President Obama signs killing of Afghan civilians

Hanan Habibzai

If you are Afghan, you don't dare to write any facts about the atrocities American military is continuously committing in Afghanistan, but this is the time to speak out, because the future of the country is constantly under attack. There is no future for the current generation of Afghanistan, as American-led military is intentionally targeting children and women.

This week's (02/06/2011)massacre of 12 children and two women in southern Helmand province left no option, but provoked thousands of Afghans to either join the Taliban or express their sympathy towards them. Therefore, the Taliban are becoming anti-occupation heroes and their popularity is increasingly spreading across the country. American-led foreign troops do not help themselves, but they strengthen the Taliban's position, when they appear to kill civilians from the air through heavy bombs containing white phosphorous and other chemicals. 

Al Jazeera reports on similar catastrophe,2011

The officials who authorize the airstrikes on Afghan houses are actually, intentionally abusing the justice, humanity and freedom Obama claims in almost every speech. President Obama's speech of May 2nd was full of terms such as justice, freedom and democracy when he announced the death of Bin Laden. ''Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all'', he added.

On the other hand, the same United States of America is killing children and women to insure ----freedom, democracy and justice for American people. Does the United State of America stand for Justice, freedom and democracy, or for brutality against poor nations? Does America colonize poor nations by force? The answer can only be that the American president Obama is authorizing the killing of Afghan civilians; we never see any American military commander being brought to justice for the charges of killing Afghan children and women.

Do the American people accept justice or freedom as a result of killing children, women and at the cost to the future of one of the world's poorest countries? According to human Rights codes of conduct and the Geneva Convention, killing civilians, children and women is Unforgivable. That's why Afghans could not tolerate it, and anti- American feeling is widespread in the war shattered country.   

If I were to count the number of civilians including children and women who have been killed by the American -led military in Afghanistan, you would be shocked when you realize the bloodshed and hostilities carried out by those forces who claim to be soldiering for humanity and freedom. In recent months we witnessed the crimes revealed by Rolling Stone, we also witnessed the killing of nine children at Kuner, eastern province of Afghanistan earlier in March.

These crimes against humanity were followed by a series of other similar attacks on Afghan houses. These compelled president Karzai to issue a so-called final warning against American -led attacks on Afghan civilians. When I read the statement issued by President Karzai against those attacks, I realized that an authorized document exists in Kabul (which) allows foreign military to kill women and children, as Karzai stated that 'no more attacks on civilian houses', means foreign troops carrying out a pre-authorized order.

Karzai may repeat this warning again and again but who cares? ''We most clearly state our understanding that Afghanistan is an ally, not an occupied country. And our treat with NATO is from the point of view of an ally. If he behaves like an occupying force then of course Afghan people know how to deal with that'', Karzai warned in a press conference. He may perhaps be talking to the regional audiences who have a huge lack of confidence in his government, which doesn't make a change.

The sovereignty and integrity of Afghanistan have been terrorized; therefore, Taliban propaganda easily influences the public mind. Machiavelli's 15 century views are still relevant in a modern century, he cited in The Prince his popular book: ''if one depend for freedom and self-dependency on foreign troops, it will be a penalty of death to a king's power''.  An artless leader, Karzai still not sure if it is occupation, because he doesn't understand the meaning of foreign troops turned his country on a ground of military game and bloodshed. There is no difference between how Soviet forces acted in Afghanistan and now the American-led troops' behaviour against Afghan civilians.

The United State of America is a powerful country which deserves justice, and from the point of views of invaders, Afghanistan is a poor country deserved to be harmed, if Afghans are seeking justice, then they also need to be powerful enough. In present day, world justice is not given, but taken; Afghans do not deserve that for being poor. I remember Russians and now am witnessing Americans in Afghanistan as well.

Tens of thousands including women, children and men have been killed, poverty grew and thousands of others forced to leave their homes and properties, since America invaded the country. They empowered domestic war criminals, and the justice has simply been ignored. Now, the US-led occupation is entering its tenth year, but those victims of atrocities never allowed knocking a door for justice. Afghans don't know where they go to obtain justice; the voiceless people are going through a hard time. Those who authorize the air strikes on Afghan houses need to think "what if these children were their kids"?