Afghanistan Grenade Attack: U.S. Releases Footage In Defense Of G.I. (VIDEO)

KABUL — (AP) The U.S. military on Wednesday released a grainy video of a grenade explosion that killed two Afghans and wounded more than 50, while President Hamid Karzai ordered a government investigation into the incident.

The video shows about a half dozen soldiers working to free a large military vehicle that had run into a small median in the town of Asadabad on Tuesday in the northeastern province of Kunar.

A crowd of several dozen Afghans had gathered to watch the soldiers work. Then a bright flash can be seen. The camera zooms out and the Afghans hurriedly flee the crowded marketplace.

Some Afghan witnesses and officials, including Afghanistan's Ministry of Education, accused a U.S. soldier on Tuesday of throwing the grenade. But U.S. military officials and the Ministry of Interior said fragments from a Russian-made grenade were found at the site, and blamed an insurgent in the crowd for throwing the weapon.

None of the half dozen U.S. soldiers in the video can be seen throwing a grenade. However, the video does not make clear who may have thrown it.

The U.S. military said the video was taken by a stationary aerial balloon with a camera attached to it. The military, which has increased its use of social networking sites in recent weeks, released the video on Facebook and YouTube.

Karzai ordered his Ministry of Interior and local government officials to dispatch a "high-ranking delegation" to investigate. The statement from Karzai did not explicitly blame U.S. forces for causing the deaths and injuries, but he still used the occasion to chide American forces to be careful around civilians.

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"Stressing the need to protect the lives and property of civilians, President Karzai once again reminded the international forces to make every effort to avoid incidents that lead to civilian casualties," the statement said.

Karzai has long pleaded with U.S. forces to reduce the number of civilian casualties that occur during military operations. However, U.S. officials say Taliban militants often try to cause civilian deaths in the hopes that the negative publicity will harm the U.S. effort in Afghanistan.

Several witnesses and victims wounded in Tuesday's blast told The Associated Press that they saw a U.S. soldier fire a grenade launching weapon. Others said they saw a soldier reach into his pocket and throw a grenade.

Those allegations appear to have been discredited because of the fragment of the Russian grenade that was found, and show the difficult environment U.S. forces face in trying to win over conservative Afghan tribes that live near the Pakistan border.

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On the Net:

U.S. military's Facebook site: http://tinyurl.com/lnacs4

U.S. military's YouTube site: http://www.youtube.com/usfora

Comments

[CigarGod]

So, are these consistent odds in Afghanistan?
That in a given crowd size, there will be at least one person with a grenade who decides to throw it?

If so, we are learning what every invading army since the Mongol Conquest has learned.

[Nyland8]

"If so, we are learning what every invading army since the Mongol Conquest has learned."

If only we were learning. It seems that after more than 7 years, a mounting death toll and countless billions wasted we've still learned nothing. I'm beginning to wonder whether Americans are totally ineducable. That's the problem with imperial hubris. No matter who occupies the Oval Office, they listen to the Generals who proceed to convince them that these occupations are militarily "winnable" - when by definition, nothing could be further from the truth.

We should bring back the draft. It seems to be the only way to get out of a quagmire.

[guinganbresil]

I think it is inaccurate to describe US activities in Afghanistan as 'imperial' - that distinction is what is causing the problem. Our desire to minimize civilian casualties and support democracy in the region (both of which I agree with) are significant hinderences to a military operation. Lucius Flavius Silva was not so constrained when he took the tenth legion against Masada - that is imperial... Bringing back the draft would undermine the effectiveness of our military. If an American defeat is the goal, then that is the answer. Unfortunately, Afghanistan is only one battle in a war we did not declare.

[PiscesPrincess]

Huh? the Draft ? you have no idea what you are talking about Nyland8.
and you are spouting the usual stuff about the wars. totally unnecessary.
The draft ? sheesh. remember Vietnam? we had the draft then. how'd that work out for ya, Nyland8

[gschear]

But if we just try the same thing this time, only harder, maybe there will be a different outcome.

[jesuswazasocialist]

And that is?

[omobob]

Don’t forget Alexander the great. 4 century B.C. Tip: eventually they all go home.

[azriel]

On a side note, the Mongol army under Ghengis khan--relative to their era-might have been the greatest military force the world has ever known...true story.