NATO sends F-16s to disperse Afghan protesters

[struggle4progress]

30 May 2005 13:30:37 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Sayed Salahuddin

KABUL, May 30 (Reuters) - NATO peacekeepers sent F-16 fighter jets to a northeastern Afghanistan province on Monday in a show of force to disperse thousands of protesters, police said.

At least six people were injured when supporters and opponents of a provincial official in Takhar province clashed with stones and clubs, police said. NATO sent its jets after local officials failed to disperse the 6,000-strong crowd.

One group demanded the removal of the education chief in the province's Rustaq district, while the other opposed the move, provincial police chief Akram Khan told Reuters.

"The jets came and managed to scatter the protesters," Khan told Reuters. "Six of the protesters, I know, were injured." <snip>

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL37306.htm

Nothing says "It's your democracy now" quite like an detachment of foreign F-16s ...

[UpInArms]

1. freedom is on the march!

:sarcasm:

[maddezmom]

2. and things are boiling in Southern Afghanistan, not to mention Kabul

~snip~

The second explosion, after dawn, was on a road near a U.S. military base and a U.N. compound. The bomb, detonated by a timer, was attached to a bicycle and exploded as a taxi drove past, police chief Gen. Mohammad Akbar said.

Four of the injured were in the taxi, while the three others were passers-by, he said. Two of the injured men were in serious condition, he said.

The clashes in southern Afghanistan broke out in Zabul province's Arghandab district after the rebels ambushed an army patrol, local government spokesman Ali Khail said.

He said 11 soldiers who were earlier reported missing had turned up after walking out of mountains in the area. Khail said that in addition to the 10 insurgents killed, three had been captured, including a district Taliban commander.

~snip~
more: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050530/ap_on_re_as/afghanistan_9

[nashville_brook]

3. because i'm free -- ee -- eeee

nothins' worryin' me

[bpilgrim]

4. unbelievable

so this is what the 21 century holds in store for weTHEpeople

:nuke:

peace

[0rganism]

5. Ah, "disperse", what a lovely euphemism (n/t)

.

[maddezmom]

6. Two dead, 33 wounded in protests in northeast Afghanistan

8 minutes ago


MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan (AFP) - Two Afghans were killed and 33 others wounded in violent protests against a local official in the war-shattered country's northeast, local authorities said.

NATO-led peacekeeping forces said they sent out two F-16 fighter jets to the scene of the demonstrations in Rustaq district of remote Takhar province.

"There were demonstrations today against the district chief of education, accused by some people to have stolen money to students," provincial governor Qazi Mohammed Kabir Marzban told AFP.

"Two people were killed and 33 injured in fights between people. We sent a delegation there, and hope that there will not be more demonstrations tomorrow."

~snip~
more: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050530/wl_sthasia_afp/afghanistanprotests_050530174647

[bemildred]

7. Oh yeah, that will work. nt

[NNN0LHI]

8. As the Crackhead In Chief says "Let Freedom Reign"! n/t

[unhappycamper]

9. F-16s against stones and clubs?

That seems like a bit of overkill.

[daleo]

10. Did the jets just buzz the crowd?

Or did they strafe it? Smoke canisters? Tear gas? How were the protesters injured?

[Briar]

11. Nato peacekeepers?

Oh the irony.

Besides, that tactic is all American.

[IndianaGreen]

12. F-16s against people armed with stones and clubs

When did NATO become an instrument of oppression?

I guess the Afghans are also singing and dancing in the streets...

[MadisonProgressive]

13. So the 'freedoms' we bring to them

don't include freedom of speech and assembly?