US will shows no regard for Afghan lives

An ex-US military service member believes American military racism toward the Afghan people could lead to a murderous withdrawal as it was in Vietnam.

In the background of this A US-led airstrike targeted a mosque full of people in Afghanistan, which has killed 20 civilians in one of the most horrific war crimes by the United States military in the decade-long war and occupation of Afghanistan.

Press TV has interviewed Mr. Kevin Baker, Iraq war veteran, Los Angeles about this issue. The following is an approximate transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Looking at the situation in Afghanistan… Civilian casualties has been a bone of contention between the Afghan government and the US. It has continually increased anti-US sentiments amongst the population.

Right now as Karzai visited America and the immunity of US forces that are to remain behind after 2014 is on the table. How is this going to help the cause?

Baker: If by help the cause you mean the success of the US occupation, it’s not going to.

The US, just like it failed in Iraq, its failed in Afghanistan. And you can see their complete disregard for the lives of the Afghan people that is continuously on full display by the US military.

And the chauvinism that comes out of Obama’s mouth – he was just two days ago talking about… he’s trying to make it seem that it is up to him as if the Afghan people have no sovereignty; that they have no voice of their own; and that’s just the way the US military functions in any country that it’s occupying.

Press TV: Speaking of civilian deaths, it has been an issue from day one of this occupation. Do you think eleven years into this war they would have realized how to recognize targets, to recognize potential militants and target them as opposed to civilians?

Baker: Right. That’s not the interest of the US military.

They like to play a PR campaign to confuse the American people and kind of distort the lens in which the American general public views the occupation.

You can see less than sixty days ago in Wardak Province when they killed six people through an air strike – six civilians. And now you fast forward it to today – not only have they not taken precautions in not striking civilians, but they’ve actually tripled the death toll of civilians that were killed in another airstrike. And this has been going on and on and on for the past eleven years for the Afghan people.

You can see their blatant racism on full display from General Petraeus when he was in charge of Afghanistan where he accused Afghan families of burning their own children in an attempt to make the US occupation look bad.

And this is the news that people in the US are hearing and this is the way I think that with Press TV being one of those vocal opponents to mainstream media it is very important to criticize the US occupation and call it out for what it is. It’s a racist occupation that’s taken the lives of tens of thousands of innocent people inside that country.

Press TV: There are certain reports that the US is going to increase its air bases within Afghanistan. (Chuck) Hagel has been nominated to head the State Department, but we also have (John) Brennan being chosen (for CIA Director) who is very trigger happy to say the least. This is only going to increase in Afghanistan isn’t it?

Baker: Absolutely. Just like when the US was pulling out of Vietnam with their Scorched Earth campaign were an attempt to make it look as if they were victorious. They literally dropped napalm to pull out of Vietnam and Laos. And unfortunately I believe that is going to be US strategy here.

They’re paving a way of withdrawal with the lives of the Afghan people who never wanted the US to be there; with the lives of US service members and with the tax dollars of Americans who are watching our own home domestic issues completely crumble when the US government led by Obama and Wall Street are continuously saying there is no money for jobs and education, but there’s money to continuously slaughter civilians in Afghanistan.

I think that’s why it is in the interests of the American people and specifically the American service members to refuse any and all orders to Afghanistan to participate in this immoral occupation that is causing nothing but misery and tragedy for the Afghan people.