MURDER civilians and no impeachment, but hey, have consensual sex with a
woman and you get impeached
Hmmm, something seems wrong with american "values".
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/10/28/afghan.fighting/index.html
KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- NATO Supreme Allied Commander Gen. James Jones
promised Afghan President Hamid Karzai at a news conference Saturday that a
full investigation of an incident involving the unintended death of around
70 Afghan civilians would be launched.
Karzai has already assembled a team to investigate reports of civilian
casualties caused by NATO air operations in southern Afghanistan.
On Thursday, Karzai issued a presidential decree to look into reports
stemming from incidents in the Panjwayi and Pashmul districts of Kandahar
province.
The team is made up of tribal and community elders from various districts of
Kandahar province.
"The team has been asked to prepare a full and complete account of the
incident and identify its causes and victims," Karzai said in a news
release.
"The team will investigate the reports of civilian casualties and damages
inflicted in this operation. They will also present their suggestions to the
president on how such unfortunate incidents could be prevented in the
future."
Also, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said it and the Afghan
Defense Ministry are conducting a joint investigation into a Tuesday
incident "in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar province, in which a number
of civilians were killed along with a large number of insurgents."
ISAF commander Gen. David Richards, speaking to reporters in Kabul Saturday,
said "in the night in the fog of war, mistakes were made."
ISAF has said they were "satisfied" that they "identified and targeted a
group of insurgents," but said they were uncertain how many civilians were
killed as a result but believes it to be about 70 individuals.
ISAF said it has consulted local elders and other citizens "who have
indicated that the great majority of those killed were Taliban."
The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday that civilians are
being caught in the crossfire.
"Aerial bombardment and ground offensives in populated rural areas, together
with recent suicide attacks and roadside bombs in urban areas, have
significantly increased the number of innocent civilians killed, injured or
displaced," it said.
It urged all parties to respect international humanitarian law and "to
maintain a distinction between fighters and civilians at all times." It said
the law "also requires the parties to exercise constant care in the conduct
of military operations and prohibits attacks directed against civilians or
civilian objects."
The fighting in the south has been heavy this year with the resurgence of
the Taliban militant movement and the expansion of ISAF in the southern
provinces.
There were reports of more deadly violence Friday in the south.
Karim Rahimi, presidential spokesman, confirmed a report that 14 people in a
vehicle were killed in a bombing near the Uruzgan provincial capital of
Tarin Kowt. Among the victims were children and elderly.
Karzai said he deplores the Taliban and their activities.
Karzai willing to talk with Taliban
Nevertheless, Karzai's spokesman confirmed a report that the president told
reporters Friday he is willing to "talk and negotiate" with Taliban
militants "for the sake of peace."
Rahimi said Karzai made similar remarks before.
It is unclear whether such a gesture was simply an academic utterance, since
the hostilities and hatred between the Taliban and the Afghan government are
fierce.
"Those people, if it is Mullah Mohammad Omar or others, if they want to talk
and negotiate with us, they are welcome but they should first free
themselves from foreign slavery and come to their own land and live in
peace," Karzai is quoted as saying.
"For the sake of peace in Afghanistan, we are ready to negotiate with them.
We have always negotiated with their supporters and people who control them,
and will do again."
One of the others he was referring to is rebel commander Gulbeddin
Hekmatyar.
Karzai isn't offering amnesty, the news report said.
And Karzai reportedly said if wanted militants return to Afghanistan,
Afghans would be able to take legal action against them. Many of the
militants are thought to be across the border in Pakistan.
"If any one had any legal cases against them, they can do that," he
reportedly sa
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