16 Afghans including children killed in US Embassy attack, US ambassador: "no big deal"

[moderate libertarian]

Eleven Afghan civilians were killed, more than half of them children, said U.S. Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan. Five Afghan police officers were also killed


US embassy attack in Kabul 'no big deal': ambassador
(AFP) – 1 day ago

KABUL — United States ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker said Wednesday that his embassy was hit with six grenades in a Taliban attack, but played down the insurgents' raid as "not a very big deal".

The attack launched on Tuesday lasted for 19 hours and left 14 people dead in a barrage of gunfire and suicide blasts targeting the US embassy and the neighbouring headquarters of NATO-led troops in Afghanistan.

Crocker said at least six rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) landed in the embassy compound although officials had earlier said that injuries there were limited to three Afghan visa applicants and one Afghan security guard.

"This really is not a very big deal, a hard day for the embassy and my staff who behaved with enormous courage and dedication," he said in a pooled media interview.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gQI7VJ8MiJiX-_tLnFiB65yN6R5g?docId=CNG.eb81c551d7605406b6fcdc9d 71a617a6.a1


If 16 civilians, children and security personnel killed were Americans from embassy staff/US troops, would he still have said "no big deal"?


If 16 civilians, children and security personnel killed were British/Australian or other NATO nation, would he still have said "no big deal"?


If such a response only comes out when Afghan civilians/children are killed, has Obama appointed someone with racist mindset as ambassador to whom innocent Afghan lives lost is "no big deal"?

[HOLLYWOOD]

Well, Yes, it's no big deal to Ambassador Ryan Crocker in perspective... he was the former Ambassador to Iraq during the height of killing there and witnessed 100,000's Iraqi civilians killed.

[james1844]

Actually, that kind of thing happens in Afghanistan a lot. So, while its a tragic event, its not entirely clear that is a big deal in the context of whats going on over there.

[flightlesskiwi]

collateral damage is never a big deal.

that's why it's called collateral damage.

[flightlesskiwi]

to quote from another thread:


That is one of the reasons why I post these articles.

The second one is that, among a fairly large percentage of the US population there is such a huge disconnect with humanity that the killing of an innocent person barely registers.

Kill a dog however and these same people go all to pieces.

[oyarde]

I am trying to figure out how the dumbass taliban can coordinate an attack like that and kill nobody but innocents in the process ...

[moderate libertarian]

to quote from another thread:


Originally Posted by Anti Federalist

The second one is that, among a fairly large percentage of the US population there is such a huge disconnect with humanity that the killing of an innocent person barely registers.

Sadly that seems to be the case. I wonder where this lack of regard of other civilian life comes from? Especially the attitudes towards civilians killed in current US war zones abroad - does it come from blind patriotism or due to some racial/religious dogmas? It is a horrible attitude to have for any human.



Actually, that kind of thing happens in Afghanistan a lot. So, while its a tragic event, its not entirely clear that is a big deal in the context of whats going on over there.

Almost 100,000 US troops have lost lives/body parts or endured serious injury requiring evacuation from there in current wars in Iraq/Afghanistan so far. Let's say there is a tragic event in Iraq or Afghanistan where 20 US soldiers got killed/lost body parts in an attack by insurgents and US ambassador there reacts by saying it is "no big deal". Would you still say that "its not entirely clear that is a big deal in the context of whats going on over there"?