Afghanistan to free most inmates seen by U.S. as threat

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Afghanistan to free most inmates seen by U.S. as threat

KABUL Thu Jan 9, 2014 2:28pm EST

(Reuters) - Afghanistan has enough evidence to try only 16 of 88 prisoners that the United States considers a threat to security and plans to free the remaining detainees, the president's spokesman said on Thursday.

The move will further strain relations between the two countries that are already near breaking point over President Hamid Karzai's refusal to sign a security deal to shape the U.S. military presence after most foreign troops leave this year.

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The United States is strongly opposed to their release because it says the prisoners, being held in Afghanistan, have been involved in the wounding or killing of U.S. and coalition troops.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Thursday the United States considers 72 of those detainees dangerous.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/09/us-afghanistan-usa-idUSBREA080RD20140109

[gtar100]

1. I wonder how many of these dangerous people had family members killed by US troops.

Our military leaders would do well to remember that terrorism doesn't happen in a vacuum. Military action against terrorism doesn't address the root of the problem. Poverty and oppression are at the heart of the problem. This isn't to excuse their atrocities, only to point out that if we don't address the root causes, the problem of terrorism will not go away. And kicking people while they are down only exasperates the problem. If only we had more thoughtful leaders instead of the load of opportunistic jerks we have to deal with now...

[unhappycamper]

2. When your only tool is a hammer,

everything looks like a nail.