US says troops fired in self defense in Afghan riot

[Eugene]

US says troops fired in self defense in Afghan riot

By Simon Cameron-Moore
Reuters
Wednesday, May 31, 2006; 5:44 AM

KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. troops fired in self defense as a riot erupted
after a fatal road accident in Kabul two days ago, the U.S. military said
on Wednesday in an account of the incident that sparked the worst anti-
American riots in the city since the fall of the Taliban.

"Our initial investigation ... shows fire came from the crowd and
our soldiers used their weapons to defend themselves," Colonel Tom Collins
told a news conference.

Afghan officials say five people were killed by a truck that the U.S. military
says suffered brake failure coming down a hill. Seven people were killed
in the bloody aftermath.

But Collins said Afghan ministries had told the U.S. military the total number
of dead from the accident and riots was 20, and even two days after there was
no definitive toll.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/31/AR2006053100378.html

[rodeodance]

1. AFP--- Troops in Afghanistan fired in self-defence: coalition

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060531/wl_afp/afghanistanusshooting_060531080916;_ylt=Ag9Jy_lB0VR10FJ9UzVXUNqs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b3JuZGZhBHNlYwM3MjE-
Troops in Afghanistan fired in self-defence: coalition

1 hour, 27 minutes ago

KABUL (AFP) - The US-led coalition in
Afghanistan said an initial investigation showed that troops opened fire in "self-defence" this week after a deadly traffic accident that set off widespread rioting.


Afghan officials had told the coalition that 20 people were killed in the accident and subsequent rioting Monday that engulfed the whole city, coalition spokesman Tom Collins said, giving a new toll for the day's events.

The crowd had gathered after a heavy US military truck ploughed into about 12 vehicles at the northern entrance to the city during rush hour.

"Our initial investigations show that fire came from the crowd and our soldiers used their weapons to defend themselves," Collins said, adding it was not clear who had fired first.

[ShortnFiery]

2. That's worth a whopping ONE star vote.

I'm not buying it. Another UGLY American Arrogance Meme ... and we're sticking with it! Oh, we NEVER make mistakes. :grr: If you say we do, you're welcome to eat a bullet or feel the butt end of a rifle.

I'm disgusted and hope this doesn't lead the right wing crazies into Nationalistic Fervor. If there's anything more tragic than our over stressed and poorly led troops f**king up, it's the right wing getting nutzoid as they wrap their chicken-hawk bods in the American Flag. :puke:

[MichaelHarris]

3. A

truck with bad brakes fired first. We can't protect them, we don't train them, we don't outfit them and now we don't give them safe vehicles to drive. It's a wonder the death toll isn't 20 times higher.

[ShortnFiery]

4. self delete

[xchrom]

5. afghanistan falls apart.

we are not in afghanistan with permission of the government -- we are there under an american doctrine of self defnce re: 9-11.

even though there is now an elected government.

europe and the u.s. have ignored the needs of the afghani people post taliban -- and the afghani people surprising westerners with their savvy -- know this.

the people are pissed -- and this crash and subsequent riot is the tip of the iceberg.

[enigma000]

6. I believe the Afghan government has asked for help

from the international community. And many countries have troops and aid workers there. But, certainly more can be done.

[xchrom]

7. that does not include the u.s.

there is no treaty with the u.s. or request from the ''new'' afghan government for the u.s. to be there.

and the afghani sitizen in the street certainly knows the difference.

we are there under a u.s. authorization of self defence.

and while the afghani were glad to vote -- the absolute failure of the europeans and the u.s. to do more to build the infrastructure of afghanistan has now sparked rage.

[HuffleClaw]

8. they claimed the same thing at kent state at first iirc

their lies have become normal

[Briar]

9. Wasn't the initial explanation

that they had fired in the air? In which case, this is a tacit admission that they lied.

[Supersedeas]

10. And U.S. media outlets are trying to clear up perspective on story, how?

[IndianaGreen]

11. This is version #2 of the story!

In version #1, yesterday's spin, there was a mechanical failure that caused the accident and US troops fired their weapons into the air when the crowds attacked them with rocks.

In version #2, there is a still a mechanical failure that caused the accident, but now the crowd is armed with weapons and the US troops fire back in self-defense.

What surprises will version #3 will bring?

[gratuitous]

14. Let's see, version #3

After their truck breaks down in the middle of the Afghan desert, our plucky band of soldiers, led by Pfc. Kelly Lynch, are ambushed by sand people--no, by a horde of Thuggee cultists. Yeah, Thugs, that's it, who, uh, are hell-bent on taking the soldiers hostage and sacrificing them to their goddess Kali.

Hopelessly besieged, outnumbered, and down to their last bullet, the brave, star-spangled, freckle-faced fightin' men and women solemnly pass the last bullet around so everyone can touch it. Yeah, even the colored guy. Pfc Lynch loads the cartridge into the chamber of her rifle, and imbued with powers of Freedom and Enduring Liberty, the magical bullet ricochets off of about 20 of the Thugs, killing them all, and scattering the rest who are panicked by the righteousness of the American cause.

Suddenly, from over the hill, a color guard and brass band comes to the aid of the truck platoon, and with hosannas ringing across the sky in praise of Chairman George . . .

Shit, this stuff practically writes itself!

[gratuitous]

12. Maybe the Afghans were firing in self defense?

After all, the truck had just plowed into a crowd, killing five people. Maybe the crowd of Afghanis thought they were under attack and fired on the troops in their own defense? Or isn't that allowed?

[IndianaGreen]

16. There were no guns yesterday in this story

The BBC quoted an Afghan policeman as saying that the US troops fired on the unarmed crowd. Our military never tells the truth!

[Just Me]

13. This, all of LBN, is so horrible right now,...I just don't think I can,...

,...handle it, anymore. The horror,...the unnecessary horror and oppression just makes me feel sick. I can't stand it.

[VegasWolf]

15. Operation Mopup and Cleanup is in full mode. nt