An American soldier went on a house-to-house shooting spree in two villages in southern Afghanistan early Sunday, Afghan officials said, killing 16 people in what Afghanistan’s president called an “unforgivable” crime.
NATO’s International Security Assistance Force said the soldier acted alone and turned himself in after opening fire on civilians. U.S. President Barack Obama called the killings “tragic and shocking,” and offered his condolences to the Afghan people in a phone call to his counterpart in Kabul, Hamid Karzai, the White House said.
But the attack is likely to further more anger at international forces following deadly riots over the burning of Qurans by U.S. troops.
“The Afghan people can withstand a lot of pain,” Prince Ali Seraj, the head of the National Coalition for Dialogue with the Tribes of Afghanistan, told CNN. “They can withstand collateral damage. They can withstand night raids. But murder is something that they totally abhor, and when that happens, they really want justice.”
In a statement issued by his office, Karzai said the killings took place in the district of Panjwai, about 25 km (15 miles) southwest of Kandahar, southern Afghanistan’s major city. Haji Agha Lali, a member of the provincial council, told CNN the soldier had attacked four houses in two nearby villages.
“We call this an intentional act,” Karzai said. He said the dead included four men, three women and nine children, calling the killings “acts of terror and unforgivable.” Another five people were wounded, he said.
Capt. Justin Brockhoff, an ISAF spokesman, said the wounded Afghans were being treated in ISAF facilities. The allied command did not give its own estimate of casualties.
Brockhoff said officials do not yet have a motive for the shooting, which is under investigation by both NATO and Afghan officials. And Maj. Jason Waggoner, another ISAF spokesman, said the soldier “was acting on his own.”
Do you think this soldier was right? What should be done to him? What would you do if this was your family? Please write in complete sentences and don't forget spell check.
If it was my family then I would be mad
ReplyDeleteThat was not right, and he is lucky they dont say an eye for an eye, and if it was my family i dont know what i would do
ReplyDeleteNo I dont think he was right. I honestly think it was out of rage. I would be upset, but regardless of what happens life goes on.
ReplyDeletewell i beleve that afganistan is in afgan juristicion so they have the right to prosicute
ReplyDeleteI Agree With Shirene
ReplyDeleteI think they should figure out why he did it then they should figure out if it was racial or anything.
ReplyDeleteI dont think he was right m. If it was my family i would not know what to do.
ReplyDeleteNo the soldier was'nt right he should be ounished, those where innocent civilians that he killed.Just because he is a soldier he shouldnt be allowed to get away with killing so many people.
ReplyDeleteOf Course not. First he should be forgiven, mentally evaluated, and punished some way. I would try to honor them and remember them the best way i know how.
ReplyDeletei agree with LaRonda
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with the soldiers actions in anyway. I would have been outraged if that was my family and would have stopped at nothing until they were avenged.
ReplyDelete