10 Murdered on Medical Aid Trip in Afghanistan, Including 6 Americans

[babylonsister]

10 Killed on Medical Aid Trip in Afghanistan
By ROD NORDLAND and SHARIFULLAH SAHAK
Published: August 7, 2010


KABUL, Afghanistan — At least 10 medical personnel, including six Americans, were murdered in northern Afghanistan on Thursday, officials confirmed Saturday. A Taliban spokesman, reached by cellphone, claimed responsibility for the killings.

The bodies from the group, which had been on an expedition to bring eye care and other medical services to remote areas, were found shot to death in a mountainous area of Badakhshan Province, according to the provincial police chief, Aka Noor Kentoz.

The International Assistance Mission, a group that last month had a fund-raiser in Kabul for a medical expedition to Nuristan Province, said six of the dead were Americans, one was German and one was British. Dirk Frans, the executive director of the I.A.M., said the team was headed by Tom Little, an American opthamologist with four decades experience in Afghanistan and a fluent Dari speaker. Mr. Frans said the team numbered 12, including four Afghans, two of whom were killed.

The victims’ bodies were stripped of all belongings, making identification difficult and suggesting robbery as a motive. However, Taliban insurgents are known to be active in the area, and the attackers allowed at least one Afghan to leave the scene unharmed. The survivor, an Afghan driver named Saifullah, told police he was let go because he recited verses from the Koran.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/world/asia/08afghan.html?_r=1&hp

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

1. They were Christian Missionaries and according to the teevee news, bibles were found.

They went into the lions den on their own accord.

[babylonsister]

2. So? They're still dead. Just thought I'd post it for those who

aren't aware this happened.

[Dorian Gray]

3. ?

How does their being Christian change anything about what happened to them? They did go into the "lion's den" of their own accord, but it doesn't matter whether they were Christian or not. They shouldn't have been killed. It's sad, and their lives do mean something.

[Sal Minella]

7. So how would you feel about a group of Muslim health-care workers

touring around among the poor in the U.S. and passing out English translations of the Koran?

[joe_sixpack]

8. Not bothered enough

to murder them.

[The Magistrate]

5. Do Not Forget, Ma'am, They Were Spies Too....

"A spokesman for the Taliban, Zabiullah Mujahid, claimed that the medical team were shot because they ignored an order from the insurgents to stop. Afterwards, he said, they found evidence that the group were American spies and were preaching Christianity. He said they had maps showing their bases, and a Bible in Dari."

[joe_sixpack]

9. Okay, yeah....

that's a credible enough explanation for me. :sarcasm:

[malaise]

6. These people were clueless

People in developing countries never know the difference between the pastor and the agent of imperialism. One day people will learn that most people are happy with their own version of religious BS.

[XOKCowboy]

10. Amen to that....

Well stated as usual. :thumbsup:

[Obamanaut]

11. There are medical people who are also christians. It is not surprising

that bibles were found. Christians carry them, you know.

[alphafemale]

4. Afghanistan needs to free its own damn self...or not

If its people are content to wallow in the 6th century, I'm of the ever increasing mind-set to let them.

We should have just let the Soviets have at it to their hearts content.

Hind sight and 20/20 and all that.