U.S. Threatens Afghans Over Kidnapped GI
This story was written by CBSNews.com's Tucker Reals in London.
At least two Afghan villages have been blanketed with leaflets warning that if an American soldier kidnapped by the Taliban two weeks ago isn't freed, "you will be targeted."
Villagers near the border of two volatile provinces, Ghazni and Paktika, tell CBS News' Sami Yousafzai that aircraft dropped the leaflets during the past several days.
Military spokeswoman Capt. Elizabeth Mathias confirmed that the leaflets were produced at Bagram Air Base, the primary U.S. installation in Afghanistan, and distributed in the region. She told CBS News correspondent Mandy Clark, however, that they were distributed by hand, not aircraft.
The papers show on one side an image of a soldier with his head bowed so that his face is not visible (above). A message in the local Pashtun language over the image says, "If you do not free the American soldier, then…"
On the other side, an image shows Western troops breaking into a house. The rest of the message is printed across the photo: "…you will be targeted".
According to the military, the translation of the last word in the sentence is "hunted," not targeted, but CBS News' independent translators say the word also means "targeted".
Mathias told Clark that another leaflet was dropped from aircraft in Ghazni and Paktika which notifies locals that a U.S. soldier is missing and requests any information on his whereabouts.
Mathias' colleague, Lt. Com. Christine Sidenstricker, said no threats are made in the leaflet which was air-dropped. The image shows an unidentified U.S. soldier (not the one who was kidnapped) sitting on the ground and talking to Afghan children. On the front it reads: "One of our American guests is missing." On the back: "Return the guest to his home. Call us at…," according to the military's translation. This leaflet is seen below.
Taliban militants and U.S. military officials confirmed the abduction of one soldier to CBS News on July 2, with a Taliban commander telling Yousafzai the American was cornered by militants and abducted along with three Afghan nationals in Paktika province, which borders Pakistan.
The missing soldier has not been identified by the military.
A Taliban source in Paktika claimed on Wednesday that U.S. forces had already launched three attempts to find the missing soldier in different locations near Afghanistan's border with Pakistan, "but all three raids were ineffective and the solder is in a safe and secure protected area controlled by the Taliban."
A militant commander in southern Afghanistan said a decision to keep the American hostage "in good shape of health" had come from the Taliban's military council, or Shura.
The commander, and the other Taliban source in Paktika, indicated that a ransom may be sought for the soldier's safe return, but the commander warned there was also an order to kill the man if there was any kind of operation to rescue him or an escape attempt.
Taliban commander Mawlavi Sangin told the Reuters news agency on Thursday that U.S. forces were harassing Afghans in Paktika and Ghazni provinces over the kidnapping.
"They have put pressure on the people in these two provinces and if that does not stop we will kill him," Sangin told Reuters by telephone.
While American military and intelligence services have dropped leaflets on Afghanistan for years, most of them have clearly targeted militants — frequently carrying photos or caricatures of Taliban leaders.
The new leaflet represents a broader, direct warning to local people in the region where the U.S. soldier was seized. Villagers from near the Paktika-Ghazni border told CBS News the papers were found stuck in trees and littering roofs in the area.
The question is, will its stern message help win the missing soldier's freedom, or just antagonize the local people who could help, or hurt, that effort.
(CBS)
Villagers near the border of two volatile provinces, Ghazni and Paktika, tell CBS News' Sami Yousafzai that aircraft dropped the leaflets during the past several days.
Military spokeswoman Capt. Elizabeth Mathias confirmed that the leaflets were produced at Bagram Air Base, the primary U.S. installation in Afghanistan, and distributed in the region. She told CBS News correspondent Mandy Clark, however, that they were distributed by hand, not aircraft.
The papers show on one side an image of a soldier with his head bowed so that his face is not visible (above). A message in the local Pashtun language over the image says, "If you do not free the American soldier, then…"
(CBS)
According to the military, the translation of the last word in the sentence is "hunted," not targeted, but CBS News' independent translators say the word also means "targeted".
Mathias told Clark that another leaflet was dropped from aircraft in Ghazni and Paktika which notifies locals that a U.S. soldier is missing and requests any information on his whereabouts.
Mathias' colleague, Lt. Com. Christine Sidenstricker, said no threats are made in the leaflet which was air-dropped. The image shows an unidentified U.S. soldier (not the one who was kidnapped) sitting on the ground and talking to Afghan children. On the front it reads: "One of our American guests is missing." On the back: "Return the guest to his home. Call us at…," according to the military's translation. This leaflet is seen below.
(CBS)
Taliban militants and U.S. military officials confirmed the abduction of one soldier to CBS News on July 2, with a Taliban commander telling Yousafzai the American was cornered by militants and abducted along with three Afghan nationals in Paktika province, which borders Pakistan.
The missing soldier has not been identified by the military.
A Taliban source in Paktika claimed on Wednesday that U.S. forces had already launched three attempts to find the missing soldier in different locations near Afghanistan's border with Pakistan, "but all three raids were ineffective and the solder is in a safe and secure protected area controlled by the Taliban."
A militant commander in southern Afghanistan said a decision to keep the American hostage "in good shape of health" had come from the Taliban's military council, or Shura.
The commander, and the other Taliban source in Paktika, indicated that a ransom may be sought for the soldier's safe return, but the commander warned there was also an order to kill the man if there was any kind of operation to rescue him or an escape attempt.
Taliban commander Mawlavi Sangin told the Reuters news agency on Thursday that U.S. forces were harassing Afghans in Paktika and Ghazni provinces over the kidnapping.
"They have put pressure on the people in these two provinces and if that does not stop we will kill him," Sangin told Reuters by telephone.
While American military and intelligence services have dropped leaflets on Afghanistan for years, most of them have clearly targeted militants — frequently carrying photos or caricatures of Taliban leaders.
The new leaflet represents a broader, direct warning to local people in the region where the U.S. soldier was seized. Villagers from near the Paktika-Ghazni border told CBS News the papers were found stuck in trees and littering roofs in the area.
The question is, will its stern message help win the missing soldier's freedom, or just antagonize the local people who could help, or hurt, that effort.
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See all 235 CommentsThe top image shows a soldier without headgear and jacket standing in a giant and ghoulish primate-looking palm. The soldier's head is bowed as though he is paying respect. The Pashtu script over the head reads: "If you do not release the American sartayrai..." (one who sacrifices, risks, or offers his head [sarbaz is its Farsi or Dari equivalent]) --a kind of suicide committer?"then..."
The next picture shows a fully armoured American soldier kicking a door. The Pashtu scrip in red reads: ?You will be hunted" [Pashtu, xkar]. (If "targetted" was intended, it would read neshani or hadaf in Pashtu or Dari).
The third picture shows five smiling local young boys interacting convivially with a fully armored expressionless soldier with dark goggles. The incomplete Pashtu phrase at the top of this picture reads: ?One of our American guests (is) lost...?
THE SOLDIER WAS CAPTURED.
Civilians are "kidnapped."
In war, enemy soldiers are "captured."
We capture theirs, they capture ours.
I doubt if anybody is fooled by playing with words. Those who support this kind of thing will continue to; those who don't are not going to change their minds due to childish wordplay. Let's maintain at least a semblance of dignity by acting like grownups.
This kind of behavior is cute in little kids. In adults it's just silly and pathetic.
As Confucius said long ago, the beginning of wisdom is calling things by their proper names.
Just dribbling water down a nose. Not only is that a war crime (executed **** for that) but if you think thats the only thing done you must believe in the tooth fairy too.
"Afghanis" is their currency. Get your facts straight.
Ok, one question. What exactly are we going to do about this that we haven't been able to do over the past 8 years? ooohhhh..I'll bet the Afgans/Taliban are really scared and soiling their drawers over this threat.
What a joke.
US forces would adopt enemies tactics if the enemy kill or kidnap one soldier , US forces kill or kidnap 100 ennemies.If kidnapping take place in a village US forces arrest every one in the village without exception!!!
Preventing villagers to live quietly will help to get more informations about bad guys.Villagers must realise that US forces are largely stronger than taliban and they can destroy both taliban and viallagers and US can protect Villagers much better than taliban.this is taht little differences that US must make taliban villagers to understand and chose theier side
Till afgan villagers do not see than Coaltion forces are largely stronger than talibans, they will continue to collaborate with talibans and the fisco will soon arrive
no one can put those little children and their mothers
back together again.
by jgg00000008 July 16, 2009 1:23 PM EDT
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A common misconception.
It applies to the behavior of the United States military, no matter whom we're fighting, since we signed Geneva Accords and agreed to abide by those rules in warfare.
Even if we're fighting invaders from Mars.
Don't believe me ?
"The Conventions apply to a signatory nation even if the opposing nation is not bound by it. By 1949, the treaty was becoming viewed less as a reciprocal contract and more as an agreement on fundamental humanitarian principles. Ratifying the treaty binds the nation to uphold these principles regardless of the behavior of the opposing nation."
http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/Geneva_conventions-1949.html
He is not qualified to be commander-in-chief, therefore his orders are moot, and any oath taken to honor him as commander-in-chief is also moot.
Troops- there will be a fight, and there will be consequences, but you can now legitimately say no to your deployment orders. Obama has not proven his citizenship to date. We have no legitimate president. We have no commander-in-chief.
Check the 7/15/09 headlines. One soldier's claim as such was honored without trial or big media press.
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=104009
He is not qualified to be commander-in-chief, therefore his orders are moot, and any oath taken to honor him a commander-in-chief is also moot.
Troops- there will be a fight, and there will be consequences, but you can now legitimately say no to your deployment orders. Obama has not proven his citizenship to date. We have no legitimate president. We have no commander-in-chief.
Check the 7/14/09 headlines. One soldier's claim as such was honored without trial or big media press.
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=104009
the epitome of lame.
Your responses are trite, shallow, and off point, although typical.
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