Raerae
Well-known member
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070304/...MUog7M_M WM0F
While I do agree with the last line of the article:
Quote:
I also disagree with the methods chosen by the militant groups and such, and the effect it has on the civilian population there. I think that coalition forces often get unfairly blamed for civilian deaths that result from an attack by militant groups.
If you read other articles about this situation, you hear how civilians pulled over and stopped their cars etc, but were still shot at. I do understand their fustration, and the need to blame the ones who shot at you, hurt you, or killed someone important to you (in this case American troops). But I also think they need to equally hold accountability to the militant groups who choose to carry out attacks while wearing civilian garb, in highly populated civilian areas.
Military units wear uniforms for a reason. It distinguishes them from other military forces, and civilians. To help reduce friendly fire and civilian casualties. So when you have a militant group choosing to dress like civilians, and carry out opperations in civilian populated areas, is it really that surprising that civilians get killed?
Is it ok to blame Americans that civilians died? Yes, I think it is. But share the blame with those who choose to turn civilian populated areas into battlefields, and choose to dress like civilians, so you can be killed instead of them.
While I do agree with the last line of the article:
Quote:
| "The situation is very tense in Afghanistan, and the media should be able to report about it freely and safely," said Jean-Francois Julliard, a spokesman for the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders. |
I also disagree with the methods chosen by the militant groups and such, and the effect it has on the civilian population there. I think that coalition forces often get unfairly blamed for civilian deaths that result from an attack by militant groups.
If you read other articles about this situation, you hear how civilians pulled over and stopped their cars etc, but were still shot at. I do understand their fustration, and the need to blame the ones who shot at you, hurt you, or killed someone important to you (in this case American troops). But I also think they need to equally hold accountability to the militant groups who choose to carry out attacks while wearing civilian garb, in highly populated civilian areas.
Military units wear uniforms for a reason. It distinguishes them from other military forces, and civilians. To help reduce friendly fire and civilian casualties. So when you have a militant group choosing to dress like civilians, and carry out opperations in civilian populated areas, is it really that surprising that civilians get killed?
Is it ok to blame Americans that civilians died? Yes, I think it is. But share the blame with those who choose to turn civilian populated areas into battlefields, and choose to dress like civilians, so you can be killed instead of them.
