Quote:US Army 'kill team' in Afghanistan posed for photos of murdered civilians

Commanders brace for backlash of anti-US sentiment that could be more damaging than after the Abu Ghraib scandal

Commanders in Afghanistan are bracing themselves for possible riots and public fury triggered by the publication of "trophy" photographs of US soldiers posing with the dead bodies of defenceless Afghan civilians they killed.

Senior officials at Nato's International Security Assistance Force in Kabul have compared the pictures published by the German news weekly Der Spiegel to the images of US soldiers abusing prisoners in Abu Ghraib in Iraq which sparked waves of anti-US protests around the world.

They fear that the pictures could be even more damaging as they show the aftermath of the deliberate murders of Afghan civilians by a rogue US Stryker tank unit that operated in the southern province of Kandahar last year.

Some of the activities of the self-styled "kill team" are already public, with 12 men currently on trial in Seattle for their role in the killing of three civilians.

Five of the soldiers are on trial for pre-meditated murder, after they staged killings to make it look like they were defending themselves from Taliban attacks.

Other charges include the mutilation of corpses, the possession of images of human casualties and drug abuse.

All of the soldiers have denied the charges. They face the death penalty or life in prison if convicted.

The case has already created shock around the world, particularly with the revelations that the men cut "trophies" from the bodies of the people they killed.

An investigation by Der Spiegel has unearthed approximately 4,000 photos and videos taken by the men.

The magazine, which is planning to publish only three images, said that in addition to the crimes the men were on trial for there are "also entire collections of pictures of other victims that some of the defendants were keeping".

The US military has strived to keep the pictures out of the public domain fearing it could inflame feelings at a time when anti-Americanism in Afghanistan is already running high.

In a statement, the army said it apologised for the distress caused by photographs "depicting actions repugnant to us as human beings and contrary to the standards and values of the United States".

The lengthy Spiegel article that accompanies the photographs contains new details about the sadistic behaviour of the men.

In one incident in May last year, the article says, during a patrol, the team apprehended a mullah who was standing by the road and took him into a ditch where they made him kneel down.

The group's leader, Staff Sergeant Calvin Gibbs, then allegedly threw a grenade at the man while an order was given for him to be shot.

Afterwards, Gibbs is described cutting off one of the man's little fingers and removing a tooth.

The patrol team later claimed to their superiors that the mullah had tried to threaten them with a grenade and that they had no choice but to shoot.

On Sunday night many organisations employing foreign staff, including the United Nations, ordered their staff into a "lockdown", banning all movements around Kabul and requiring people to remain in their compounds.

In addition to the threat from the publication of the photographs, security has been heightened amid fears the Taliban may try to attack Persian new year celebrations.

There could also be attacks because Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, is due to make a speech declaring which areas of the country should be transferred from international to Afghan control in the coming months.

One security manager for the US company DynCorp sent an email to clients warning that publication of the photos was likely "to incite the local population" as the "severity of the incidents to be revealed are graphic and extreme".

Quote:Protocol additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the protection of victims of international armed conflicts (Protocol I) (with annexes, Final Act of the Diplomatic Conference on the reaffirmation and development of international humanitarian law applicable in armed conflicts dated 10 June 1977 and resolutions adopted at the fourth session). Adopted at Geneva on 8 June 1977
Article 87.
DUTY OF COMMANDERS.
1. The High Contracting Parties and the Parties to the conflict shall require military commanders, with respect to members of the armed forces under their command and other persons under their control, to prevent and, where necessary, to suppress and to report to competent authorities breaches of the Conventions and of this Protocol.
2. In order to prevent and suppress breaches, High Contracting Parties and
Parties to the conflict shall require that, commensurate with their level of responsi
bility, commanders ensure that members of the armed forces under their command
are aware of their obligations under the Conventions and this Protocol.
3. The High Contracting Parties and Parties to the conflict shall require any
commander who is aware that subordinates or other persons under his control are
going to commit or have committed a breach of the Conventions or of this Protocol,
to initiate such steps as are necessary to prevent such violations of the Conventions or
this Protocol, and, where appropriate, to initiate disciplinary or penal action against
violators thereof.

Rick Wrote:That's right. The actions of people with free will are the fault of Obama.

Corn Wrote:While I agree they are horrifying, stupid, unemotional, pineappleing, pieces of pimentos that deserve many years/life/death sentence, it's not Obama's fault.

Anonymous Moose Wrote:Looks like the Obama Administration has changed nothing from the time of Bush.

Alloy Wrote:It's... horrible to think that some people want to join the army just to kill.

Anonymous Moose Wrote:Obama is commander and cheif of the Armed Forces. He is responsible for all actions taken by our military.
If he can't handle the responsibilities of being a leader (which include making you responsible of the actions of your subordinates), then he doesnt deserve the position.

And for those still stuck in the Right-Left Paradigm, this is just another reason to show that right hand and left hand are of the same body, and the New Boss (Obama) is the same as the Old Boss (Bush).

I should make one final note and say that claiming Obama is not responsible would mean that Bush isnt responsible for the torture that occured under his watch.

Justin Wrote:There are a LOT of people like that out there. A lot more than you think.

Also; It's pretty stupid to honestly think full blame can be put on Obama, whether he's responsible for his subordinates or not. He can't control every little thing every soldier does in the military. It was their choice, not Obama's.

Alloy Wrote:It's... horrible to think that some people want to join the army just to kill.



I will not take you seriously anymore.

Anonymous Moose Wrote:If he cant control his subordinates, then he has no right to lead.

Rick Wrote:The Constitution is something I think needs to go. But that's another point.

Anonymous Moose Wrote:Obama is commander and cheif of the Armed Forces. He is responsible for all actions taken by our military.
If he can't handle the responsibilities of being a leader (which include making you responsible of the actions of your subordinates), then he doesnt deserve the position.

And for those still stuck in the Right-Left Paradigm, this is just another reason to show that right hand and left hand are of the same body, and the New Boss (Obama) is the same as the Old Boss (Bush).

I should make one final note and say that claiming Obama is not responsible would mean that Bush isnt responsible for the torture that occured under his watch.