The New American
A recent comment by an U.S. Army officer about looking for "children
with potential hostile intent" has increased concerns about targeting
policy and the killing of civilians in Afghanistan.
The statement was attributed to Army Lieutenant Colonel Marion Carrington in a Marine Corps Times article of
December 3 that appeared under the headline, "Some Afghan kids aren't
bystanders." In recounting an incident in mid-October in which three
Afghan children — ages 8, 10 and 12 — were killed in Helmond Province,
the Times article described Marines directing a strike at
"three shadowy figures that appeared to be emplacing an "improvised
explosive device" in the ground. The Marines got clearance for air
strike, the Times said and "took out the targets."
The article appears to contradict earlier accounts of the killing. While the Marine Corp Times
article indicates the children were the shadowy figures targeted in the
strike, the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul issued a
statement at the time of the incident saying it might have "accidentally
killed three innocent Afghan civilians." A New York Times article dated
October 19 said the children were out gathering dung for fuel, and
quoted the governor of a neighboring province who said the children were
"wandering by" when they were struck by shrapnel from a strike on
Taliban members who were placing the explosives in the ground. Major
Adam Wojack, a spokesman for the coalition forces, said at the time that
reports of the children killed were being investigated.-[Full Article]
