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US military staff responsible for Afghan hospital bombing disciplined | US military staff responsible for Afghan hospital bombing disciplined |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The Pentagon has confirmed that 16 US military staff who bombed a hospital in Afghanistan last year have been disciplined. | The Pentagon has confirmed that 16 US military staff who bombed a hospital in Afghanistan last year have been disciplined. |
The attack on the hospital in Kunduz last October left at least 42 people dead. | The attack on the hospital in Kunduz last October left at least 42 people dead. |
The Pentagon confirmed on Friday that the attack, authorized by General John Campbell, the US Commander in Afghanistan, was the result of human error and was not a war crime because it was “unintentional”. | The Pentagon confirmed on Friday that the attack, authorized by General John Campbell, the US Commander in Afghanistan, was the result of human error and was not a war crime because it was “unintentional”. |
16 staff have either been suspended or received lesser sentences. No one faces criminal charges. | 16 staff have either been suspended or received lesser sentences. No one faces criminal charges. |
It also said the Doctors Without Borders hospital, known by its French acronym MSF, was properly entered on a “no-strike” list yet the gunship crew did not have access to that list. | It also said the Doctors Without Borders hospital, known by its French acronym MSF, was properly entered on a “no-strike” list yet the gunship crew did not have access to that list. |
Army General Joseph Votel, commander at US Central Command, told reporters on Friday that there is a “constant effort” underway to review their processes and the aircraft that was used during the attack. | Army General Joseph Votel, commander at US Central Command, told reporters on Friday that there is a “constant effort” underway to review their processes and the aircraft that was used during the attack. |
“This was not a systemic problem, this was a failure at that point,” he said, regarding a faulty radio antennae system on the plane that would have told the crew of no-strike areas. | |
Nato-backed Afghan forces were fighting with insurgents for control of the northern provincial capital one month after the Taliban seized the city. | Nato-backed Afghan forces were fighting with insurgents for control of the northern provincial capital one month after the Taliban seized the city. |
The strike was authorized under the rules of “self-defence”. | The strike was authorized under the rules of “self-defence”. |
Mr Votel insisted that when the air crew were notified they were firing at a hospital, they withdrew fire. | Mr Votel insisted that when the air crew were notified they were firing at a hospital, they withdrew fire. |
“There is a lot on the ground, it’s a fast moving situation. We have young leaders trying to make the right decision in a heated combat and sometimes it comes up wrong,” he said. | “There is a lot on the ground, it’s a fast moving situation. We have young leaders trying to make the right decision in a heated combat and sometimes it comes up wrong,” he said. |
After the bombs started to fall, panicked hospital staff called and send text messages asking the US forces to stop. The plane crew took 17 minutes to react. | After the bombs started to fall, panicked hospital staff called and send text messages asking the US forces to stop. The plane crew took 17 minutes to react. |
MSF also said it repeatedly gave its coordinates of its trauma center in Kunduz to the US military as late as 29 September to avoid being bombed. | MSF also said it repeatedly gave its coordinates of its trauma center in Kunduz to the US military as late as 29 September to avoid being bombed. |
This did not prevent the accident from happening just four days later. | This did not prevent the accident from happening just four days later. |
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