AP: US Special Ops Knew Afghan Site Was A Hospital Before Bombing

[restorefreedom]

Source: AP



AP: US Special Ops Knew Afghan Site Was A Hospital Before Bombing

WASHINGTON (AP) — Days before the Oct. 3 U.S. air attack on a hospital in Afghanistan, American special operations analysts were gathering intelligence on the facility — which they knew was a protected medical site — because they believed it was being used by a Pakistani operative to coordinate Taliban activity, The Associated Press has learned.

It's unclear whether commanders who unleashed the AC-130 gunship on the hospital — killing at least 22 patients and hospital staff — were aware that the site was a hospital or knew about the allegations of possible enemy activity. The Pentagon initially said the attack was to protect U.S. troops engaged in a firefight and has since said it was a mistake.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/world-news/us-afghanistan-bombing-knew-site-hospital

[erronis]

1. Hello. They all work for the US Gov't and all of US are responsible.

I certainly hope that the US Gov't (and by extension all of US) aren't allowed to point the finger to different branches of the military, quasi-military, spy groups, contractors, and on-the-ground paid informants in order to get out of culpability.

This is one of those cases that should ripple all the way up from the trigger-pulling airmen to the commanders in the services to the military honchos to the CINC - and everyone in the chain who knew and participated.

Enough is enough. And it's already way too much.

[Plucketeer]

2. This tragedy is OUR fault

It's the fault of each and every American who has set on their hands rather than hold government accountable. WOULD any of us here (on DU at the very least) have given the nod for those gunships to devastate the place? Of course not. But that said, we4're complicit just the same. Ignorance is no defense. National security is no defense. Chain of command and sense of duty are not defenses either.

WE foot the bill, and WE cast the votes and then go back to our stupid fucking fantasy football bullshit (I don't, BTW) and figure we'll just leave it up to the "Commisar-in-Chief" and all will be well! NOT! And he's just the tip of the dirty iceberg.

You can laud this president if you want - you can laud all those in DC who supposedly speak for you. I don't laud them. They don't speak for me. We've got our fingers stuck in so many holes in the Middle East that we need two more hands. And now we're going into MORE theaters of conflict. But hey - what custom touch is it that you want to your Starbucks? What was that cool new game app your so entrenched in? And when was it that you last wrote or called your reps about the American kids offering themselves as shrapnel sponges a world away? What's that? You don't know those kids personally. Wellllllllllllllllllll then - YOU get a pass.

What happened to this hospital - and many MANY more places like it - leaves us ALL with blood on our hands.
I can't go to DC - tho I'd love to. But I'm certain I've spent a hundred bucks or more this year alone - sending post cards to folks who've never met me nor care to. But they DO know (or their staff knows) of my displeasure when they stand silent about shit like this massacre - or even stand FOR such.

[toddwv]

3. So charge them and anyone farther up the command chain who said "go" on the attack

with war crimes.

[DesMoinesDem]

4. War crime

[End Of The Road]

8. oh my YES

[leveymg]

5. This is so reminiscent of the USS Vincennes shootdown of Iran Air 655

Doesn't anyone double-check the target before pulling the trigger?

"Dead. Dead On . . ."

[PufPuf23]

6. There is absolutely no excuse for this atrocity.

All personnel involved should be suspended from active duty and confined to base or house arrest until fairly investigated and penalized.

[bananas]

7. U.S. War Crimes Act of 1996: The penalty may be life imprisonment or death.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Crimes_Act_of_1996

The War Crimes Act of 1996 is a law that defines a war crime to include a "grave breach of the Geneva Conventions", specifically noting that "grave breach" should have the meaning defined in any convention (related to the laws of war) to which the United States is a party.

The definition of "grave breach" in some of the Geneva Conventions have text that extend additional protections, but all the Conventions share the following text in common: "... committed against persons or property protected by the Convention: willful killing, torture or inhuman treatment, including biological experiments, willfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health."

The law applies if either the victim or the perpetrator is a national of the United States or a member of the U.S. Armed Forces. The penalty may be life imprisonment or death. The death penalty is only invoked if the conduct resulted in the death of one or more victims.

The act was passed with overwhelming majorities by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton.

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