Swedish Charity: US Raided Afghan Hospital

American Army Troops Allegedly Stormed Facility, Tied Up Staff in Reported Violation of NATO Agreement

(CBS/AP)  A Swedish charity accused American troops Monday of storming through a hospital in central Afghanistan, breaking down doors and tying up staff in a search for militants. The U.S. military said it was investigating.

The allegation that soldiers violated the neutrality of a medical facility follows the reported deaths of Afghan civilians in a U.S. air strike in the country's north last week.

Nearly eight years after the U.S.-led coalition invaded to oust the Taliban, foreign forces are working to persuade the population to support the Afghan government. But civilian deaths and intrusive searches of homes have bred resentment.

Read more on how the recent airstrike in Kunduz was an "enormous coup" for the Taliban in the World Watch blog.

The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan said the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division entered the charity's hospital without permission to look for insurgents in Wardak province, southwest of Kabul, according to the charity's country director, Anders Fange.

"This is simply not acceptable," he said.

The U.S. troops came to the hospital looking for Taliban insurgents late at night last Wednesday, Fange said. He said they kicked in doors, tied up four hospital employees and two family members of patients, and forced patients out of beds during their search.

When they left two hours later, the unit ordered hospital staff to inform coalition forces if any wounded militants were admitted, and the military would decide if they could be treated, Fange said.

The staff refused, he said. "That would put our staff at risk and make the hospital a target."

The charity said on its Web site that the troops actions were not only a violation of humanitarian principles but also went against an agreement between NATO forces and charities working in the area.

"We demand guarantees ... that such violations will not be repeated and that this is made clear to commanders in the field," a statement said.

Navy public affairs officer Lt. Cmdr. Christine Sidenstricker confirmed that the hospital was searched last week but had no other details. She said the military was looking into the incident.

"We are investigating and we take allegations like this seriously," she said. "Complaints like this are rare."

Violence has surged across much of Afghanistan since President Barack Obama ordered 21,000 more U.S. troops to the country this year. Two foreign troops were killed Sunday when their patrol hit a roadside bomb in the country's south, NATO said without giving their nationalities. Three civilians also died in a militant rocket attack on the capital.

NATO was also investigating reported civilian deaths in a U.S. air strike last week. Afghan officials said up to 70 people were killed in the early morning air strike Friday in the northern province of Kunduz after the Taliban hijacked two fuel tanker. After the trucks became stuck in the mud on the banks of a river, villagers came to siphon off gas and some were reported killed when an American jet dropped two bombs on the stolen tankers.

The increasingly violent Taliban have killed more Afghan civilians in bombings and other attacks. On Monday, the government said three insurgent rockets landed in the capital, Kabul, killing three people when one of them hit a house.

A United Nations report in July said the number of civilians killed in conflict in Afghanistan has jumped 24 per cent this year, with bombings by insurgent and air strikes by international forces the biggest single killers. The report said that 1,013 civilians were killed in the first half of 2009, 59 per cent in insurgent attacks and 30.5 per cent by foreign and Afghan government forces. The rest were undetermined.

[mysteriousjz]

Sounds like desperation is sinking in... mad thugs out on the loose against none other but defenseless wounded sick people in a hospital !!!!

[edgy44]

As the General said: "We can't kill our way to victory." Sooner or later we will have to sneak out like we're doing in Iraq.

[hower4]

I know this doesn't really fit with American mentality, but why don't you try helping people instead of killing them?

[trillion1]

Really, so basically you're saying we're no better than the terrorists? And with all the drugs that will make a person talk you saying only torture will work is very 14th. century of you.

[mograbber1]

It is so sad to see how divided this country is on everything. We call ourself a superpower. Why? because we can kill at will. As a superpower. Do this make us the cops of the world? I don't like to see anyone die because of wars, but we live in a world where there is always going to be wars after wars. There is always going to be the rights and the wrongs. Our biggest problem. Deal with "Power and Money."
When will this country admit we really need to deal with the problems we are having in the U.S. It's nice to help other, but wouldn't it be nice to help your our coutry first? As a real superpower. No American should have be without jobs, food, money, or a home to live in. We all should be willing to step in and help each other at all times. Not just a few, but all of us. Look at this country. We are so busy fighting over race, sex, parties (Rep/Dem), freedom of speech, and evrything.
I also agree we are a coutry that create laws for man-kind, but we do fail to honor them correctly within this country, which makes one think. These laws depend on who you are as to how they will be enforced. I am sure from the above you could add a lot more, but is just let you see the path we all are walking now.
It is my hope that I did not offend anyone. If I did..I apology.
Have a great day.

[cbsblogger]

WTH is going on with the USA? Have we lost our morality, values and scruples? We're starting to act like the Israeli Defense Force. Next thing we'll be stealing human organs.

[joule18]

You know nothing about the IDF except the distortions written by bleeding heart, sing Kumbaya crowd. The IDF is among the most careful, yet must respond when they are being fired upon . . . yes, and even when they are fired upon within civilian neighborhoods.

When it comes to the peace talks, why should Israel negotiate with the person (Abbas) who planned the strategy to kill the Israeli Olympiads back in 1972?

[Hosheen]

One thing not mentioned is that the USA is paying for universal medical care for all of Afghanistan and Iraq. That seems to mean that the hospital and everyone it is is being paid for by the USA. That doesn't necessarily excuse the actions of the military, but it does put it in a bit of a different light. I doubt you can "invade" something you own.

[ramos1129]

People....not matter who caused/causes the deaths/wounded/destruction who do the Afran people blame for what is happening in their country? US? The Taliban? The answer is plan - the USA. No amount of apologies, money, statements, breast beatings, etc can relieve the pain and despair of losing a loved one to the violence there. As such, there is simply no way we can win the Afran people to our side.
without them, there is no real point to being there.

The Taliban? That is a problem that the Afran people will have to deal with themselves. We cannot continue to be the world's policeman.

[ramos1129]

Assuming there was not fire from the hospital.......

Who was the genius who commanded this raid? That guy should be hung by his you know what. I predict the investigation, unless picked up by a senior government official, will be witewashed.

This is the kind of thing that gives us a black eye with the Afran population.

[hower4]

Violation of treaties, international laws and normal humanity is simply what Americans do. No big surprise.

[smac761]

you forgot lose wars.

[johnthecableguy]

You just took 303 million people and put them in a box, where they all think and act the same. I assume that most of the posters here are American, so this board is in itself proof of the error in your comment.

[hower4]

by johnthecableguy September 7, 2009 11:18 AM EDT
You just took 303 million people and put them in a box, where they all think and act the same.
------------------------
Exactly. That is more true of America than almost any country in the world................. no, actually it would be more accurate to say they all DON'T think in the same way!

[smac761]

And if someone innocent detonated your roadside bomb???

[smac761]

Hey- let's not try to win a war, let's just pretend we care while our soldiers die in vain.

[hower4]

There's no point trying to win, because you can't....... otherwise you're right.

[ajayvee]

And now the US is expected to explain and justify its actions to some postage stamp country like Sweden. That's what being a super-power is all about: you don't ask permission and you don't explain. And if a few foreign eggs get broken in making an American omelette, so what?

[woeisme1]

What they are saying is that they are a dumb republican.

[hower4]

...... because one day you will find that nobody will sell you any more eggs for your omelette. You don't have enough eggs of your own, so do you think you can steal the rest? I doubt it. You have no option but to grow up........ or go hungry.

[woeisme1]

I don't mean to jump on any bandwagon here but this war and the behavior of the soldiers there is becoming entirely reminiscent of Vietnam Nam.

This new alledged focus of this war is to "protect civilians" from the Taliban. The mission now is not to seek out and kill the Taliban. The same shackles we faced in Nam.

Not knowing what exactly the enemy looks like spawns these types of situations. What are the soldiers supposed to do? They know the Taliban use civilians as cover.

Soldiers are not baby sitters. They are trained killers. Soldiers are not security guards. Nothing will dampen morale faster than to treat them as such. If they're over there to fight, let them fight. If they're there to babysit, get them out. Leave Karzai a business card from a good daycare center.

I think Obama is mistaken in his approach to this war. Does he believe he will actually eradicate the Taliban? Does he believe he will capture OBL?

There really is no gain to the US to be there.

[ffoulkes-2009]

Then jump back off your bandwagon. All we have here is an accusation. This has yet to be proven.

[woeisme1]

by ffoulkes-2009 September 7, 2009 9:18 AM EDT
Then jump back off your bandwagon. All we have here is an accusation. This has yet to be proven.
-----------------------------
Did you read my post? What has yet to be proven? That the Taliban dress like civilians? That the Taliban uses civilians for cover? That the mission over there is changing? That the soldiers know this is a losing battle? What?

Go back to bed troll.

[johnthecableguy]

OneStaticHorizon: You said "...that's just you being ignorant." Then you said: "Your smack talk changes nothing." Maybe it's just me, but that seems a bit like a double standard. You "talk smack" while telling woeisme1 NOT to talk smack. What's up with that? Your reply changes nothing.

Notice how I responded to you without calling you names or intentionally insulting you. Using terms like "dirt for brains" is not a good debate tactic.

[kevjustice]

And some people wonder why the U.S. is villified.

[ffoulkes-2009]

I don't know, Benton...It looks like it is working alright for you.