerment and the illegal war crime of knowingly exposing civilians to death I don’t know what is.

    Amnesty International, which is so outspoken in condemning atrocities committed by Bush, has done whatever it could to sweep Obama’s record under the carpet, even in this blog above going so far as to ask the Obama regime to investigate Bush activities in Afghanistan from 7 years ago.

    This is a scandal for Amnesty International considering AI barely raises their voice above the peeping of a tiny mouse against Obama, who after only 4 months in office, is already just as soaked in the blood of innocent civilians, women blown to bits, babies burnt alive, as Bush ever was.

    Time for AI to stop worrying about supposed Bush crimes of 7 years ago, and stop being Obama’s lap dog today.

    Time for AI to stop trying to get Obama to prosecute Bush for supposed war crimes from 7 years ago when Obama himself is daily, right this minute authorizing more war crimes, and has been since the moment he took office in January, in which so many hundreds of civilians have died, and which AI has almost completely ignored and gone so far as to actively covered up for thier own political reasons.

  14. Also make sure you ignore and do not dare look at this picture of the baby burnt alive with white phosporus in the may 9th, 2009 US Air force bombing ordered by the current American regime..
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/

    When you ignore this baby's picture like AIUSA wants you to, it will be just like it never happened.

  15. Wow! It seems that all of your comments and claims are truly a big “F*** you!” to AIUSA and Christoph Koettl! You truly hate AIUSA more than anybody and falsely accuse it of harboring evil! You hypocrites! I’m through with your insults hurled at AIUSA. From now on I’ll just ignore your insults on this blog to avoid the hate you throw at AIUSA! May God forgive you, and may God forgive us all. 🙁

  16. Also make sure you ignore and do not dare look at this picture of the baby burnt alive with white phosporus in the may 9th, 2009 US Air force bombing ordered by the current American regime..
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/

    When you ignore this baby's picture like AIUSA wants you to, it will be just like it never happened.

  17. Also make sure you ignore and do not dare look at this picture of the baby burnt alive with white phosporus in the may 9th, 2009 US Air force bombing ordered by the current American regime..
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/

    When you ignore this baby's picture like AIUSA wants you to, it will be just like it never happened.

  18. Stop insulting Amnesty International USA for "harboring evil and ignoring war crimes", and stop forcing AIUSA to "stop Obama from prosecuting the Bush administration for war crimes" and to support war and torture! You insult me and AIUSA to no end! 👿

  19. Stop insulting Amnesty International USA for “harboring evil and ignoring war crimes”, and stop forcing AIUSA to “stop Obama from prosecuting the Bush administration for war crimes” and to support war and torture! You insult me and AIUSA to no end! 👿

  20. Debbie:
    So let me get your position completely clear.

    You, Debbie, feel it is more important for AI to be spending its time demanding the Obama regime persecute Bush for supposed actions taken 7 years ago in 2002 than it is for AI to go after the Obama regime for war crimes currently being commited this minute in 2009.

    That is your position and the position you feel AI should take, correct?

    Tell me Debbie, do you still feel this way when you click on this link and look apon the burnt body of this child who was horribly injured along with so many other innocent civilians injured and killed on May 9th 2009, and other dates over the last 6 months as a direct result of President Obama's first order on taking power in January to resume bombings of civilian villages after Bush banned such bombings in 2007?
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/

  21. Debbie:
    So let me get your position completely clear.

    You, Debbie, feel it is more important for AI to be spending its time demanding the Obama regime persecute Bush for supposed actions taken 7 years ago in 2002 than it is for AI to go after the Obama regime for war crimes currently being commited this minute in 2009.

    That is your position and the position you feel AI should take, correct?

    Tell me Debbie, do you still feel this way when you click on this link and look apon the burnt body of this child who was horribly injured along with so many other innocent civilians injured and killed on May 9th 2009, and other dates over the last 6 months as a direct result of President Obama's first order on taking power in January to resume bombings of civilian villages after Bush banned such bombings in 2007?
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/

  22. Debbie:
    So let me get your position completely clear.

    You, Debbie, feel it is more important for AI to be spending its time demanding the Obama regime persecute Bush for supposed actions taken 7 years ago in 2002 than it is for AI to go after the Obama regime for war crimes currently being commited this minute in 2009.

    That is your position and the position you feel AI should take, correct?

    Tell me Debbie, do you still feel this way when you click on this link and look apon the burnt body of this child who was horribly injured along with so many other innocent civilians injured and killed on May 9th 2009, and other dates over the last 6 months as a direct result of President Obama's first order on taking power in January to resume bombings of civilian villages after Bush banned such bombings in 2007?
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/

  23. Debbie:
    So let me get your position completely clear.

    You, Debbie, feel it is more important for AI to be spending its time demanding the Obama regime persecute Bush for supposed actions taken 7 years ago in 2002 than it is for AI to go after the Obama regime for war crimes currently being commited this minute in 2009.

    That is your position and the position you feel AI should take, correct?

    Tell me Debbie, do you still feel this way when you click on this link and look apon the burnt body of this child who was horribly injured along with so many other innocent civilians injured and killed on May 9th 2009, and other dates over the last 6 months as a direct result of President Obama’s first order on taking power in January to resume bombings of civilian villages after Bush banned such bombings in 2007?

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6237189.ece

  24. Ohhhh-Bahhhh-Mahhhhh….. Ohhhh-Bahhhh-Mahhhh lalala fingers in the ears… don't talk bad about Ohhhh-Bahhhh-Mahhhh lalala. I'll just ignore you, my mind is made up…. don't confuse me with facts. Ohhhh-Bahhhh-Mahhhh "Yes We Can" lalala

    Blame Bush. Blame Cheney.

  25. Ohhhh-Bahhhh-Mahhhhh….. Ohhhh-Bahhhh-Mahhhh lalala fingers in the ears… don’t talk bad about Ohhhh-Bahhhh-Mahhhh lalala. I’ll just ignore you, my mind is made up…. don’t confuse me with facts. Ohhhh-Bahhhh-Mahhhh “Yes We Can” lalala

    Blame Bush. Blame Cheney.

  26. i agree Obama's war crimes need to be exposed. More & more deeply, thoroughly.

    But that's not to spare Bush' atrocities.

    Obama must be pressured to uphold invesigations into Bush / Cheney,
    especially if he himself is continuing down the same road, for an attack on one is an attack on both, & the investigation of Bush et al. is urgent to reinstate the process of ACCOUNTABILITY which all powerholders seem to dodge.

    Amnesty had illusions about Obama early on but began critiquing him as soon as his inconsistencies began showing up. Now they're pivcking up the pace. A case could be made for more action, against both their houses ( Bush & his successor's ).

    Investigating Bush would be a systemic purging. When has any american Pres ever been indicted for war crimes & torture ??

    Obama is building upon Bush's illegal overempowerment of the U.S. Presidency. Investigating Bush would be highlighting & slashing at these illegal powers as well as a signal precedent that Obama himself may one day FACE THE SAME, & that'd be the biggest check & balance on powerholders in office AND their minions, for if i remember right it's Ariel Dorfman who puts it so well in his letter on torture, namely that no torturer ever tortures unless he knows he'll get away with it.

    Exposing Obama himself would be equally necessary to help halt the system's ongoing wars of invasion.

    But why criticise Debbie Kearns ? Her points are perfectly accurate, against both war & torture. i would love to HEAR MORE FROM DEBBIE, for she brings such a clearness &, yes, a feeling of purity which is lacking in male voices. i support her call to bring the Bush criminals to justice, & i support Amnesty's efforts for the same.

  27. Кинули сегодня в аське ссылку на эту новость – не жалею, что потратил время и перешел:)

  28. Justice? Who is answering? There is no justice because no one can undo or bring back the innocent lives that have been taken. There are only us, now, this, and the future.

    The video that amnesty has released on signing patricians: I suppose to prevent that the same people will do the same thing again and for the safety of humanity and a better future it would make sense to sign it. Furthermore, it would give some comfort in hearts of those who have lost their loved ones.

    You, the American people who made a choice and voted for the Bush administration are responsible for making a choice now and the choice is to either ignore the reflection that the world perceives of you or open your eyes and see. This Bush administration has yet to be hold responsible for war crimes against Irak and for war crimes on its own country, the United States of America. War in itself is a crime because war is a business.
    All around the world people believe that 911 was a cover-up to open war on Irak. It matters not for what is done is done.
    “With great power comes great responsibility”. It is my favorite quote from “Spiderman” the hero that wears the costume with the colors of the American Flag. And in it reflects the ironic.

    For my part, all I can do is I believe, dream, and act for a better tomorrow.

  29. i agree Obama’s war crimes need to be exposed. More & more deeply, thoroughly.

    But that’s not to spare Bush’ atrocities.

    Obama must be pressured to uphold invesigations into Bush / Cheney,
    especially if he himself is continuing down the same road, for an attack on one is an attack on both, & the investigation of Bush et al. is urgent to reinstate the process of ACCOUNTABILITY which all powerholders seem to dodge.

    Amnesty had illusions about Obama early on but began critiquing him as soon as his inconsistencies began showing up. Now they’re pivcking up the pace. A case could be made for more action, against both their houses ( Bush & his successor’s ).

    Investigating Bush would be a systemic purging. When has any american Pres ever been indicted for war crimes & torture ??

    Obama is building upon Bush’s illegal overempowerment of the U.S. Presidency. Investigating Bush would be highlighting & slashing at these illegal powers as well as a signal precedent that Obama himself may one day FACE THE SAME, & that’d be the biggest check & balance on powerholders in office AND their minions, for if i remember right it’s Ariel Dorfman who puts it so well in his letter on torture, namely that no torturer ever tortures unless he knows he’ll get away with it.

    Exposing Obama himself would be equally necessary to help halt the system’s ongoing wars of invasion.

    But why criticise Debbie Kearns ? Her points are perfectly accurate, against both war & torture. i would love to HEAR MORE FROM DEBBIE, for she brings such a clearness &, yes, a feeling of purity which is lacking in male voices. i support her call to bring the Bush criminals to justice, & i support Amnesty’s efforts for the same.

  30. Amnesty is a non-political organization, our work is solely guided by human rights law and standards, and not by polititcs. Since there seems to be a lot of interest in these issues (and confusion…), here you can find everything about our Counter Terror with Justice campaign: http://www.amnestyusa.org/ctwj

  31. Кинули сегодня в аське ссылку на эту новость – не жалею, что потратил время и перешел:)

  32. Justice? Who is answering? There is no justice because no one can undo or bring back the innocent lives that have been taken. There are only us, now, this, and the future.

    The video that amnesty has released on signing patricians: I suppose to prevent that the same people will do the same thing again and for the safety of humanity and a better future it would make sense to sign it. Furthermore, it would give some comfort in hearts of those who have lost their loved ones.

    You, the American people who made a choice and voted for the Bush administration are responsible for making a choice now and the choice is to either ignore the reflection that the world perceives of you or open your eyes and see. This Bush administration has yet to be hold responsible for war crimes against Irak and for war crimes on its own country, the United States of America. War in itself is a crime because war is a business.
    All around the world people believe that 911 was a cover-up to open war on Irak. It matters not for what is done is done.
    “With great power comes great responsibility”. It is my favorite quote from “Spiderman” the hero that wears the costume with the colors of the American Flag. And in it reflects the ironic.

    For my part, all I can do is I believe, dream, and act for a better tomorrow.

  33. Ahhh "War Crimes" and the 911 cover-up!

    You know, I heard Sadaam Hussein was really an operative for the CIA. He purposefully turned away the U.N. Weapons Inspectors, violated all U.N. Sanctions imposed on him after his military was defeated and kicked out of Kuwait, and then he managed to convince world leaders he had WMD. All this was done as a favor for Cheney so that we would go to war and Halliburton would make money. I heard Sadaam was never really hung and the CIA flew him to an exclusive Island where he is living in Paradise and sharing the Haliburton profits with Cheney.

    Always enjoyable…

    Congrats Amnesty International on your otherwise good work (Darfur, Iran, Poverty, Treatment & discrimination of Women…).

  34. Amnesty is a non-political organization, our work is solely guided by human rights law and standards, and not by polititcs. Since there seems to be a lot of interest in these issues (and confusion…), here you can find everything about our Counter Terror with Justice campaign: http://www.amnestyusa.org/ctwj

  35. Amnesty is a non-political organization, our work is solely guided by human rights law and standards, and not by polititcs. Since there seems to be a lot of interest in these issues (and confusion…), here you can find everything about our Counter Terror with Justice campaign: http://www.amnestyusa.org/ctwj

  36. Christopher

    Amnesty may in deed be all those things you mention, but it is also a charity that depends for its existence on donations, and it cannot be denied that the demographic of your financial supporters and those who supported the President in the last election are one in the same, which means you have a clear conflict of interest when it comes to investigating the current administration.

    This picture of this badly burnt child:
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/

    is clear evidence of a horrific war crime and of reckless indifference to civilian casualties directly authorized by the current Commander-in-Chief.

    I ask you, if Amnesty does not investigate this atrocity which was perpetrated in May of this year then who will?

    Do you expect the Obama regime to investigate itself for this crime ?

  37. It seems that Amnesty International would better serve the world if they could focus their efforts on the human rights of people while they live instead of hunting for mass graves after the fact.

  38. Christopher

    Amnesty may in deed be all those things you mention, but it is also a charity that depends for its existence on donations, and it cannot be denied that the demographic of your financial supporters and those who supported the President in the last election are one in the same, which means you have a clear conflict of interest when it comes to investigating the current administration.

    This picture of this badly burnt child:
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/

    is clear evidence of a horrific war crime and of reckless indifference to civilian casualties directly authorized by the current Commander-in-Chief.

    I ask you, if Amnesty does not investigate this atrocity which was perpetrated in May of this year then who will?

    Do you expect the Obama regime to investigate itself for this crime ?

  39. Christopher

    Amnesty may in deed be all those things you mention, but it is also a charity that depends for its existence on donations, and it cannot be denied that the demographic of your financial supporters and those who supported the President in the last election are one in the same, which means you have a clear conflict of interest when it comes to investigating the current administration.

    This picture of this badly burnt child:
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/

    is clear evidence of a horrific war crime and of reckless indifference to civilian casualties directly authorized by the current Commander-in-Chief.

    I ask you, if Amnesty does not investigate this atrocity which was perpetrated in May of this year then who will?

    Do you expect the Obama regime to investigate itself for this crime ?

  40. No, but pressure from the public, ie. the electorate will help, hence my call to action in my blog posting.

    I would be surprised if you have any specific data on the demographics of our membership.

  41. Mr. "MSG U.S. Army", I don't care if Sadam was a CIA operative or if him and Bush went to picnic together. The topic of this forum is to get people to sign a Patician against "A war crime" brought to the people's attention.

    Christoph is right.
    "Amnesty is a non-political organization". But none the less, our work at amnesty does evolve around dealing with political organaiztions who need to take responsibility on our behalf. Else what is democracy if not this.

  42. Ahhh “War Crimes” and the 911 cover-up!

    You know, I heard Sadaam Hussein was really an operative for the CIA. He purposefully turned away the U.N. Weapons Inspectors, violated all U.N. Sanctions imposed on him after his military was defeated and kicked out of Kuwait, and then he managed to convince world leaders he had WMD. All this was done as a favor for Cheney so that we would go to war and Halliburton would make money. I heard Sadaam was never really hung and the CIA flew him to an exclusive Island where he is living in Paradise and sharing the Haliburton profits with Cheney.

    Always enjoyable…

    Congrats Amnesty International on your otherwise good work (Darfur, Iran, Poverty, Treatment & discrimination of Women…).

  43. Amnesty is a non-political organization, our work is solely guided by human rights law and standards, and not by polititcs. Since there seems to be a lot of interest in these issues (and confusion…), here you can find everything about our Counter Terror with Justice campaign:
    http://www.amnestyusa.org/ctwj

  44. Assuming U.S. action in Afghanistan is a war crime Judo Nimh's point is clear. You should stop ignoring the obvious. The "pot" can call the "keddle" black all it wants and mainstream media and A.I. can continue to bash the predesessors all it wants. The current administration won't push prosecution and investigation for something it is also part of.

    ACORN is non-political as well right? Keep up the good work and maybe you'll get some stimulus money.

    BLUF – You are spinning your wheels with this approach; you voted for what you consider to be a "war criminal"; and "All and all you're just another brick in the wall."

  45. It seems that Amnesty International would better serve the world if they could focus their efforts on the human rights of people while they live instead of hunting for mass graves after the fact.

  46. Christopher

    Amnesty may in deed be all those things you mention, but it is also a charity that depends for its existence on donations, and it cannot be denied that the demographic of your financial supporters and those who supported the President in the last election are one in the same, which means you have a clear conflict of interest when it comes to investigating the current administration.

    This picture of this badly burnt child:

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6237189.ece

    is clear evidence of a horrific war crime and of reckless indifference to civilian casualties directly authorized by the current Commander-in-Chief.

    I ask you, if Amnesty does not investigate this atrocity which was perpetrated in May of this year then who will?

    Do you expect the Obama regime to investigate itself for this crime ?

  47. No, but pressure from the public, ie. the electorate will help, hence my call to action in my blog posting.

    I would be surprised if you have any specific data on the demographics of our membership.

  48. Mr. “MSG U.S. Army”, I don’t care if Sadam was a CIA operative or if him and Bush went to picnic together. The topic of this forum is to get people to sign a Patician against “A war crime” brought to the people’s attention.

    Christoph is right.
    “Amnesty is a non-political organization”. But none the less, our work at amnesty does evolve around dealing with political organaiztions who need to take responsibility on our behalf. Else what is democracy if not this.

  49. I don’t think much of politics nor do I like the people that are in it. There are many war crimes and some are committed as we speak. True, that every government is seeking the interest of its own nation. But as amnesty supporters we can not let people commit crime against humanity and walk free just because what they did is now in the past. Everything today will be the past of tomorrow. How are we going to answer to the children of tomorrow? Are we saying that it is okay?
    We need to demand for change and for accountability. People committed crime; they were protected because of their political rank and are no longer. They are people again. And they need to be held accountable. If we don’t act, it is as likely to say that there is wrong in this world.

  50. Assuming U.S. action in Afghanistan is a war crime Judo Nimh’s point is clear. You should stop ignoring the obvious. The “pot” can call the “keddle” black all it wants and mainstream media and A.I. can continue to bash the predesessors all it wants. The current administration won’t push prosecution and investigation for something it is also part of.

    ACORN is non-political as well right? Keep up the good work and maybe you’ll get some stimulus money.

    BLUF – You are spinning your wheels with this approach; you voted for what you consider to be a “war criminal”; and “All and all you’re just another brick in the wall.”

  51. I don’t think much of politics nor do I like the people that are in it. There are many war crimes and some are committed as we speak. True, that every government is seeking the interest of its own nation. But as amnesty supporters we can not let people commit crime against humanity and walk free just because what they did is now in the past. Everything today will be the past of tomorrow. How are we going to answer to the children of tomorrow? Are we saying that it is okay?
    We need to demand for change and for accountability. People committed crime; they were protected because of their political rank and are no longer. They are people again. And they need to be held accountable. If we don’t act, it is as likely to say that there is wrong in this world.

  52. * If we don’t act, it is as likley to say that THERE IS NO WRONG in this world

  53. I did not mention this before but speaking of war crimes.
    There is 2 sides to every story.
    These Taliban prisoners who died or where killed in Afghanistan by Dostome, did they not commit crime against humanity when they entered into the homes of innocent people and TOOK away what no human being would take away. Cause that's what they were good at "TAKING": life, freedom, hope, religion, peace, family, future.
    What the Taliban did was genocide. Let us not forget this.

  54. Noone disputes that the Taliban committed and continue to commit crimes and human rights violations. Here is a report on this issue: http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGASA1

    However, this does not mean anyone has the right to lock them up and kill them in a shipping container and then dump them in the desert. Such an "Eye for an Eye" approach should belong to the past in my opinion

  55. Noone disputes that the Taliban committed and continue to commit crimes and human rights violations. Here is a report on this issue: http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGASA1

    However, this does not mean anyone has the right to lock them up and kill them in a shipping container and then dump them in the desert. Such an "Eye for an Eye" approach should belong to the past in my opinion

  56. Noone disputes that the Taliban committed and continue to commit crimes and human rights violations. Here is a report on this issue: http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGASA1

    However, this does not mean anyone has the right to lock them up and kill them in a shipping container and then dump them in the desert. Such an "Eye for an Eye" approach should belong to the past in my opinion

  57. Christopher

    Do you dispute that the current regime in Washington has been committing war crimes for the last 6 months as this picture of a badly burnt baby bombed on direct orders of the current Commander in Chief to cancel the order Bush gave on 2007 forbidding bombings of civilians:
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/

    How can you call that justice, that this current administration, which itself has committed horrific war crimes 3 months ago should persecute a previous administration for doing the same kinds of things 7 years ago.

    They did not even do this at the Nuremberg trials what you are suggesting be done to Bush. For example, during the trial at Nuremberg of Admiral Karl Donitz, commander of the Nazi Navy, on the charge of committing unrestricted submarine warfare on civilian shipping, American Admiral Chester Nimitz was called to testify for the defense and stated that the exact same war crime of attacking civilian shipping was also carried on by the United States Navy throughout the war, and on this basis alone Donitz was acquitted.

    So even at Nuremberg with Nazis it was recognized that it it would be fundamentally unjust under international law for war criminals, such the photo in the link establishes the current regime in Washington without question to be, to act as accusers and persecutors of previous administration.

  58. Christopher

    Do you dispute that the current regime in Washington has been committing war crimes for the last 6 months as this picture of a badly burnt baby bombed on direct orders of the current Commander in Chief to cancel the order Bush gave on 2007 forbidding bombings of civilians:
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/

    How can you call that justice, that this current administration, which itself has committed horrific war crimes 3 months ago should persecute a previous administration for doing the same kinds of things 7 years ago.

    They did not even do this at the Nuremberg trials what you are suggesting be done to Bush. For example, during the trial at Nuremberg of Admiral Karl Donitz, commander of the Nazi Navy, on the charge of committing unrestricted submarine warfare on civilian shipping, American Admiral Chester Nimitz was called to testify for the defense and stated that the exact same war crime of attacking civilian shipping was also carried on by the United States Navy throughout the war, and on this basis alone Donitz was acquitted.

    So even at Nuremberg with Nazis it was recognized that it it would be fundamentally unjust under international law for war criminals, such the photo in the link establishes the current regime in Washington without question to be, to act as accusers and persecutors of previous administration.

  59. Christopher

    Do you dispute that the current regime in Washington has been committing war crimes for the last 6 months as this picture of a badly burnt baby bombed on direct orders of the current Commander in Chief to cancel the order Bush gave on 2007 forbidding bombings of civilians:
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/

    How can you call that justice, that this current administration, which itself has committed horrific war crimes 3 months ago should persecute a previous administration for doing the same kinds of things 7 years ago.

    They did not even do this at the Nuremberg trials what you are suggesting be done to Bush. For example, during the trial at Nuremberg of Admiral Karl Donitz, commander of the Nazi Navy, on the charge of committing unrestricted submarine warfare on civilian shipping, American Admiral Chester Nimitz was called to testify for the defense and stated that the exact same war crime of attacking civilian shipping was also carried on by the United States Navy throughout the war, and on this basis alone Donitz was acquitted.

    So even at Nuremberg with Nazis it was recognized that it it would be fundamentally unjust under international law for war criminals, such the photo in the link establishes the current regime in Washington without question to be, to act as accusers and persecutors of previous administration.

  60. I did not mention this before but speaking of war crimes.
    There is 2 sides to every story.
    These Taliban prisoners who died or where killed in Afghanistan by Dostome, did they not commit crime against humanity when they entered into the homes of innocent people and TOOK away what no human being would take away. Cause that’s what they were good at “TAKING”: life, freedom, hope, religion, peace, family, future.
    What the Taliban did was genocide. Let us not forget this.

  61. Christopher

    Do you dispute that the current regime in Washington has been committing war crimes for the last 6 months as this picture of a badly burnt baby bombed on direct orders of the current Commander in Chief to cancel the order Bush gave on 2007 forbidding bombings of civilians:

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6237189.ece

    How can you call that justice, that this current administration, which itself has committed horrific war crimes 3 months ago should persecute a previous administration for doing the same kinds of things 7 years ago.

    They did not even do this at the Nuremberg trials what you are suggesting be done to Bush. For example, during the trial at Nuremberg of Admiral Karl Donitz, commander of the Nazi Navy, on the charge of committing unrestricted submarine warfare on civilian shipping, American Admiral Chester Nimitz was called to testify for the defense and stated that the exact same war crime of attacking civilian shipping was also carried on by the United States Navy throughout the war, and on this basis alone Donitz was acquitted.

    So even at Nuremberg with Nazis it was recognized that it it would be fundamentally unjust under international law for war criminals, such the photo in the link establishes the current regime in Washington without question to be, to act as accusers and persecutors of previous administration.

  62. I guess one war crime less or more won't harm the bush administration.

    For the first time the American citizens have most of the fact in front of them. It is here that the world will see if there is justice and law in America.

    You are right Christopher and i quote you:
    "However, this does not mean anyone has the right to lock them up and kill them in a shipping container and then dump them in the desert.

    But
    "locking them up" means they were prisoners. There is nothing wrong with that.

    "killing them" was a crime. But that to the alternative of let them free so they can arm themselves and attach again?

    "dump them in the desert"… what else could they do with it. They were dead.

    "Such an 'Eye for an Eye' approach should belong to the past in my opinion "

    Yes. I think Bush set a perfect example of that when going to Iraq.

    I feel nothing for those prisoners in AFG who died because those were people who would do anything, even kill, for money. As you know the Taliban abused any god given human right. They did nothing but committing war crimes.
    I have looked in to the eyes of some of those who have been victims of the Taliban regime. And I have heard the voices of the mothers and fathers who have lost their loved ones. You should ask them what justice they want for they are the ones that have lost souls too.

    anyways, this is my last post in this blog,

    peace be upon you.

  63. I guess one war crime less or more won’t harm the bush administration.

    For the first time the American citizens have most of the fact in front of them. It is here that the world will see if there is justice and law in America.

    You are right Christopher and i quote you:
    “However, this does not mean anyone has the right to lock them up and kill them in a shipping container and then dump them in the desert.

    But
    “locking them up” means they were prisoners. There is nothing wrong with that.

    “killing them” was a crime. But that to the alternative of let them free so they can arm themselves and attach again?

    “dump them in the desert”… what else could they do with it. They were dead.

    “Such an ‘Eye for an Eye’ approach should belong to the past in my opinion ”

    Yes. I think Bush set a perfect example of that when going to Iraq.

    I feel nothing for those prisoners in AFG who died because those were people who would do anything, even kill, for money. As you know the Taliban abused any god given human right. They did nothing but committing war crimes.
    I have looked in to the eyes of some of those who have been victims of the Taliban regime. And I have heard the voices of the mothers and fathers who have lost their loved ones. You should ask them what justice they want for they are the ones that have lost souls too.

    anyways, this is my last post in this blog,

    peace be upon you.

  64. Back to the article. I'm glad that our technology is being used to gather evidence. Not so glad that it's needed to do so and aganst someone the US goverment backed knowing full well most Amercans would be apaulled and not taking that into account. I know it's pretty unlikely that the evidence gathered is going to be used against the guy as the UN tends to slack off in that department but at least somebody's trying.
    At the risk of causing an anurism by practicing my constitutional rights I do have to wonder why this article, is so much longer then that one on white phosphrous? Couldn't get enough info? politics?
    Amnesty International is still suseptible to politics, they kinda have to be.It's not perfect as some seem to think it is.

  65. Back to the article. I’m glad that our technology is being used to gather evidence. Not so glad that it’s needed to do so and aganst someone the US goverment backed knowing full well most Amercans would be apaulled and not taking that into account. I know it’s pretty unlikely that the evidence gathered is going to be used against the guy as the UN tends to slack off in that department but at least somebody’s trying.
    At the risk of causing an anurism by practicing my constitutional rights I do have to wonder why this article, is so much longer then that one on white phosphrous? Couldn’t get enough info? politics?
    Amnesty International is still suseptible to politics, they kinda have to be.It’s not perfect as some seem to think it is.

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