MSF staff killed in suspected US strike on Afghan hospital

a reply to: Danton

Yes I agree. However more and more I feel ATS is being taken over by shills attempting to create confusion and spread propaganda.

a reply to: liteonit6969

They can have their say and I will listen but it is no where as controlled as the MSM. I wouldn't want everyone on ATS to ever agree on anything, not even flat earth!

a reply to: Anaana

A few updates on the feed/Twitter:

-Bombing of Kunduz hospital continued for 30 minutes even after MSF alerted US and Afghan officials - @MSF
-MSF reportedly sent GPS coordinates of Kunduz clinic to NATO and US days before airstrike that killed patients and staff - @SuneEngel
-MSF 'condemns in the strongest possible terms' the 'horrific' airstrike on clinic that killed 9 staff members in Kunduz, Afghanistan - @MSF
-10-15 'terrorists' killed in airstrike on MSF hospital after hiding there, Afghan interior ministry says - @samgadjones
(Source: Twitter, BreakingNews.com)

Latest update from The Guardian...still leading with it being a US attack, they have a reporter on the ground, which MSF are also confirming...

A US airstrike appears to have hit a hospital run by Médecins Sans Frontières in the Afghan city of Kunduz, killing nine staff members and injuring up to 37 people.

The charity claimed it had circulated the coordinates of the site to all sides engaged in fighting in the country, adding that the bombing continued for 30 minutes after it had raised the alarm with Afghan and US authorities.

At the time of the bombing, 105 patients and its carers, and more than 80 MSF international and national staff were in the hospital, the charity said.

Some members of staff were still unaccounted for on Saturday, and there are fears the death toll will rise considerably. Up to 10 international aid workers who were based in the hospital are believed to have survived the attack.

www.theguardian.com...

Al Jazeera are not leading with US strike angle either, perhaps less able/willing to point fingers than the Guardian...and The Guardian does of course have an editorial agenda of it's own (they/we all do...)...

NATO investigation

NATO said in a statement that US forces conducted an air strike in Kunduz at 2:15am local time "against individuals threatening the force".

"The strike may have resulted in collateral damage to a nearby medical facility. This incident is under investigation," the statement said.

MSF said it gave the coordinates of the hospital to Afghan and US forces several times to avoid being caught in crossfire.

"As MSF does in all conflict contexts, these precise locations were communicated to all parties on multiple occasions over the past months, including most recently on 29 September," according to MSF Afghanistan representatives.

The bombing reportedly continued for more than 30 minutes after US and Afghan military offices in Kabul and Washington were first informed.

www.aljazeera.com...

a reply to: crazyewok

Just saying it's a little fast to crucify the crews...

Sometimes collateral damage happens just because... Not because of a plan or any malice... It's war and war sucks.

See they're all at it.

Further on...

"MSF urgently seeks clarity on exactly what took place and how this terrible event could have happened," MSF said.

After the attack, the medical charity urged all parties involved in the violence to respect the safety of health facilities, patients and staff.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said that no Taliban fighters were present in the hospital at the time of the air strike.

"We condemn the bombing on the hospital. It was an attack carried out on innocent people." Zabiullah told Al Jazeera.

"Our mujahedeen (fighters) were not treated at the MSF trauma centre due to prevailing military conditions. Such attacks by US forces have taken place in Afghanistan for years now. This very attack has once again exposed the ruthless colors of the invaders to the Afghans," he added.

www.aljazeera.com...

Petty minded bull # from all sides. Oh the joy of spreading "Western Style Democracy"...the Muslim extremists don't realise that that is what they are doing too, it's just the Medieaval version. They're rejecting the upgrade.

Deary me

a reply to: Irishhaf

If Russia had done this would it be viewed as collateral damage? I don't think so. We would be marching to war.

They knew this was a medical facility. So there is no excuse. Was the target a high profile person and deemed worth the collateral damage?

originally posted by: Irishhaf
a reply to: crazyewok

Just saying it's a little fast to crucify the crews...

Sometimes collateral damage happens just because... Not because of a plan or any malice... It's war and war sucks.

It's not really good enough though is it...perhaps the victims families should draw up a class action, sue those responsible for negligence and then there might be a little less collateral damage and such mistakes won't be patted on the back and told that these things happen. People were murdered after all, let's not mince words.

originally posted by: Irishhaf
a reply to: crazyewok

Just saying it's a little fast to crucify the crews...

Sometimes collateral damage happens just because... Not because of a plan or any malice... It's war and war sucks.

Yeah and I'm sure they knew what they were getting into. Whether by bombs or bullets these people know they are placing their lives at risk and go anyway. As I said earlier they are the salt of the earth. Amazing people who go above and beyond to help others.

The Russians are reporting about this as well :

‘Collateral damage’: At least 9 MSF staff killed in suspected US airstrike in Kunduz, Afghanistan

As I stated earlier... Sometimes the best guided weapons miss... Not through malice... Not through design.. Just plain ordinary bad luck.

If people want to call this a war crime they better bring some proof this was planned.

a reply to: Irishhaf

When you kill someone, it is a homicide.
When you do it purposely, it is a murder.
When you do it inadvertently, it is still a crime.

The more I read about this the less I believe it was a mistake. Could this have been a sacrifice of pure souls by satanists? This was an atrocity that no words can bring justice to.

From Reuters press agency :

At least nine killed in U.S. air strike on Afghan hospital

MSF gave location of bombed-out hospital to Afghan, U.S. forces

Medical aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres on Saturday said it gave the coordinates of the Afghan hospital hit by an airstrike that killed at least nine people to Afghan and U.S. forces several times, to avoid being caught in crossfire."Precise location of our Kunduz hospital communicated to all parties on multiple occasions over past months," as well as earlier this week, the group said in a message on social media website Twitter.

originally posted by: theultimatebelgianjoke
a reply to: Irishhaf

When you kill someone, it is a homicide.
When you do it purposely, it is a murder.
When you do it inadvertently, it is still a crime.

Yeah Um no... Not in a war zone...

If it's proven this was done on purpose... Then they will be prosecuted.. If it is shown they ignored some rule of engagement they will be prosecuted.

Under the ucmj...

a reply to: Irishhaf

I know one can hardly bake an omelet without breaking eggs but, I wonder who is now supposed to conduct the mandatory investigation that we should all expect after such an incident.

originally posted by: Irishhaf

originally posted by: theultimatebelgianjoke
a reply to: Irishhaf

When you kill someone, it is a homicide.
When you do it purposely, it is a murder.
When you do it inadvertently, it is still a crime.

Yeah Um no... Not in a war zone...

If it's proven this was done on purpose... Then they will be prosecuted.. If it is shown they ignored some rule of engagement they will be prosecuted.

Under the ucmj...

Bollocks

Rarely is any one prosecuted.

Even when they are the most heinous war criminals like William Cailly are normally pardoned after a year or two.

Normally any investigation is a white wash.


Anyway I cant even take it seriously when the USA is bitching and moaning over Russia doing the same thing.

a reply to: crazyewok

Us has prosecuted pilots before... Are they pushed against a wall and shot... Like some here would prefer no. Because it's bloody hard to prove intent to kill civilians in a war zone.

So bang on that if Russia had done this it would be the beginning of war -kudos to all saying that here. The US needs to own up and effing apologize. You cannot tell me this is a mistake... bomb tech is so far beyond what we even know is possible so is their surveillance tech. They did it on purpose, if there were "terrorists" there I'm betting it is more like individuals the US needed to take out for some unknown reason other than "terror". We will never know the truth, Calling out Russia and then doing this. Maybe They are all trying to start WW3 on purpose. Gods help all us little people who will not know till we are hit with the big one.