Deadly Protest in Afghanistan Highlights Tensions

[Mari333]

Published: January 13, 2010
KABUL, Afghanistan — A volatile town in southern Afghanistan erupted Tuesday as rumors spread that American servicemen had desecrated a Koran and defiled local women in a nearby village. Taliban provocateurs on the scene whipped up a crowd and goaded it to violence, local officials said.

When the riot was over, at least eight protesters were dead and about a dozen wounded, shot by Afghan intelligence officers. Much of the town of Garmsir blamed the Americans.

The episode, which American officers said they were investigating, highlighted how easily suspicions and resentment can flare out of control in an area as contested as the Helmand River Valley



The protest began when several thousand Afghans gathered in the central bazaar in Garmsir, after reports of abuse by American servicemen during a raid at a nearby village two nights before. Local officials said the protest was organized by the Taliban’s shadow governor for Garmsir, Mullah Mohammed Naim.













http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/world/asia/14afghan.html

[Mari333]

1. only a chickenhawk would unrec this

[unhappycamper]

2. Winning their hearts and minds......

Jesus Christ, when we ever learn.

BTW, ignore the unrecs. I've been collecting them in the Veterans forum(!!!1!) for a while now.

[Mari333]

3. reminds me of when the republicans attacked anti war vets

when Bush was in office. never thought Id see the day that dems did that.

[unhappycamper]

4. I don't know if they are dems.

:eyes: