U.S. pays $40,000 to relatives of Afghan civilians killed in raid

Pentagon turns Philanthropist?

U.S. commanders on Tuesday traveled to a poor Afghan village and distributed $40,000 to relatives of 15 people killed in a U.S. raid, including a known militant commander. The Americans also apologized for any civilians killed in the operation.

I thought that the Afghanistan people were lieing. That's what the republicans out here were saying. No innocent civilians killed. That's why we're paying out this little pentance and saying we're sorry.

Too many civilians being killed. < :-)

Too bleeding right, the murdering swines.

That's what the republicans out here were saying.

Poltitians never lie.

Too many civilians being killed.

Once again faux concern about civilian deaths by the left when there's some political mileage in it.

Once again faux concern about civilian deaths by the left when there's some political mileage in it.

Yeah, look at the compassionate conservatives who just say "Kill the bastards, they're all terrorists anyway." No guilt, just blue skies all the way.

buddha4brains at 11:28 AM JST - 28th January Once again faux concern about civilian deaths by the left when there's some political mileage in it. Yeah, look at the compassionate conservatives who just say "Kill the bastards, they're all terrorists anyway." No guilt, just blue skies all the way."

And that is how it should be. It's war - not Parcheesi. Silly libs think you can stop terrorist by saying "please."

And that is how it should be eh? The way to fight terrorists is by killing civilians. Profound stuff!!!

JapanHusker

Silly libs think you can stop terrorist by saying "please."

No we don't. I don't think the ratio of civilians to terrorists should be 1 X 1 though.

Too many good guys have been killed and some people just shrugg it off as the cost of doing business. < :-)

The thing that kills me are the people that support war but dont join the military. They scream stupid sh!t like "silly libs think you can stop terrorist by saying please." People sit comfortably some where all in support from a distant but dont sign up for the cause; so its ok to them that innocent people are dying in a distant land because they are not there doing the killing; and their conscience are clear because they can turn and say "hey, I am not out there killing them." I truly wonder how would people feel if it is your home that has been quote unquote accidently blown to rubbles, or if it was your daughter, son, mother, uncle, etc. that was killed or mutilated by the foreign "world police." And it is not war that's ugly, its people that feel like you have to obliterate the whole phucking existence of man, thats ugly. Some people that say sh!t without thinking of the whole spectrum really need to STFU and understand that there is a bigger picture than what you are lead to believe but of course its hard for people to concieve such things because the Television speaks other wise but of course the argument can get into, "Well, the TV is the only way I can know the things that go on in this world," and thats when I have to wonder how is that man went from using inner sense and common sense to being brainwashed and easily manipulated to the point that they see killing of innocent people, whether it be in war in a different country or violence in your own country, as being acceptable. And of course because I have a so called "Liberal" way of thinking (whatever the hell that means), my view is delusional. But, I tell you what, put yourself in their shoes or better yet go to the country yourself and tell the individuals "Hey its war!" I will gain respect for at that point.

khemet,

The thing that kills me are the people that support war but dont join the military. They scream stupid sh!t like "silly libs think you can stop terrorist by saying please." People sit comfortably some where all in support from a distant but dont sign up for the cause; so its ok to them that innocent people are dying in a distant land because they are not there doing the killing; and their conscience are clear because they can turn and say "hey, I am not out there killing them."

Interesting point. However, I am not sure if it is completely valid. Take for example the issue of crime in general. I would think it strange to say to a person who is complaining of crime that they should 'join the police force' for their opinion to be valid. I also think you are getting too excited when you say that people are suggesting obliterating the whole existence of man.

In fact, I am wondering if there has ever been a post on JT expressing anything resembling joy about Afghan civilians being killed. To me, the whole Afghan situation is and has been a terrible tragedy for a very long time. In this case, although it can never undo the wrong done to these villagers, at least an effort was made to help the victims' families out. There is nothing negative about that.

kinniku,

I am not speaking about what America is doing to show compassion. I am speaking of the thoughts of on lookers. Please do not take what I am saying literally as far "I have to do something about the crime so I must join the police force;" No, what I am saying is that I am constantly hearing other people's point of view about "why feel sorry for those people, they are the bad guys?" "We should blow the whole place off the map!" Yeah, I get excited because I try to imagine other people's suffering, while I gotta hear some war hungry but wont join the military to get a piece of that so called sweet action they thirst for. If you are nothing like that than you have no worries but if you are, you still have no worries just accept what I said and lets keep it moving.

AlfGarnett

I served as well but under the rule of Bush. I too would not be proud killing someone that is just a bystander. I think of life like this put yourself in that next man's shoes, so that way I don't be too biased and narrow minded. And for the record before anyone come at me thinking I am saying military soldiers are proud of causing suffering, thats not what I am saying.

What if the U.S. paid $40,000 to the relatives of every 15 people killed in the Second World War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War ( Iraq ), the Gulf War 2 ( Iraq ), the Afghan War and a few other skirmishes?

khemet,

Thank you for clarifying your position. I would put myself in the 'I am nothing like that' catagory.

wow american millitairy admit guilt that is a first

Strewth, stop the killings for christs sake. Ithought Obama was gonna sort all that out.

All these innocent deaths are madness,bleeding tragic.

Sarge,

I assume you mean 'every civilian killed'. The article is specifically talking about innocent civilians. As to what I think you are asking, the US is attempting (or should be anyway) to win over the hearts and minds of the Afghan people. One way not to do this is to kill innocent civilians. One way to do this is to avoid killing innocent civilians or, failing that, to at least make an effort to apologize and make reparations.

Dennis - "wow american millitairy admit guilt that is a first

You need to do some more research before posting.

Let's see that works out to $2666 per person !!! Interesting dollar figure. I know the economy in Afghanistan is poor but does that make human life less valuable too ? I think Ex-president Bush should be tried for this and many other war crimes over his last 8 years, that would really show the world that even the USA is accountable for its wrong doings.

Sarge at 03:09 PM JST - 28th January

What if the U.S. paid $40,000 to the relatives of every 15 people killed in the Second World War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War ( Iraq ), the Gulf War 2 ( Iraq ), the Afghan War and a few other skirmishes?

Then we wouldn't be killing civilians so hap-hazardly now. But we didn't kill civilians then like we are now. < :-)

And that is how it should be eh? The way to fight terrorists is by killing civilians. "

I want say that statement is correct, but that is what they are doing to us and its working.. We are after all losing the war on terror.

Why does the US have such a hang up about admitting guilt and apologizing? I'm not suggesting they take a page out of Japan's 'apologies that mean nothing' playbook, but c'mon.

"Lt Col Steven Weir, a military lawyer who helped oversee the payments, said the payments were not an admission by the U.S. that innocents were killed."

Uhhh... what is it, then? The 'condolence payment' used to 'show that the US does not intend to kill innocents' doesn't really clarify that the US does not admit they killed innocents... in fact, it says more towards admitting that they DO, and simply saying it's not intended.

What's more, they are dolling out $40,000 US and STILL proclaiming that they did not kill innocents. So, whom did they kill? One was a militant... okay then, how about the rest? I mean, a week ago they adamantly claimed that despite more than a couple of the corpses being children, they were all militants. Who can possibly take these people at their word now?

sarge: "You need to do some more research before posting."

You need to FINALLY stop living in denial.

President Obama is off to quite a start.

they're paying them despite not knowing what the money will be used for. knowing that if they simply ignore the situation, the so-called innocent civilians might retaliate.

damned if you do and damned if you don't.

I thought Obama was gonna sort all that out.

give the man a chance, he just took office.

40k bucks is probably worth alot over there

Oh! This is the case where it was so important to get a guy who had a rocket launcher that they fired a missile at him - blowing 15 people to kingdom come...

...no wonder they're paying up!

adaydream: But we didn't kill civilians then like we are now"

You're right - we're killing way fewer civilians now than in past wars.

smithinjapan: "You need to FINALLY stop living in denial"

You need to do some research before posting too.

Barack Obama just took office. I understand that Obama should have solved the problems that were allowed to developed under the bush administration in Afghanistan. I mean after the 40 second swearing in oaths (both of them) by Obama, he should have solved the problems overnight.

wazzademcrat you were supportive of george bush for 8 years of screwing up the war in Afghanistan. Why not give Barack Obama a chance to unscrew up george bush's fiasco? You didn't complain about bush then, but you're so critical of Obama now. I'm trying to understand what you expect to be done.

What has Obama done wrong? < :-)

i think maybe it looks like they try to generate goodwill, but using methods common in the US, to settle disputes in the Middle East sometimes can have limited benefits, especially if they don't admit any wrongdoing.

ok, the money will help them, but perhaps they would prefer that the US forces would have said that they did do something wrong, and not pay, rather than pay and try to weasel out.

if the US really wanted to build goodwill, they should try to help afghan government rebuild what's left. in that case its a win win situation for everyone involved.

wuzzademcrat: "President Obama is off to quite a start".

Ummm... sorry to point out your ignorance, but the slaughter of yet more innocents happened while Bush was still president.

"A raid the night of Jan 19 killed 15 people in Inzeri, including a targeted militant commander named Mullah Patang."

Obama was inaugurated on the 20th, and that doesn't take into account the time difference, either.

sarge: "You need to do some research before posting too."

No one need to any research beyond reading one or two of your posts to know I'm correct about you being in denial, my friend. Wouldn't make much of a Master's thesis, I'm afraid.

I understand what they're trying to do... but honestly, paying $40,000 not only makes them look guilty, but like jerks for the paltry sum being paid out for 15 lives. It's better not to bring a weregild into it. Just give money to the village or free construction. Apologize for civilian casualties if you fill you must-- but it sounds like the villagers themselves confirmed the presence of militia groups.

but it sounds like the villagers themselves confirmed the presence of militia groups.

So?