Actually, the Taliban was responsible for the US Air Force’s leveling of a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Afghanistan, according to one Republican Senator.
Although the internationally-renowned non-profit said no militants were present in the Kunduz hospital, reported calling the US military with an urgent request to cease fire mid-bombardment, and has described the incident as an American war crime—one that killed 22 civilians, including patients and staff—Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has other ideas.
“The Taliban like our enemies in Iraq, like Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas in Gaza, intentionally target civilians—and intentionally use civilians as shields,” he alleged on Tuesday during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.
“Is there anyone at root to blame for this incident other than the Taliban for going into a civilian area and fighting among civilian targets?” Cotton asked Gen. John Campbell, the sole witness and the commander of US troops in Afghanistan.
The commander, who, himself, a day earlier, claimed that the Taliban’s tactics put “civilians at significant risk of harm,” declined to respond to the question, noting the existence of ongoing inquiries. The Department of Defense, NATO, and the Government of Afghanistan are all probing the incident.
Cotton then went on to discuss the feelings of US personnel involved in the mass killing.
“Do you think there’s anyone who regrets this incident more than the pilots of that aircraft?” he asked.
“Every soldier, sailor, airman, marine, if they’re involved in something like this, that hurts,” Gen. Campbell responded.
Campbell also on Tuesday again described the attack as a “mistake.”
The Afghan Ministry of Defense and other unnamed Afghan officials, however, have said that the hospital was targeted because it was being used by Taliban fighters. Doctors Without Borders has described these allegations as justification for a war crime.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) asked if Gen. Campbell would support a fully independent investigation into the matter—which has been requested by Doctors Without Borders.
“I have trust and confidence in the folks that will do the investigation for NATO, the folks that will do the investigation for DOD, and then the Afghan partners,” Campbell responded.
He added that he would defer to senior personnel in the department to authorize an independent probe.
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), however, cautioned against any new inquiries into the hospital strike. “I certainly don’t think an additional investigation by the UN would be warranted or welcomed by this committee,” he said.
