Video Inflames A Delicate Moment For U.S. In Afghanistan.KABUL, Afghanistan - A video showing four U.S. Marines urinate on three Taliban fighters dead angered and sentencing Thursday in Afghanistan and around the world, raising fears in Washington that the images could incite anti-American sentiment at a particularly delicate in the decade-old war in Afghanistan.
The Obama administration is struggling to keep Afghan President Hamid Karzai, on his side as he carefully tries to open talks with the Taliban. However, the video showing such a desecration - a war crime - is likely to weaken the U.S. position with both. The Taliban and Karzai stressed each images as evidence of American brutality, a message with broad appeal in Afghanistan, where the word of the video was slowly spreading Thursday.
Senior military officials in Kabul and the Pentagon confirmed that the video was authentic and had identified the Marines as a member of the Third Battalion, Second Marines, who completed a tour of Afghanistan in the fall before return to its base in Camp Lejeune, NC Officials did not release the names of the Marines, but said one was wearing the uniform of a corporal.
Pentagon officials said the video was made between March and September 2011, when the battalion of Marines was stationed in Helmand province, the heart of the Taliban and a strategic center of the poppy trade. Officials said they did not know the exact location shown in the video but that was likely made in the northern part of the province, where the battalion was operating. Seven of the approximately 1000 Marines in the battalion were killed during the seven-month deployment.
Pentagon officials said that since they knew the four Marines were still on active duty.
Even before the authenticity of the video had been confirmed, the expressions of indignation and contrition defense secretary, Leon Panetta, E., Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and other senior officials left no doubt that they regarded as real.
Aware of the potential inflammatory Mr. Panetta called Mr. Karzai to assure him that an investigation was underway and that those responsible would be punished. Mr. Panetta told the Afghan leader that "the behavior depicted in the film is utterly deplorable, and it does not reflect the standards or values U.S. troops are sworn to uphold," said George little, is Speaker of the Pentagon.
The video shows the four Marines, in their distinctive sand-colored camouflage, urinating in the three instances - one covered in blood. A sailor said, "Have a nice day, buddy."
The Taliban initially indicated that the video would not undermine the push of the talks, saying they had seen evidence that simply more of what they said was the brutality and American arrogance.
But by Thursday, in an official statement, the Taliban has dropped references to the talks and stressed the message brutality. "We strongly condemn the inhuman act of savage American soldiers, as usual, and consider that act in contradiction with all the human and ethical standards," the statement said.
Karzai said he was deeply troubled and had asked the Americans to severely punish the culprits. "This act by U.S. soldiers is simply inhuman and condemnable in the strongest terms," he said.
U.S. officials reacted remorse all day on Thursday in their fight against stress damage. The American-led coalition in Afghanistan and the U.S. embassy in Kabul offered separate convictions. Leaders of the coalition in a statement that the behavior displayed in the video "dishonors the sacrifices and the core values of each service member representing the 50 nations of the coalition."
Clinton expressed what she called its "utter dismay."
"It is absolutely incompatible with American values and standards we expect of our military personnel," she said in Washington, adding that everyone involved "must be held fully accountable."
Mr. Panetta said in Washington that he had ordered the Marines and General John R. Allen, a Marine Corps officer commanding the coalition forces in Afghanistan to investigate immediately.
The video, posted on public Web sites for sharing videos, including YouTube and Live Leak, began ricocheting around international websites News Wednesday.
The Obama administration is struggling to keep Afghan President Hamid Karzai, on his side as he carefully tries to open talks with the Taliban. However, the video showing such a desecration - a war crime - is likely to weaken the U.S. position with both. The Taliban and Karzai stressed each images as evidence of American brutality, a message with broad appeal in Afghanistan, where the word of the video was slowly spreading Thursday.
Senior military officials in Kabul and the Pentagon confirmed that the video was authentic and had identified the Marines as a member of the Third Battalion, Second Marines, who completed a tour of Afghanistan in the fall before return to its base in Camp Lejeune, NC Officials did not release the names of the Marines, but said one was wearing the uniform of a corporal.
Pentagon officials said the video was made between March and September 2011, when the battalion of Marines was stationed in Helmand province, the heart of the Taliban and a strategic center of the poppy trade. Officials said they did not know the exact location shown in the video but that was likely made in the northern part of the province, where the battalion was operating. Seven of the approximately 1000 Marines in the battalion were killed during the seven-month deployment.
Pentagon officials said that since they knew the four Marines were still on active duty.
Even before the authenticity of the video had been confirmed, the expressions of indignation and contrition defense secretary, Leon Panetta, E., Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and other senior officials left no doubt that they regarded as real.
Aware of the potential inflammatory Mr. Panetta called Mr. Karzai to assure him that an investigation was underway and that those responsible would be punished. Mr. Panetta told the Afghan leader that "the behavior depicted in the film is utterly deplorable, and it does not reflect the standards or values U.S. troops are sworn to uphold," said George little, is Speaker of the Pentagon.
The video shows the four Marines, in their distinctive sand-colored camouflage, urinating in the three instances - one covered in blood. A sailor said, "Have a nice day, buddy."
The Taliban initially indicated that the video would not undermine the push of the talks, saying they had seen evidence that simply more of what they said was the brutality and American arrogance.
But by Thursday, in an official statement, the Taliban has dropped references to the talks and stressed the message brutality. "We strongly condemn the inhuman act of savage American soldiers, as usual, and consider that act in contradiction with all the human and ethical standards," the statement said.
Karzai said he was deeply troubled and had asked the Americans to severely punish the culprits. "This act by U.S. soldiers is simply inhuman and condemnable in the strongest terms," he said.
U.S. officials reacted remorse all day on Thursday in their fight against stress damage. The American-led coalition in Afghanistan and the U.S. embassy in Kabul offered separate convictions. Leaders of the coalition in a statement that the behavior displayed in the video "dishonors the sacrifices and the core values of each service member representing the 50 nations of the coalition."
Clinton expressed what she called its "utter dismay."
"It is absolutely incompatible with American values and standards we expect of our military personnel," she said in Washington, adding that everyone involved "must be held fully accountable."
Mr. Panetta said in Washington that he had ordered the Marines and General John R. Allen, a Marine Corps officer commanding the coalition forces in Afghanistan to investigate immediately.
The video, posted on public Web sites for sharing videos, including YouTube and Live Leak, began ricocheting around international websites News Wednesday.
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