Here is the latest - 25 civilians killed in NATO airstrike
Now I know that most members in DKos see the Afghan war as justified - although, as aggressive war, it was as illegal; and in terms of war crimes by the "coalition" forces, it is as brutal.
But see the way this is framed by AP:
Taliban militants attacked police posts in southern Afghanistan, triggering NATO airstrikes that left 25 civilians dead
It is not that NATO carried out airstrikes on civilian localities - the Taliban MADE them do it.
The airstrikes killed nine women, three babies and a mullah from the local mosque.
Why do the Afghans have to go through this?
NATO said its overnight bombardment killed most of a group of 30 insurgents and blamed them for the deaths of any innocents, saying they had launched "irresponsible" attacks from civilian homes.
I think this is the justification meant for consumption by the comfortable public back in the USA and UK. For all purposes, the Taliban are evil "unlawful enemy combatants" - but when civilians die because of NATO action, "Taliban are irresponsible". So, we expect them to be responsible now?
NATO does not even TRY to apologize - for them, the concern is about the voting public back home watching this on TV.
My question is how much do we trust NATO? Isn't it true that ANY army can use these excuses to justify killing civilians? Isn't it true that NATO called airstrikes KNOWING that civilians are present? Isn't it true that NATO calls the airstrikes because they do not want to involve ACTUAL combat? Doesn't it strike you that someone actually made the decision to sacrifice the civilians?
And aren't these decisions taken knowing fully well that no one back home objects to killing Afghans, partly because of racism and partly because the Afghan war is a "just" war?
Stop killing Muslims.