Bombing Afghanistan for the Greater Good

4 US naval special force or SEALs in the mountains of Afghanistan radio-ed for help. A Chinook helicopter with another 8 SEALs was sent to either reinforce or extract the original 4 SEALs. The helicopter was shot down with all on board killed. Of the 4 SEALs on the ground, 2 were killed immediately while two were missing for a while. Only 1 survived after he was found injured by locals and subsequently cared for, while the other has finally been found but unfortunately dead.

Now the story has emerged that they were shot down because they were getting close to either Osama bin Laden or Mullah Muhammed Omar the Taliban chief.

However, between the two paragraphs above, something is missing. Come on, readers, guess what?

OK, the USAF bombed the area as part of the efforts to secure safety for the missing soldier, who however is now dead. Well, bloody tough luck if the village of Chechal happened to be in the way of the bombing. 17 Afghan villagers including women and children perished from the USAF onslaught.

If we insert the paragraph just above as the 2nd paragraph, and then expand the 3rd paragraph a wee bit to allow the US military to say:

“That was why it was imperative that the USAF bombarded the area as widely as it possibly could. The killing of Osama bid Laden or Mullah Muhammed Omar has to be considered as a greater good that, if necessary, justifies the sacrifice of the 17 villagers. As always, the US military has acted with absolute care.”

Amen.