The prompt apologies expressed by the United States government over the recent killing of 16 Afghan civilians, including several children, by an American soldier may have damped down protests, but they will not subdue the anger and bitterness millions of Afghans feel over the war's rising civilian death toll, which the United Nations put at over 3,000 in 2011 alone. There is simmering resentment over repeated episodes of other kinds in which the conduct of Nato forces has been grossly offensive. The March 11 killings are only the latest in a long series, and Washington's claim that these are isolated incidents is not credible. U.S. troops have killed civilians for sport, cutting off body parts as trophies; their aircraft have killed children and teenagers in night air raids on remote rural areas, their units have filmed themselves urinating on the bodies of Afghans they have killed, and more. British troops have engaged in their own barbarities, some of which have been filmed. Furthermore, the film of U.S. troops burning copies of the Koran shows the contempt a number of its soldiers have for both Afghanistan and Islam. Equally offensive is the fact that the soldier responsible for the Panjwai killings has been flown out for trial in an American military court; the clear message is that Nato troops are above Afghan law, that the Afghan judicial process is not good enough to try them. This makes a nonsense of U.S. claims of respect for Afghan sovereignty.
It could well be that the U.S.-led forces have learnt nothing during their decade-long war, which has already cost the Nato allies over $500 billion, but the fact which few in the western political establishment can admit is that this war has long lost whatever little meaning it might once have had. The Taliban hold sway across a broad swathe of the southern provinces, the Karzai government is all but confined to Kabul, the drug trade continues unchecked, and the prospects of anything like democracy and its concomitant rights for women are as remote as ever. Even Washington's misguided dialogue with the Taliban appears to have run aground before it took off. As the self-imposed deadline of 2014 for the withdrawal of U.S. troops approaches, it is essential that Afghan sovereignty be strengthened and respected in word and deed. This means ensuring a greater role for the Afghan National Security Forces, particularly in combat operations, and zero tolerance towards acts by western troops which are an affront to Afghanistan's identity and sense of self-respect.
Keywords: Panjwai killings, US-Afghanistan ties, NATO forces
The US is not playing fair in Afghanistan and its high time the world community must condemn the US intervention in the internal affairs of the new Afghan Regime. The role of UN is minimalised and overshadowed by the proactive role that US and the NATO forces are playing in the world affiars.
There time has come when there should be more reforms in the UN so that is become more powerful than any individual county for the sake for which the organisation was crated after the Second World War. The relief works done by many other countries including India is no where highlighted and the role of US in Afghan affairs keep on coming in news.
I think it is the conspiracy of US to make his base in Afghanistan to keep a check on the influences of Russia and India in the Middle East. I think the alliance among Russia, China and India should be strengthened to counter the undue influence and intervention in the affairs of the Westt Asia and the Middle East. There is difficulty in reforming UN.
I have only one thing to say to the comment made by Gopalan. It is
people who sit in the armchairs (politicians and strategists) who
decided to go to war in Afghanistan and not the armed forces themselves.
The critics of this war do not deserve to be called armchair critics.
Actually U.S forces or so called NATO troops have never come in
Afghanistan for its sovereignty and Afghanistan's people but had come to
take revenge of 9/11 attack. That's why NATO never looks plight of
Afghanistan and its dwellers.
U.S and European countries they always trump
of Human rights and sovereignty in all over the world ,here is live
example of how much they impose this over themselves.Really rest of the
world should raise voice against this duel policy of U.S..
Actually U.S forces or so called NATO troops have never come in
Afghanistan for its sovereignty and Afghanistan's people but had come to
take revenge of 9/11 attack. That's why NATO never looks plight of
Afghanistan and its dwellers.
U.S and European countries they always trump
of Human rights and sovereignty in all over the world ,here is live
example of how much they impose this over themselves.Really rest of the
world should raise voice against this duel policy of U.S..
The tragedy was waiting to happen. Army men are trained killers.
They are naturally ruthless at it. Time we recall Vietnam My Lai
Massacre by US Marines "As the "search and destroy" mission
unfolded, it soon degenerated into the massacre of over 300
apparently unarmed civilians including women, children, and the
elderly. Calley ordered his men to enter the village firing, though
there had been no report of opposing fire. According to eyewitness
reports offered after the event, several old men were bayoneted,
praying women and children were shot in the back of the head, and at
least one girl was raped and then killed. For his part, Calley was
said to have rounded up a group of the villagers, ordered them into
a ditch, and mowed them down in a fury of machine gun fire."
What moral standi USA has to ask India and other countries to vote for
so called UN resolution against Srilanka? Why has UN been offering
closed eyes to the human rights violations these hegemonic forces are
rendering in every part of the world? Guantanamo bay, Afghanistan,
Pakistan, Iraq and the list continues. Everything US renders it
qualifies it either it's proverbial "war against terror" or "fight for
democracy". Why don't US explain were the hapless Afghan butchered in
Panjawai terrorist? One more thing why do US fore-sighters unable to
see what happens to Tibbatans? Is it because China is involved there? I
am sure one day USA will bring a human rights violation resolution
against Indian accusing of wrongdoing in Kashmir. It's high time entire
world community stand againsts the gut-wrenching diabolical deeds of
US. India has one very legitimate reason to vote against UN resolution
against SL as it's moved by USA.
This article clearly shows that UNO should stand for "Unmindful Nations
Organisation"
There is no counterbalance for the US in Afghanistan. There needs to be one in order to balance the scale.
good article.
US is taking all of us on a ride...NATO is taking all of on a ride..UN is just a silent spectator...At the end of the day, the citizens are the one who is paying the price of the EGO of US, NATO and UN...
I smell a rat in the apparent trail of the soldier for the condemnable killing he carried out. How come the US has woken up to the trail for civilian killings now after her soldiers have become so trained and perfect in doing this job? Its a sheer hypocrisy as it appears to be coinciding with the UN resolution against civilian deaths in Srilanka. The world should take this whole episode with a pinch of salt.
Incidents involving lawless Nato troops led by the US forces can do any atrocity or do any form of violence against humanity in Afganisthan or Iraq. But we should not speak against them.
Now the US is obsessed that Afghan will become another Vietnam. The Afghans are frustrated that after a decade of war, the Nato troops can't usher a new responsive government, protecting their lives and soverignity. A clear reduction in violence by the Nato troops in future will win the trust of the Aghans.
This soldier committed a big atrocity and some other soldiers have also committed atrocities. However, these atrocities have been individual acts and the US government hasn't encouraged any of these murders. On the contrary, they have prosecuted soldiers they suspected of murder etc.
Contrast this with other armies (Sri Lanka, Syria, Sudan etc.) where the government actively encourages the army to massacre civilians (and where the murderers get rewarded, not prosecuted)
The Hindu editorial is critical of Robert Bales being tried in a US court and not an Afghan court. While that is a legitimate criticism, I wish the Hindu could also write an editorial about how perpetrators of mass murder (in Sri Lanka, Sudan etc.) get rewarded by their government instead of being prosecuted.
Though it is sad to hear the loss of innocent lives and the reaction of Islamic countries, the plight of minorities and their dignity to life in Islamic countries are not much discussed in the world media. The recent report of Pakistan Human Rights commission highlights the fact that on an average 25 Hindu girls are kidnapped and forced conversion to Islam for on every month, happening since many years.
[the clear message is that Nato troops are above Afghan law, that the Afghan judicial process is not good enough to try them.] Every Afghan who matters is above Afghan law (sound familiar, India?), so you could alternatively say that NATO is showing an exemplary regard for the principle of respecting local culture.
[and zero tolerance towards acts by western troops which are an affront to Afghanistan's identity and sense of self-respect.] The peace love and understanding-disseminating troops of moral superpower India could teach these barbarians a few lessons, couldn't they!
Not only Afgan / US, wherever foreign forces are placed, such things
bound to happen. IPKF, our own security forces in Kashmir, security
forces in many African countries are also charged in a similar manner.
This is not to justify atrocities by any country - foreign or their
own. Ordinary human life has no value anywhere. Do we think about many
animals being killed for our food. When placed in a hostile environment,
beings react in a different way. We can think in a different way,
sitting on our arm chairs.
The way US took him out of Afghanistan,and then saying he is mentally stressed does not go well.US is proving its dishonesty yet again.
It is reprehensible that US led NATO's indiscretion run solong that Afghans have become hapless victims in their own country.
Nato's failure in restoring peace and order is another testimony of US's strategic failure in creating confidence in their operations among Afghans without learning from a bitter lesson in IRAQ.
Doesn't these atrocities qualify for passing a resolution similar to the
one being passed against sir Lanka? Or the NATO is above UN also?
Good article but who has the guts to challenge the NATO led troops or the authority they have created. It is a sin to kill a civilian, and for last 12 years people around the world are getting accustomed to it, by watching and readying news of civilian causalities. UNO is a sold out organization and there is no other world body who is out there that can address these issues. I think there will be huge blood shed before the rule of law establishes again. Shame on all.
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