Even ten years after the invasion of Afghanistan, civilians are still being targeted by US forces for slaughter. On Sunday an American Army sergeant opened fire on a group of villagers, most of whom were women and children, killing 16. The killings took place near Kandahar in the Panjwii district around 3 am. The area is said to have been hotly contested between coalition forces and the Taliban for many years. The village is about 500 meters from a US military base that has been the focus of Obama’s military surge strategy in the south that began in 2009.
Witnesses say the soldiers went from house to house firing on people while they hid from gunfire. Eleven of the dead were from the same family, and nine of the victims were children. US spokespeople say only a lone soldier committed the killings, however on witness Bacha Agha of the Balandi village disagrees with the statement by saying, “One man cannot kill so many people. There must have been many more people involved.” Other villagers said they thought there were multiple shooters as well given the number of dead. Afghan President Hamid Karzai also seemed sceptical of the claim saying he had a 15 year old witness who was shot in the leg saying soldiers broke into his home.
Adding fuel to the claim of more than one soldier is the report that several bodies had been burned. Its been suggested, very likely, this was a deliberate massacre given the attempt to dispose of the bodies. Especially in such a thorough manner.
This latest incident of killing has come at a very inopportune time for the US occupying forces. With the recent burning of Korans, 30 people have already died in the resulting protests. The anti-American sentiment in the country is already at a near boiling point. This fresh killing of 16 civilians, most of whom were women and children, threatens to make the population boil over and drive many citizens towards the Taliban.
American public opinion of the occupation is at an all time low as well. Several public opinion polls show many Americans are tired of the war and don’t understand why hostilities have continued overseas despite the capture and killing of Osama bin Laden, who is accused of master minding the 9/11 attacks.
There’s no doubt that the continuing cost of the war, in both money and American lives will be a very tenuous issue in Republican leadership race. There’s a chance that both remaining contenders could alienate the masses due to their dual pro-war stance. Not to mention how this will affect the actual presidential election which is inching ever so closer. It will be a real test of Obama’s leadership.
Despite all the claims by US government leaders and politicians, the war in Afghanistan is not being won. there has been such positive talk of progress in the embattled nation, but you should not believe it. The people of Afghanistan do not want to be occupied by the world super power which is constantly killing them. This latest incident proves that you cannot put a mask on the face of imperialism. It is still an ugly beastly product of capitalism’s drive for profits and resource control.
Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/world/asia/us-army-sergeant-suspected-in-afghanistan-shooting.html
maoistrebelnews.com 