Updated at 10 a.m. ET: KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- A U.S. service member killed at least 15 members of two Afghan families as well as a 16th person before turning himself in, witnesses and officials said Sunday. Nine of the dead were children, and three were women, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said in a statement.
The soldier, who has yet to be identified, reportedly left his base in the early hours Sunday and went to two villages just a few hundred yards away. He then opened fire on Afghan civilians sleeping in ther homes, Minister of Border and Tribal Affairs Asadullah Khalid told Reuters. The service member entered three homes in the villages in Kandahar province, he said.
Twelve of the dead were from Balandi, said Samad Khan, adding that 11 were from his family, including women and children. Khan was away from the village when the incident occurred. One of his neighbors was also killed, he said.
"This is an anti-human and anti-Islamic act," said Khan. "Nobody is allowed in any religion in the world to kill children and women."
Khan demanded that Karzai punish the American shooter.
"Otherwise we will make a decision," said Khan. "He should be handed over to us."
Four people reportedly killed in the neighboring village were also from a single family, said a female relative who was shouting in anger. She did not give her name because of the conservative nature of local society.
"No Taliban were here. No gunbattle was going on," said the woman. "We don't know why this foreign soldier came and killed our innocent family members. Either he was drunk or he was enjoying killing civilians."
American and NATO officials apologized for Sunday's shootings. (OH DON'T DO THAT, THAT THERE'S UH-PEAZ-MENT!)
The American Embassy in Kabul said in a statement that it was "saddened by this violent act against our Afghan friends."
"The United States extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims of today’s tragic shooting incident," the statement said. "We assure the people of Afghanistan that the individual or individuals responsible for this act will be identified and brought to justice."
Obviously took inspiration from W, Reagan, McVeigh, Limbaugh, Cheney and Rovey. The culture of ConkHate has deep tentacles in the military and in our police forces. Think this soldier went postal listening to Rachel Maddow???
See, Conks, the problem here is that, now, our President (yeah, that black guy) has to manage this shit. And, there ain't no pretty way out of this.
How would Gingrich handle it? Santucci?
Thanks a lot, Conkunism in America.
