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UN 'Alarmed' by US Killings of Afghan Children

Afghan children work at a local brick factory in Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, October 8, 2012.

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February 08, 2013

A U.N. committee say it is "alarmed" about reports of the deaths of hundreds of children allegedly killed by U.S. military forces in Afghanistan in the past five years.

The Geneva-based Committee on the Rights of the Child said the children died from U.S. attacks and airstrikes.

The CRC said the deaths were "due notably to reported lack of precautionary measures and indiscriminate use of force."

The U.N. group called on the U.S. to take "concrete and firm precautionary measures and prevent indiscriminate use of force" to ensure that no more civilians and children are killed.

The committee last reviewed U.S. practices in Afghanistan in 2008.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Thursday she had not seen the report, but would look into it.

Children's rights advocacy director for Human Rights Watch, Jo Becker, said "the U.S. can and should do more to protect children affected by armed conflict."

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by: JKF from: Ottawa, Canada

February 08, 2013 7:03 PM

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It is strange that we only hear about reports on Western countries and, not often, do we see them on some of the other countries such as Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, etc. The situation in Syria, for the last year should be taking their full staff and full attention; it is a horrendous situation for children in Syria. Frankly I sense, it may be just my sensibilities, but the UN at every possible forum/report takes an opportunity to bash Western democracies, and the favorites are the US/Israel/Britain/France, in more less that order. None of these nations target children nor use child soldiers; it is the terrorist that use civilians for cover, including children. How about the UN doing one on the global terrorists regimes, who sooner or later become/remain presidents for life, of some of the conflicted areas, and the way children are not protected.

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by: Peter from: Miami,USA

February 10, 2013 9:16 PM

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Interesting that we have a huge croc tear fest when some children are killed in white middle class America while children around the world are killed and maimed by the hundreds of thousands as a result of American foreign policy and corporate agenda. The children killed by the madman recently is heartbreaking, I agree. But when I see the number of children living in poverty in our own country and abroad, and the number killed directly and indirectly for our "National interest" whatever that is, it's beyond understanding. And then there are the kids hobbling around in their millions missing limbs and worse.
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by: Bluey from: Australia

February 09, 2013 7:50 PM

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There will aways exist, especially in Western Europe, remnants of the long defeated cause of socialist solidarity. A solidarity that aligns itself with right wing religious terrorists and any faction calling for the destruction of Israel ( or any other Jews ). There is always the element that denies the fact that the terrorists always hide behind women and small children. That Islamists plant bombs only where they can kill the most Muslims. That being where the women congregate with their children. There is also the fact that America is the "Great Satan" to all of those in Europe who saw their dreams of proletariat's dictatorship dashed when the "Wall" came down.

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