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Deceit and disaster: Afghanistan laid bare by leaked documents
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Issue: 2212 dated: 31 July 2010
News
posted: 5.54pm Tue 27 Jul 2010
This article should be read after: Deceit and disaster: Afghanistan laid bare by leaked documents
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The leaked documents shed some light on just a few of the horrors meted out by the British in Afghanistan.
There are 21 separate reports of British troops bombing or shooting at civilians.
The constant fear of suicide bombers, and the idea that everyone is a potential member of the Taliban, has filtered down to the front line.
“Jumpy” soldiers have lashed out with “warning” shots—often resulting in the deaths of innocent people.
As recently as September 2009, British soldiers called in an air strike targeting a tractor and a car in Helmand.
There were two families living in the bombed compound, and at least seven people were killed.
Air strikes have caused outrage in Afghanistan—indiscriminately killing large numbers of civilians.
But it is not just air strikes. The leaked documents show that foreign troops frequently open fire on unarmed, non-aggressive civilians.
The following should be read alongside this article:
Deceit and disaster: Afghanistan laid bare by leaked documentsLeaked Afghan documents: civilian deathsIraq: an illegal war that led to terrorism© Socialist Worker (unless otherwise stated). You may republish if you include an active link to the original.
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