Now that Obama has has escalated the war in Afghanistan, what lies ahead politically may be foreshadowed by a bombing in early November ordered by a German colonel. This bombing received little attention in US media, but it created a political firestorm in Germany, and the repercussions are still reverberating.
Der Spiegel published a fascinating, in-depth review of the signals and confusion that confronted the colonel in charge that made the fateful mis-decision. It shows how easy it will be for similar tragedies to occur in the future, under US command, creating the same kind of furor here.
Below is an initial excerpt, with a link to the full story. The in-depth review starts on page 2 of the article. Be sure to get that far. Links to more recent articles are in the left sidebar. These article show that this single incident is continuing to fuel the opposition to German involvement in Afghanistan. What lies ahead for Obama in the US?
The End of Innocence in Afghanistan
‘The German Air Strike Has Changed Everything’
By SPIEGEL Staff
The recent bombing of two tanker trucks in an attack ordered by a German military colonel has led to major international criticism of the Bundeswehr. The incident has given a black eye to a country whose politicians have never been shy of telling others what’s best in Afghanistan.
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The commander of the German reconstruction team in the northern city of Kunduz is experiencing the most horrendous days of his life. His decision to order air strikes against two hijacked NATO fuel trucks on the night of Sept. 4 changed everything — him, his career, German politics, relations with the Americans and the deployment of German soldiers in Afghanistan.
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[A] German officer has issued a devastating order to shoot, causing two US fighter jets to kill 50 to 100 people on the ground, including civilians. It was an unnecessary air strike, that much is certain. The village of Omar Khel, which lies in the vicinity of the air strikes, now stands for the end of the illusion that a country could keep its hands clean in a world plagued by military conflict.
The latest development in this story in Germany was reported today.
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