Afghan Bomb Attack Prompts U.S. Backlash

Wounded Afghans Say Marines Fired On Civilians Following Car Bomb Explosion; 10 Killed

(AP)  U.S. Marines fleeing a suicide bomber and militant ambush on Sunday opened fire on civilian cars and pedestrians on a busy highway in eastern Afghanistan, wounded Afghans said. Up to 10 people were killed and 35 wounded in the violence, officials said.

A suicide attacker detonated an explosives-filled minivan as the American convoy approached, then militant gunmen fired on the troops inside the vehicles, who returned fire, the U.S. military said.

As the Americans sped away, they treated every car and person along the highway as a potential attacker, said Mohammad Khan Katawazi, the district chief of Shinwar. But Maj. William Mitchell, a U.S. military spokesman, said those killed and injured may have been shot by the militants.

More than a half dozen Afghans recuperating from bullet wounds told The Associated Press that the U.S. forces fired indiscriminately along at least a six-mile stretch of one of eastern Afghanistan's busiest highways — a route often filled not only with cars and trucks but Afghans on foot and bicycles.

"They were firing everywhere, and they even opened fire on 14 to 15 vehicles passing on the highway," said Tur Gul, 38, who was standing on the roadside by a gas station and was shot twice in his right hand. "They opened fire on everybody, the ones inside the vehicles and the ones on foot."

The casualty tolls varied widely. The Interior Ministry said 10 people were killed; the provincial health chief, Ajmel Pardus, said eight died.

The U.S. military said eight civilians were killed and 35 wounded, after earlier saying 16 were killed and 24 wounded. It did not explain the revised, lower death toll, saying only that the new figures were "the most accurate numbers to date." A U.S. soldier was also injured. The incident was under investigation, the military said.

"We certainly believe it's possible that the incoming fire from the ambush was wholly or partly responsible for the civilian casualties," Mitchell said.

Interior Ministry spokesman Zemeri Bashary said the chief of the Interior Ministry's criminal division would lead a delegation to Nangarhar province on Monday to investigate. Bashary said it appeared that gunfire from the U.S. soldiers caused most of the casualties.

The gunfire from Americans prompted angry demonstrations in the region — just 30 miles west of the Pakistan border. Hundreds of Afghans blocked the road and threw rocks at police, with some demonstrators shouting "Death to America! Death to Karzai," a reference to President Hamid Karzai.

At the Jalalabad hospital, several victims said the American convoy approached them on the highway and opened fire. As the convoy neared, many cars pulled over to the side of the road, but were still hit by gunfire.

"When we parked our vehicle, when they passed us, they opened fire on our vehicle," said 15-year-old Mohammad Ishaq, who was hit by two bullets, in his left arm and his right ear. "It was a convoy of three American Humvees. All three humvees were firing around."

Ahmed Najib, 23, lay in the next bed, hit by a bullet in his right shoulder.

"One American was in the first vehicle, shouting to stop on the side of the road, and we stopped. The first vehicle did not fire on us, but the second opened fire on our car," Najib said, adding that his 2-year-old brother was grazed by a bullet on his cheek. "I saw them turning and firing in this direction, then turning and firing in that direction. I even saw a farmer shot by the Americans."

NATO and U.S. forces are often accused of firing at Afghan civilians they fear may be about to launch an attack. Though officials say the shootings are done in self defense, they often injure or kill innocent civilians. On Dec. 3, British troops speeding away from a suicide bomb attack in Kandahar city opened fire on cars, killing one civilian and wounding six others.

U.S. forces near Sunday's bombing later deleted photos taken by a freelance photographer working for The Associated Press and video taken by a freelancer working for AP Television News. Neither the photographer nor the cameraman witnessed the suicide attack or the subsequent gunfire. It was not immediately known why the soldiers deleted the photos and videos. The U.S. military did not immediately comment on the matter.

The freelance photographer, Rahmat Gul, said he took photos of a four-wheel drive vehicle where three Afghans had been shot to death inside.

An American soldier then took Gul's camera and deleted the photos. Gul said he later received permission to take photos from another soldier, but that the first soldier came back and angrily told him to delete the photos again. Gul said the soldier then raised his fist as if he was going to strike Gul.

The U.S. forces involved in the attack and ensuing gunfire were part of the U.S.-led coalition, not NATO's International Security Assistance Force. An official who asked not to be identified said the troops were Marine Special Forces.

A man claiming to speak for Hezb-e-Islami, a group he said is linked with the Taliban, claimed responsibility for the bombing and identified the attacker as an Afghan named Haji Ihsanullah in a telephone call to AP. The spokesman said that the attack was carried out by a breakaway faction of Hezb-e-Islami that was once led by Younis Khalis, a former mujahedeen commander who died last year. The group is now believed to be led by a son of Khalis.

The purported spokesman, who identified himself as Qari Sajjad, said the explosion "destroyed two vehicles, killing or injuring American soldiers." Sajjad said the attack was in revenge for "cruel acts" done to Afghans by U.S. forces.

Lt. Col. David Accetta, a coalition spokesman, said the attack demonstrated the militants' "blatant disregard for human life" by attacking forces in a populated area. NATO officials repeatedly say that suicide bombs aimed at international and Afghan forces kill far more civilians than soldiers.

Meanwhile, two British soldiers were killed Saturday in a rocket attack in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, the British defense ministry said Sunday. The latest deaths bring to 50 the number of British troops killed since a U.S.-led invasion overthrew Afghanistan's Taliban regime in November 2001.

Helmand province, where Britain has more than 5,000 troops, has seen a number of clashes in the last several weeks. Canada also has large numbers of troops in the south, in neighboring Kandahar province.

[lars008-2009]

these stupid silly little fascist nazi Islamic muslims are no different from the stupid silly little fascist nazi germans

"When they came to arrest the Jews, I did not say any thing. I am not a Jew.
When they came to arrest the communists, I did not say anything. I am not a communist.
When they came to arrest the socialists, I did not say anything. I am not a socialist.
When they came to arrest the homosexuals, gypsies, mentally retarded, etc. I did not say anything, I am none of the above.
When they came to arrest me, there was no one to speak for me."

[lars008-2009]

don%u2019t you just hate these stupid silly little fascist nazi Islamic muslims pretending to be liberal Americans%u2026%u2026 and begging for the usa to leave iraq%u2026..lol%u2026.. they must be really getting their arses kicked%u2026. Hahahahahahaha

and these fascist nazi Islamic muslim collaborators

lars008:

If you dislike muslims so much, why haven't you enlisted in the army?

Is it that you're too scared?

I guess that's it - you're just to scared to join up and go and fight those bad, bad muslims.

lars008 - you are a first class coward.

[lars008-2009]

What Thomas Jefferson learned
from the Muslim book of jihad

Thomas Jefferson knew about fascist nazi islam..... he killed plenty of them....

In 1786 Jefferson and John Adams went to negotiate with Tripoli's envoy to London, Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdrahaman or (Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja). They asked him by what right he extorted money and took slaves. Jefferson reported to Secretary of State John Jay, and to the Congress:

The ambassador answered us that [the right] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet (Mohammed), that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to heaven.[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War
http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan07/jeff_quran.htm
http://www.khouse.org/articles/2007/691/
http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/2002_winter_spring/terrorism.htm
h
ttp://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=+Thomas Jefferson barbary
http://http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q= Thomas Jefferson islam
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q= Thomas Jefferson muslim

[karlimhof]

The BUSH WAR is illegal

the resumption of hostilities was only a matter of time since Bush was elected with his neocon sidekicks....

blame barbara bush for iraq......
Posted by lars008

[lars008-2009]

What Thomas Jefferson learned
from the Muslim book of jihad

Thomas Jefferson knew about fascist nazi islam..... he killed plenty of them....

In 1786 Jefferson and John Adams went to negotiate with Tripoli's envoy to London, Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdrahaman or (Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja). They asked him by what right he extorted money and took slaves. Jefferson reported to Secretary of State John Jay, and to the Congress:

The ambassador answered us that [the right] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet (Mohammed), that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to heaven.[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War
http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan07/jeff_quran.htm
http://www.khouse.org/articles/2007/691/
http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/2002_winter_spring/terrorism.htm
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=+Thomas Jefferson barbary
http://http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q= Thomas Jefferson islam
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q= Thomas Jefferson muslim

[lars008-2009]

tell it to Thomas Jefferson he knew about fascist nazi islam skippy..... he killed plenty of them....

In 1786 Jefferson and John Adams went to negotiate with Tripoli's envoy to London, Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdrahaman or (Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja). They asked him by what right he extorted money and took slaves. Jefferson reported to Secretary of State John Jay, and to the Congress:

The ambassador answered us that [the right] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet (Mohammed), that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to heaven.[1]

[joanpz]

Hey, contrary to most believers, scientists now know that TODAY most LIVING PERSONS descended from SIX MID-EASTERN TRIBES -- all persons today, DON'T BELONG WHERE THEY ARE... yep, instead of having descended from Portuguese parentage -- 1000AD & CRUSADERS SCARED OFF MY SEPHARDIC JEWISH ANCESTORS who eventually decided IT WAS BETTER TO BE CATHOLIC THAN DEAD under ISABELLA 1492

lars008 wrote:

"During that time, non muslims have...

been murdered en masse
had their land stolen
their holy places destroyed and desecrated
been sold into slavery
their women raped
their children butchered"

Hey lars, that sounds awfully similar to what a few bad American Soldiers have done to the Iraqis - does that mean all Americans are bad?

Because clearly if you are tarring all Muslims for the actions of a few, then you must also be applying the same rule to Americans.

If you don't, that makes you a hypocrite or a liar.

So what are you lars?

A hypocrite and/or a liar or just un-American?

So what is it?

lars008:

I feel sorry for you - it's quite apparent that your parents dropped you on your head when you were younger.

[lars008-2009]

I NO LONGER SUPPORT THE OCCUPATION

The real %u201Coccupation%u201D
1300 years of muslim occupation

muslims, whose home is Arabia, have occupied and brutalized for centuries.

During that time, non muslims have...

been murdered en masse
had their land stolen
their holy places destroyed and desecrated
been sold into slavery
their women raped
their children butchered


and the arabs have the nerve to whine about "occupation" when non muslims fight back

I NO LONGER SUPPORT FASCIST NAZI ISLAMIC MUSLIM OCCUPATION

[patriotic9]

larse
Two question to you.All these videos you are posting here,have they been made before the occupation of the Palestinian land by the EUROPEAN INVADERS IN PALESTINE or after?
Second question is the same,I have asked you before but didn't get a reasonable answer;
If Muslims are that evil(and I don't have any doubt in my mind that they are eventhough they are not as evil as Christians are),then why do you support HAJI BUSH in giving our TAX PAYED MONEY on the name of REBUILDING IRAQ and our WEAPONS on the name of ARMING IRAQI SECURITY FORCES to an ISLAMIC RADICAL "MALIKI"for the killing of our troops in Iraq?

[obiquital]

First time I looked at this article it was US special forces now its US marines. Get your information right the first time CBS. I've seen information changed, "updates", and flat out removed. Who knows if this news in correct either or if they will have some special update soon that says it was actually people who just looked like US army rangers or some other thing like that.

[patriotic9]

bildooreilly
"Sure there are a few loony christians and muslims but most of them aren't, and most of us on both sides are good people"
I respectfully disagree with you.I don't know about exact numbers but I know one thing for sure.Even if they are in minority on both the CHRISTIAN and MUSLIMS sides,they are very dangerous for the survival of the sane world.

[lars008-2009]

here's your enemy skippy..... try to remember that..... there will be a test later....

UK TV AIRS SHOCK 'UNDERCOVER' LOOK INTO MAINSTREAM BRIT MOSQUES...
Dispatches: Undercover Mosque
This is part one of the much-anticipated UK Channel 4 documentary Dispatches: Undercover Mosque, exposing evidence of Islamic supremacism, shocking misogyny, and support for violence at a number of Britain%u2019s leading mosques and Muslim institutions. (Thanks again to LGF operative kasper.)
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=24018_Dispatches-_Undercover_Mosque&only

Dispatches - Undercover Mosque (1 to 6)
UK Channel 4, aired 15th January 2007.
Radicalisation of UK mosques by Saudi Wahabbism
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Dispatches+- Undercover Mosque
http://youtube.com/watch?v=peFQWuk4nuo
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MuCLC8kjWCI
http://youtube.com/watch?v=x5t5EqWX92k
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yMztM0Z7BYE
http://youtube.com/watch?v=V4Zv3BUmwqs
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KvjvNScmTQA

[patriotic9]

Lars
I'll highly appreciate if you keep that ANTI-HUMAN RIGHTS &ANTI-AMERICAN BIBLE to yourself which gives HETEROSEXUALS right to marry while denying the same right for HOMOSEXUAL CITIZENS(Discrimination on the basis of SEXUAL ORIENTATION),which calls women DEVILS and the one who had helped DEVIL in getting a man kicked out of heaven,which has racially discriminated Americans by not promising them a single penny while promisisng NON-AMERICANS a land in the Middle East,which considers Americans as the SERVANTS of the GOD-CHOSEN ENEMIES of THE GOD'S ONLY BEGOTTEN SON.
We need to do a new study to find out whether those people who are VERY RELIGIOUS become PSYCHOTICS or those who are PSYCHOTICS become VERY RELIGIOUS.
larse,you'd be a perfect candidate for that study.

[bildooreilly]

Patriot9, you don't help any with your hate towards Christians. I'm a Christian, I don't care if muslims believe in their thing and I believe in mine. I know all of these wars are BS, knew it from the start. I don't support people like Lars, you're very wrong about Christians, it's the same sort of *** lars is posting about muslims. Sure there are a few loony christians and muslims but most of them aren't, and most of us on both sides are good people, it's your leaders that cause you to err...

[lars008-2009]

Ezekiel 25:17 among others]
Jules: The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/quotes

[patriotic9]

allgood34
"I say we pull all our troops out and nuke the whole place. If there is no life there is no violence there. The US or no other country will ever bring peace to the mideast".
The main source of all the fighting and war in the Middle East is the illegal occupation of the Palestinian land by the EUROPEAN INVADERS IN PALESTINE.If Europeans were not brought into Palestine after WWII to occupy the land of those Palestinians by force who had nothing to do with the crimes comited by Hitler since BIBLE said so,Alqaeda would not get enough recruit to blow themselves up since Koran said so.
For the survival of United States and interest of American people,United States should nuke the occupied Palestinian land like Tel Aviv and kick that RACIST,UNJUST and ANTI-AMERICAN GOD out of US polictics who has promised a land in the Middle East for Non-Americans while not promisisng a single penny for Americans,who has neglected those Americans who believe in JESUS as SON OF GOD and in the virginity of his mother,while chosen those Non-Americans who deny Jesus as his son and deny the virginty of his mother.
CHRISTIANITY is PSYCHOSIS and CHRISTIANS are PSYCHOTICS.
As long as US policies will be made on that PSYCHOSIS,American money and American lives will be wasted in order to kill Americans.

[lars008-2009]

GENGHIS KHAN KNEW HOW 2 TREAT MUSLIMS!
The Mongol Empire practiced religious tolerance to a large degree because it was generally indifferent to belief. The exception was when religious groups challenged the state. For example Ismaili Muslims that resisted the Mongols were exterminated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genghis_Khan