Say you're sorry!
Khadija Ibrahimi
September 22, 2008
Ask any credible expert and they will tell you that the key to solving any
problem is to first accept that there is a problem, take responsibility for your
actions, and then apologize to those you have hurt. Unless a genuine expression
of acknowledgement of wrong doing along with sincere remorse and a heartfelt
apology happens, there will be no success in solving the problem. It also makes
it impossible for those who you have hurt to forgive you. I wish someone would
pass this along to the American military in charge of fighting the Taliban
and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
The repeated news about civilian deaths in Afghanistan is enough to make
anyone sick. In Herat alone, numerous people were killed and the majority of
them were innocent women and children. So, what did we get from the American
military, or its commander-in-chief, when they shot off their "smart bombs"
and accidentally killed innocent Afghan people? It's always the same response.
Well, first it was outright denial, and then the blame was thrown at the
Taliban. Some officials stated that if any civilians were killed, it is because
the Taliban were using them as human shields. Evidence for the human shield
theory is shaky at best and at worst, an outright lie, and I am no fan of the
Taliban. These pathetic excuses just don't hold water, and are simply not
acceptable for Afghans, nor should it be acceptable to any one with an ounce of
humanity.
Once evidence (including bodies of young children), was shown to the American
military commanders, and there was no way to deny it, we heard, "we offer our
condolences...", "it's unfortunate..." or "we regret the deaths...". There was
nothing more from any Army official, nothing more from Robert Gates, and not
even from Mr. Bush himself. People offer their condolences to the families of
the deceased or others at funerals when they are NOT responsible for the deaths
of other human beings. These are NOT the words that should be offered when many
innocents are killed and maimed because of the American military's negligence.
In fact, these words are too little, too late, insincere, unconvincing and are
uttered out of "damage control". It seems like pouring salt into a fresh wound.
So what should the commanders and perhaps even the president say when
innocents are killed? How about a genuine WE'RE SORRY? How about "Yeah, we
messed up big time, and we are really really sorry, how can we make it up to
you?" Okay, perhaps not in those words, but I believe you get my drift. At the
very least Mr. Bush should reach out to Afghans and express publicly to them and
to president Hamid Karzai how sorry he is about the loss of innocent lives.
After all isn't it for "the protection and democracy of the Afghan people" that
U.S. and NATO troops are in the country? Did they not come proclaiming that they
were going to free them from the tyranny of the Taliban and their indiscriminate
killing and torture of innocent Afghans, and to capture Osama bin Laden? Well so
far they did drive most of the Taliban into hiding, however Afghanistan is no
where near safe and secure. These "smart bombs, Daisy Cutters and other weapons
of mass destruction have yet to find or kill bin Laden, but have been very, very
successful at killing civilians and wearing out the welcome of the otherwise
very hospitable Afghan people. There is a solution, first, if you know anything
about Afghans, you know that they are very forgiving people, especially, when
someone comes to them and admits their mistake. This needs to happen immediately
and unconditionally, second, the military commanders need to get their aim
right.
If these killings go on , there will be trouble because it's when Afghans are
insulted, and mistreated that they will fight and fight to the end despite the
losses on their side and the sacrifices they have to make. So, my advice to the
American military in Afghanistan is to say I'm sorry, don't add salt to my
people's wounds by denying that your "smart bomb" wasn't so smart after all. The
carnage will not be covered up any longer, especially when hundreds if not
thousands of innocent people have already been killed. It makes all
Americans look bad, and it makes Hamid Karzai look like a helpless, heartless
fool in front of his own people. It feeds the "Anti-American" sentiment
that the Taliban are counting on in order to regain the support of the people.
Khadija Ibrahimi is a graduate student studying political science. She
can be reached at
khadija_ibrahimi@yahoo.com
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