Devastatinng Murders come to Light in Afghanistan

Just this month, pictures of American soldiers posing with the dead bodies of Afghan victims have surfaced. The killings of these Afghani civilians have been dubbed “trophy” killings, because the soldiers appear proud of the killings as they pose with the corpses. The specific group of soldiers who posed in the pictures belongs to the 5th Stryker Brigade and had nicknamed themselves the “Kill Team”. These pictures are reminiscent of certain photographs that surfaced a while ago, which captured the horrors that took place in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Both instances led to serious investigations and trials for the soldiers involved as well as widespread shock and outrage.

Yesterday in Kabul, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan spoke out against the pictures of these “trophy” killings saying that “the photos should stir international indignation—‘if there is conscience left in the west.’”[1] After investigations have taken place it is reported that these killings were premeditated and mainly for the purpose of entertainment; none of the victims were belligerent or insurgent Taliban members trying to attack the soldiers and none of the victims were armed either.

Speaking out at a teachers’ graduation ceremony, Karzai fiercely accused the soldiers of committing atrocities and deemed the whole situation “a tragic story.”[2] However the Afghan President was careful not to denounce the entirety of the United States and even said that “the people of the United States are undoubtedly good and compassionate people…they are not cruel.”[3] He, along with others, seems to believe this was an uncommon occurrence.

Many people are calling these violent attacks anomalous; however they are not without precedent. As aforementioned, the massacres that took place at Abu Ghraib prison are disturbingly similar to the killings that recently took place in Afghanistan. Both accounts are difficult to take in, but what is worrying is that they represent a potential recurring theme. Although they have both been deemed as rogue but atypical incidents by many, it is very likely that these monstrosities are simply the only ones brought to light. In fact, the members of the “Kill Team” planned out their murders so that they would not get caught, and when they were initially questioned about the killings they immediately lied and said that they had been under attack.

Therefore is it not possible that such horrors take place elsewhere and in other situations with the soldiers walking away scot-free and unsuspected of committing murder? And if this is the case, then serious changes and precautions need to be made within the U.S. army before we start deploying more troops in other countries.

Personally, I was very disturbed and upset when I read this story (links at the bottom), and it made me think more about a question I asked myself a few months ago: Why are U.S. troops still in Afghanistan? If the answer is to murder innocent people for entertainment, then I think it’s time to go.
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[1]http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-kill-team-karzai-20110331,0,6833082.story

[2]http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-kill-team-karzai-20110331,0,6833082.story

[3]http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-kill-team-karzai-20110331,0,6833082.story
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Links: **Warning: the pictures are very disturbing.**
L.A. Times Article: Karzai denounces alleged 'trophy' killings in Afghanistan

Guardian Article: Photos show US soldiers in Afghanistan posing with dead civilians

Rolling Stone Article: The Kill Team