More evidence of American war crimes in Afghanistan?

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Jaakko
The US complaining of being discriminated in the global community is akin to white western men complaining about gender bias against them.

It only bothers some of us. The rest of us rightfully don't care.

[rah]

Yep, the allegations are always on the front page, and the retractions are always buried somewhere obscure.

But then, the BIG DOG is always going to be a target untill the next BIG DOG comes along. It's just that the next BIG DOG got lost.

[Arrian]

I say fine, go ahead and investigate.

Imagine, an article in the Guardian accusing the US of doing bad things! Gosh, I'm sure it's all true, too.

-Arrian

[Adam Smith]

Originally posted by Tripledoc
There is currently a worldwide attempt by journalists, lawyers and others to make the American government recognize its lack of legitimacy. In my opinion this a good and civilized way to rid democracies of bad leadership.

Another Ramsey Clarke show trial no doubt.

[Spiffor]

I'm pretty sure most Americans wouldn't care at all if everything was true (which is a big if). [irony]After all, the victims were Afghani => Taleban => Al Qaeda, isn't it ? They got what they deserve isn't it ?[/irony]

I'm pretty sure many people here seriously think what I irnically wrote.

[Arrian]

Spiffor,

I certainly would do not hold such a simplistic view (Afgani = Taleban = Al Qaeda). But you're entitled to make broad, insulting (at least to me) generalizations if you want.

-Arrian

[Gatekeeper]

I second Arrian's comment, Spiffor.

[Wernazuma III]

Gatekeeper: I even grant that Americans often really can't do much without being targeted with critique. Actually, like in every good opposition, we're already allerted, critical, suspicious and prejudiced before you even move. But not for no reason, on the other hand. People from the US display much more than any other western natiuon this "USA! USA!" attitude, that doesn't ask for reasons, just give a punch in the stomach. You're trigger happy, that's it. You tend to view your enemies as monsters, not humans with a life-story or individuals with human rights (see Shi Huang Di's post about Germans, so the assumption that Human Rights violations may happen is not idiotic. Whether it's true or not, one has to investigate. People, even here at Poly like Chris 62 or Shi Huang Di have no problem with such massacres as for them, all Taliban fighters are scum/monsters and deserve death, so why not mass execute them? Really weird that one could think that war crimes actually may happen...
And Arrian, while I also second you that you don't make such simplifications, don't think that holds true for everyone - believe me, some guys are very simple, not only in the US, also here.
Last time, I've heard an American soldiers say, why he is proud to fight against Saddam. His answer? "You know, like, I want to do something for the poor victims of, you know, september 11th"
There's stupid as$es and brutal people everywhere, but it appears as if the US was too eager to protect theirs.

[Arrian]

Actually, like in every good opposition, we're already allerted, critical, suspicious and prejudiced before you even move

"Good opposition," is that how you see yourself?

The rest I knew.

-Arrian

[Wernazuma III]

quoting only parts without the explanatory second part might be a method
Actually, I was referring to what an opposition always does, and has to do: To critically watch the "rulers", so they don't just do what they want, for that's what power generally leads to.
And yes, it's good opposition in this specific case for we really can't need a world-police judging arbitrarily about right and wrong, claiming they alone have swallowed wisdom, while they're only peons of their corporations and lobbies without different opinions being voiced.

[Arrian]

I quoted the part that interested me. Specifically: referring to yourself as "the opposition."

while they're only peons of their corporations and lobbies without different opinions being voiced

Ah, and that is how you see us. You are the defenders of the truth, and the US is the servant of evil (aka corporations and lobbies).

-Arrian

[Wernazuma III]

The amounts given by corporations in the election campaigns last time reached incredible amounts. Don't tell me that they didn't want very much back, especially the weapon lobby. I can't think of another country where high officials for environment and agriculture policies come directly from a major player in agrochemistry (Monsanto). Other example is Enron - whoops.
It's documented in the US approach towards environmental standards (Kyoto protocol) etc. Your weapon lobby rejoices that after September 11th every wepon project - even nuts projects like that semi helicopter-semi plane thing that always crashes) can be put forward because though making tax cuts and cut social programs the military receives even more crazy budgets than it always had.

Your corporations have their hands in everything, democrats like republicans. But don't worry, we European try to catch up as fast as we can with such practices (not so much in the weapon sector, but still)

[MichaeltheGreat]

Realistically, the Taleban fighters and al Qaeda did some real nasty **** to the the ethnic minorities in areas they conquered. All the US had in country on the ground at the time were SOF teams, so you had groups of six to twelve, supported from the ground, in the midst of hundreds of NA fighters.

There's not much doubt in my mind that there was some pretty brutal retaliation, especially for any of the unlucky bastards who were captured by Dostum's forces. US forces participating is an entirely different story, as is the idea that the US forces in the area, if they were at the scene at all, could have done anything.

One of the things I don't see mentioned is that it appears the grave sites are the same ones as previously known, and the allegation about asphyxiation of prisoners on the way to Shebergan is the same. That issue was brought up months ago, and CENTCOM supported the idea of an independent investigation.

[orange]

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
Those Taliban warriors were guarians of a system of torture of millions of women and protectors of scumbag Osama Bin Laden. I predict will care about this as much as they did about alleged War Crimes by the allies against the Nazis.

And that makes it right?

[Spiffor]

Actually, my "gross and insulting generalization" was inspired by MTG's comment. Of course, I made this gross enough to have everyone disagreeing with it (naturally all Afghanis aren't Telebans, and naturally all Talebans aren't Al Qaeda's goons).
But I still think many Americans here will have no problems with these American crimes, should they be proven true : after all, the victims were evil.