Sorry for the family, but according to that article they were warned multiple times to stop and they were shot at 10 meters from the troops.
10 meters and a car bomb is enough to do alot of damage to the troops, the family knew they were in an area (from the sounds of hte article) that was a danger zone, so why didn't they listen to the troops? I am not blaming the victims but I expect the military to follow whatever protocalls are put out for them, and if warning cars to stop before firing in a hot zone is the protocal, I expect our troops to protect themselves accordingly.
Sorry for the loss, but there were many mistakes made there, and not all of them by the soldiers.
I really don't understand why the car didn't stop, as well. The troops have been there for so long, I can't believe that every citizen with a car didn't know, or wouldn't stop if they were yelled at to stop.
Nothing breaks my heart like the loss of a child. I don't know what happened, I seriously doubt the Canadian soldiers would do this callously. I'm sure they'll all have PTSD after this, who wouldn't?
Those poor children and parents. They've suffered so much.
I read a beautiful, but disturbing book, Earth and Ashes, by Atiq Rahimi, but a grandfather and his little grandson going to tell his son that they are the only survivors after a Soviet attack. It gives a clear vision of what Afghanistan has suffered for so many years.
Originally Posted by loitering
I feel terrible for everyone involved.
I really don't understand why the car didn't stop, as well. The troops have been there for so long, I can't believe that every citizen with a car didn't know, or wouldn't stop if they were yelled at to stop.
I feel like we'll never know though.
I agree. It was a convoy. It's hard to say what the situation was beyond the results. Was the car coming towards them on the opposite side or from behind? Was the driver distracted with LOs in the car? Did the driver realize it was a convoy? Was there space to pull over? Was it safe to pull over? Where was the driver going- was there an emergency? Did they understand the language being yelled at them (if there was one being yelled at them that is)?
I can't recall the reporter (some big-time reporter) who said they too were within seconds of being shot at in their car because of miscommunication. What about the Italian hostage that was shot and their rescuer killed over again miscommunication http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/mar/06/usa.italy?
Before my intent gets picked clean, the video was meant to reference the confusion, narrow roads and speed at which some convoys go. The streets (I don't think they are all that different from the two cites) are very busy, people are all over and sometimes there is no time to react to oncoming danger for either coalition forces or civilians.
I am so sorry for them. I hope that we manage to accomplish enough for this country in restoring them from being run by gangsters and thugs that people will forgive this sort of tragedy.
I agree with Yoshua. And I don't like the way the article feels (to me) like an attack on Canadian soldiers. Particularly, stuff like this...
Quote:
...Another hospital visitor said that if he were the children's father, he would personally strap on a suicide vest and exact vengeance on Canadian troops...
...scare me right good. Part of me thinks the locals are looking for reasons to start fighting the troops that are there (Canadians, Americans, Wherever-ans); and part of me wonders what the hell is going on over there...? Are our troops doing bad things over there, and it's just not being reported...?
GAH! War is such an upsetting and frustrating topic. I want to believe we're fighting for their peace, I'm fairly certain this isn't the case, and I'm positive we're not being told the truth about it all around.
I have a feeling that "visitor" who would strap a suicide bomb on himself may well have been a figment of the reporter's imagination. I think it was a vilification of Afghan civilians, if anything.
I doubt the Canadian troops did something like that on purpose or spite. I seriously doubt it.
Originally Posted by kmeyrick
...I doubt the Canadian troops did something like that on purpose or spite...
I would like to believe that they're good. We're led to believe they're good. But so many negative actions taken by soldiers are surfacing that it makes me question it. And I don't mean this particular incident. I too doubt that they went "ooh, let's kill some innocent people". But the strong negative reactions from the locals make me wonder if they're doing things in general to earn a bad reputation among the people. Surely it can be seen that this was a tragic mistake (Even through the mother's grief), so what's really going on??
I'm so so so tired right now.
I apologize if this makes no sense whatsoever. I'm trying really hard to type out what I mean and I feel like it's not coming out right.
I would like to believe that they're good. We're led to believe they're good. But so many negative actions taken by soldiers are surfacing that it makes me question it. And I don't mean this particular incident. I too doubt that they went "ooh, let's kill some innocent people". But the strong negative reactions from the locals make me wonder if they're doing things in general to earn a bad reputation among the people. Surely it can be seen that this was a tragic mistake (Even through the mother's grief), so what's really going on??
I'm so so so tired right now.
I apologize if this makes no sense whatsoever. I'm trying really hard to type out what I mean and I feel like it's not coming out right.
Not all soldiers are good ones, and there are some that shouldn't be in the military. Yes, some mistakes that result in tragedy happen. When you have less than three seconds to make a decision, you can't think it through. And a car rushing towards you is a strategy of suicide bombers.
It sounds like the victims didn't get an audio message or it was scrambled, and didn't understand the other gestures. This is sad all around. But I know a lot of soldiers, and believe me, generally they are decent, good people.
This must just be devastating to these Canadians. How can they go on with their lives after this?
Those poor, poor parents, I can't imagine going through that nightmare.
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