Becoming What We Seek to Destroy

Chris Hedges / Truthdig May 11, 2009 The bodies of dozens, perhaps well over a hundred, women, children and men, their corpses blown into bits of human flesh by iron fragmentation bombs dropped by U.S. warplanes in a village in the western province of Farah, illustrates the futility of the Afghan war. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

U.S. Military Investigating Afghan Casualty Claims

Staff / Truthdig May 6, 2009 Up to 70 civilians were reportedly killed in the Farah province of Afghanistan in a battle between Taliban insurgents and coalition forces on Tuesday, adding friction to already tense relations between the U.S. and Afghan governments. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Gates Sorry, Continues Dropping Bombs

Staff / Truthdig Sep 17, 2008 It seems that "personal regret" is deemed sufficient to exculpate the U.S military after the deaths of civilians in U.S. airstrikes in Afghanistan. Defense Secretary Gates offered his hollow apologies and promised more accurate targeting in future attacks. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.S. Keeps Bombing Weddings

Staff / Truthdig Jul 15, 2008 Apparently, the Bush administration is also against straight marriage -- if you live in the desert under U.S. military occupation. Tom Engelhardt details seven years of wedding crashing in Afganistan and Iraq, and the notable lack of remorse on the part of the Pentagon. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

British Gov’t Set to Scrap Cluster Bombs

Staff / Truthdig May 28, 2008 The U.K. is moving toward getting rid of all cluster bombs in its armory in keeping with growing international efforts to ban the bombs, which spread miniature "bomblets" and have caused many civilian deaths around the world. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Iraq Vets Break Silence on Devastating Realities of War

Staff / Truthdig Jul 12, 2007 Truthdig contributor Chris Hedges teamed up with Laila Al-Arian for The Nation's shocking report "The Other War: Iraq Vets Bear Witness," in which American vets describe, in graphic detail that will challenge even the least fainthearted readers, "the disparity between the reality of the war and how it is portrayed by the US government and American media." Dig deeper ( 53 Min. Read )

NATO to Karzai: Point Taken

Staff / Truthdig Jun 24, 2007 NATO officials have registered Afghan President Hamad Karzai's strong criticism of the Western coalition's recent tactics, which have resulted in tragically high numbers of civilian deaths, and are offering conciliatory words in response. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

NATO to Probe Civilian Casualties in Afghanistan

Staff / Truthdig Jun 22, 2007 Afghan President Hamad Karzai is warning foreign troops that more civilian deaths would seriously compromise Afghan citizens' support (such as it is) for NATO-affiliated forces in their country. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

For Civilian Casualties, America Pays Cash

Staff / Truthdig Apr 12, 2007 The American Civil Liberties Union obtained 500 claims for compensation filed by civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq. The claim descriptions paint a picture of the confusion, chaos, and the seeming randomness of violence which has shaped life and death in Iraq and Afghanistan during the last four years. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )