U.S. soldiers face probe into Afghan civilian deaths

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Source: McClatchy Newspapers

U.S. soldiers face probe into Afghan civilian deaths
By Dion Nissenbaum, McClatchy Newspapers 2 hrs 50 mins ago

KABUL, Afghanistan — The U.S. military is investigating allegations that a small group of American soldiers deliberately killed three Afghan civilians in a series of shootings earlier this year, Western officials familiar with the case said Friday.

Military officials have detained one soldier with the Army's 5th Stryker Brigade based in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, said the officials, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the case.

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The allegations center on as many as nine soldiers from the 5th Stryker Brigade , 2nd Battalion , at Forward Operating Base Ramrod , a remote outpost west of Kandahar city. The brigade is part of the 2nd Infantry Division , based at Fort Lewis, Wash.

The soldiers initially were under investigation for drug charges, officials said, but that led to allegations that the unit had taken part in killing three Afghan civilians in a series of confrontations over several months, according to two officials familiar with the details.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100521/wl_mcclatchy/3512681

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1. CBS NEWS: U.S. Soldiers Accused in Afghan Civilian Murders

U.S. Soldiers Accused in Afghan Civilian Murders
Squad of 10 Soldiers Under Investigation in Deaths of 3 Villagers Who Angered Troops; Charges Could be Filed Next Week
By David Martin

(CBS) Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top commander in Afghanistan, has gone to extraordinary lengths to reduce the accidental killing of Afghan civilians, but now there is a case in which American soldiers are accused of murder.

The alleged killings happened near Kandahar in southern Afghanistan, where U.S. troops are gearing up for the most important operation of the war,

Members of a squad of about 10 American soldiers are under investigation for murdering at least three local villagers who had angered them. According to the allegations, this is not a case of civilians being mistaken for Taliban fighters and not a one-time moment of rage.

Instead, it happened on different occasions over the past several months. The squad leader, a sergeant, is said to have done the shooting.

In addition, some members of the squad are accused of smoking hash.

Charges could be brought against the soldiers as early as next week.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/20/eveningnews/main6504056.shtml?tag=cbsnewsTwoColUpperPromoArea