Muslim Holiday Massacre

Friday marked the start of Eid al-Adha, the most well-known and celebrated holiday within the Muslim religion. However, the day would end in mass causalities. “The attack in the town of Maymana, capital of the northern Faryab province, came as people were gathering at the mosque to celebrate the Eid al-Adha holiday” (Attack Location ). A suicide bomber strapped on an explosive vest then took a position outside the mosque until persons of interested had gathered inside. The suicide bomber carried out his attack once “provincial officials, including the governor and the police chief, had assembled inside the mosque to celebrate” (Targeted Officials ). Tribunal leaders were also among those specifically targeted.  The bomber managed to detonate his vest causing mass causalities. 

Bodies align the street outside a mosque after a suicide bomber attack 

41 people were killed and 56 individuals were injured. However, the death count is expected to rise because many of the wounded individuals are listed as in critical condition. The bomber was never identified and his affiliation is yet to be determined. Investigations are currently underway to determine which group is directly responsibility. “It appeared that the attacks on Friday was in revenge for Taliban losses earlier in the week” (Who is responsible?). Now, the following statement was only mere speculation.  Afghan government officials claim the Taliban carried out the attack, but no members of the Taliban have come forward to claim responsibility. However, the likelihood of this being a Taliban attack does fit the puzzle given the outcome of recent events.

             One important facet we should explore within this given attack is the fact that in addition to losing high-ranking officials, many civilians also lost their lives. Now, the high-ranking officials deaths are to an extent justified, but the lose of civilian lives is a heinous crime. These officials’ deaths can be justified because on a daily basis the policies they invocate are in direct proportion with the war effort. Since the war has already started the Taliban or whomever party is responsible for this bombing is technically justified in their actions to target certain officials. However, the attacks need only be on those directly involved in the war effort. Now, the killing of civilians makes me sick to my stomach. Under no circumstances should noncombatants be targeted and attacked. The suicide bomber had no right in the deaths of those noncombatants. In any case attacks of this magnitude would only be justified if soldiers and officials directly involved in the war were the only ones targeted. The second noncombatants are involved the attacks should be put to a halt. Combatant and noncombatant is certainly an issue surrounding this event, but we also need to focus on the effects this will have on the future.

            The future event, which is of concern, involves NATO’s plan to withdraw troops in 2014. Now, let me pose this question to you. What steps do the government of the U.S. and Afghanistan plan to implement to guarantee Afghanistan’s self-determination after foreign powers leave the country in 2014? This specific question is what both the United States and Afghanistan governments are trying to solve. This attack as well as plenty of other attacks has plagued these governments with questions, without any current definite solutions. As these crimes and violent attacks continue to be executed, these governments are challenged to explore additional options to ensue a peaceful departure of NATO troops. Since more problems and the frequency of attacks have increased their departure in 2014 might not be a realistic goal. The future from my point of view is uncertain if attacks cannot be curtailed.

Civilian Causalities in Afghanistan Firefight

            On Tuesday a firefight broke out between the Taliban and international forces. The fight broke out in the southern province of Kabul, in the “Baraki Barak District. The Baraki Barak District is considered one of the more troubled areas within Afghanistan” (Dangerous District ). The Taliban insurgent forces were trying to hold their control on a direct route to Kabul. When the Taliban forces spotting an International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) foot patrol they opened fire. Eventually the few shots escalated into a firefight between the Taliban and other international forces that were also patrolling in the area. Unfortunately, four children had been attending to their livestock at the same time in an area field. These four children got caught up in the mix of the gunfire. The four children did not survive and perished in the firefight. The point of blame is unknown since ammunition was sporadically discharged in all directions. However, the international forces have since come out with an official statement of apology. The international forces claimed an investigation is underway and condolences have been forwarded to the families of these children. The international forces are going to try and properly compensate these families directly impacted by these tragic losses.

            

Noncombatant Children Effected by War

This tragic event has been placed under criticism. Many people are outraged that a mere conflict and destructive exchange has led to civilian causalities, and children no less. Many people have claimed that the rules of engagement between opposing forces should be more carefully executed when civilians are located in the premises. I understand when caught up in the moment of a firefight it may be hard to focus on civilians within in the area. However, soldiers should be better trained with versatile skills sets to better distinguish between civilians and combatants.

            

I think since we are on the topic of civilian causalities we should focus our attention to what Michael Walzer claims is the war convention. Under the rules governing the war convention, Walzer addresses the issue of whom soldiers may kill. Walzer points out that under no circumstances should noncombatants be attacked. He calls this idea noncombatant immunity. In this specific case Walzer would condemn the actions carried out by those men who are responsible for the death of those four children. In fact, many people are outraged. Afghan President Hamid Karzai stated, “Despite repeated pledges by NATO to avoid civilian causalities, innocent lives, including children, are still being lost” (Innocent Lives). International forces have been saying they will try in their best efforts to avoid noncombatant causalities, but they have still been occurring. When will civil causalities come to a halt?

            

Now, this firefight is only one example of the horrors civilians experience from war. Another general engagement of civilian causalities that comes to the top of my head is aerial bombing warfare. In aerial bombing combatants usually don’t worry about the destruction they inflict on people and frequently these attacks have massive civilian causalities. The war convention condemns noncombatant causalities and there should be an established international rule governing that all militaries avoid civilian attacks at all cost. The ethics and morals of war should be upheld to a higher standard.                     

Insider Attacks are a Growing Problem

           Another insider attack has occurred within the Afghan borders. On Saturday, an insurgent posing as a National Directorate of Security (NDS) employee detonated a suicide vest. The suicide bomber managed to kill two Americans and four Afghan officials, including the Afghan deputy intelligence director for Kandahar Province Ghulam Rasool (Dead Officials). The attack occurred when delegation members were delivering new furniture to the intelligence headquarters of the Kandahar’s Maruf district (Suicide Bomber). After the attack occurred U.S. and local officials claimed the attack was set up and the suicide bomber was an NDS elite intelligence member. Shafiqullah Tahiri, spokesman for the intelligence agency stated, “The suicide bomber was never on the staff of the NDS. Unfortunately, the local media reported this. It created concern among the people of Afghanistan” (Public Concern). Tahiri was saying that the local media that covered the story, reported the suicide bomber was indeed an employee of the NDS. This was part of the reason why U.S. and local officials made assertions against the NDS. However, these claims have since been denied and evidence has been presented to show that the suicide bomber had no association with the NDS.

            Upon further investigation these insider attacks have been on the rise over the past year. The insurgent attack by a pseudo intelligence agent is the first of its kind. In recent reports, insurgents have dressed like other soldiers and officials, but never like an intelligence agent. These insider attacks have people concerned about the security in Afghanistan as well as the threat of increased exposer to Taliban infiltrations. Not only have the Afghan citizens lost faith in their government’s protection, but western nations have also lost confidence in Afghanistan’s ability to regulate and protect its own people. This is a major problem. If the Afghans are losing confidence with their own government then this might increase the risk of more attacks in the future. The Afghans are already in turmoil and if people are losing faith then ordinary citizens might rise to the occasion and start a revolution. If this were to occur it wouldn’t solve any problems. The Afghan people need reassurance at this point, not loss of faith. On the other hand, having the western nations losing confidence is a big concern as well. With insider attacks like these, soldiers and foreign officials might assume that the risk of carrying out their duties is no longer worth the reward. If this occurs the whole system will continue to crumble. Direct actions need to be taking to stop these insider attacks. Security and intelligence agents need to be more careful then ever before. Insider attacks need to be stopped and the Afghan government needs to maintain assurance amongst its people. Peace can be restored in Afghanistan but the citizens and high-ranking officials need to step up to their roles. Hope and faith must be maintained in order for this goal to stay within reach.            

Assassination Attempt on Pakistani School Girl

On Tuesday a Taliban member shot an activists for women’s rights and education in the head. Malala Yousafzai at the mere age of 14 was the victim of this outrageous attack. The Taliban targeted Yousafzai for her active voice to promote women’s rights and education. She mainly spoke out on these issues in a blog under a pen name. But this didn’t stop the Taliban from tracking her down. When the Taliban exercised vast power before the war they banned education for women and severely limited women’s rights. The outcry by Yousafzai contradicted these values set in place by the Taliban. In response the Taliban threatened to shut down the women’s school in which Yousafzai attends and to eliminate her. Even with the threat in place, Yousafzai brave enough embraced for the worst and attended school. However, the Taliban was serious about their threat and they carried out the attack and shot Yousafzai in the head. After the attack, she was rushed to the hospital where she is currently listed as in critical condition. Pakistani Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said, “She is a Western-minded girl and we will target anyone who speaks against the Taliban” (NY Daily News). Ehsan’s statement captures the essence of the seriousness for the Taliban to claim their dominance over the Pakistani people.  (BBC, BBC Video)

           

Yousuf Raza Gilani, Pakistan's prime minister, presents Malala
Yousafzai with a National Youth Peace Prize.

(TheGuardian) 

Yousafzai’s actions to defy the Taliban should be a message sent to the Pakistani people and to the rest of the world. The courageous acts of Yousafzai should be a signal to all people that the Taliban can be stopped. The Taliban is only one group of people and with the courage and strength of the Pakistani people and other intervening peoples they can be halted and shut down. They are not invincible. If Yousafzai, who is only 14-years-old, can stand up for what she believes in then there must be others out there who are willing to do the same thing. All that needs to happen is for all these activists and intervening people to collaborate one common plan of action. The Taliban can be stopped, it’s going to take the right mindset, but with actions like Yousafzai maybe this idea is not far out and could potentially occur within the near future.

            Now, it is important to point out the arguments Walzer makes in his book Just and Unjust Wars about intervention. Walzer’s claims for justified intervention are drawn up through the legalist paradigm. Walzer asserts that intervention is acceptable if it involves human rights and other humanitarian concerns. Now, according to the article Yousafzai was shot over her claims for women’s rights and education. Under Walzer’s justification, Yousafzai actions would fall under human rights. She has been oppressed by a terrorist group and is being denied rights in which all humans should be granted. Also the Taliban has shot a young woman and will continue to cause violent acts that will inflict upon humanitarian concerns. I now believe that after this specific attack, nations from around the world should open up their eyes to the violence that is happening. These nations under Walzer’s ideals have the justification to intervene within the conflict. The Pakistani people and other nations should be motivated to shut the Taliban down for good, to ensure humanitarian values.