War Crimes in Afghanistan, Or: What You Don't Learn in Science Class

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) demonstrated in a more than impressive way this week how science and technology can advance the cause of human rights. Using forensic analysis and satellite imagery, they did an excellent job in documenting a war crime -- and the subsequent U.S. supported cover-up -- in Afghanistan, where in the wake of the U.S. led invasion in 2001 hundreds of prisoners of war were killed by a U.S. backed warlord and dumped in a mass grave in Dasht-e-Leili. Check out this must see video:

The New York Times covered the story in an extensive piece last weekend. PHR has set up its own website, where you can also urge Attorney General Eric Holder to halt the cover-up. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) -- who supported the project and with whom AIUSA's own Science for Human Rights project has a longstanding partnership -- also provided a detailed analysis of the grave site and its cover-up. Here's a quick summary of the story:

In 2002, PHR investigators discovered the presence of a mass grave site in Dasht-e-Leili, outside of the city of Sheberghan in northern Afghanistan. The grave site is reported to contain anywhere from hundreds to thousands of Taliban prisoners of war. Forensic analysis suggests that most of the prisoners died from suffocation. They reportedly died while inside closed metal shipping containers.

Upon returning to the site in 2008, Stefan Schmitt, Director of PHR's International Forensic Program, noticed that the mass grave might have been tampered with. To gather additional evidence, PHR requested satellite imagery from the area, which showed two sizeable pits, compromising the original area. The satellite imagery obtained by the AAAS indicated that there was earth-moving equipment present on August 5, 2006 along with one of two new pits. Later imagery on October 24, 2007, revealed the second pit in the same location as the earth-moving equipment from August 5.

Copyright 2009 Digital Globe. Image analysis by AAAS

The Bush Administration discouraged any attempts to investigate the episode, as the warlord suspected of committing the crimes, Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, was on the C.I.A.'s payroll, while his militia worked alongside the United States Special Forces in 2001. The Department of State has urged the Obama administration to oppose Gen. Dostum's reappointment in the Afghani government; however the president has yet to take action on this issue.

As we still wait for the president to ensure accountability for past human rights violations of the Bush administration, this is another test of Obama's commitment to human rights. It will be interesting to see if the administration fully investigates the 2001 killings in Afghanistan, at a time when Obama is sending an additional 21,000 more troops to battle the increasing Taliban insurgency. A first response by Obama to PHR's work seems at least promising.

By Christoph Koettl, Crisis Prevention and Response Campaigner.

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Comments

[mcthfg]

Paying taxes = war crime.

[blood1]

I am guessing that everytime President Obama hears about the actions taken by "friends" of the CIA, he cringes. Both he and Panetta are caught in the difficult circumstance of following the knee-jerker GWB...go to war without a plan, spend money and expect that all their bad decisions would never be uncovered. Their logic, Afganistan is far far away and not well monitored, so all the crimes that they sanctioned would be "their little secret". Their plan may have worked, except that the American People voted against that political party who seem to be very adept at hiding secrets!

There are those journalists who have "got their groove back" and are no longer threatened with exile from access to the WH...I suspect we will continue to see these stories come to light!