Two Children Killed in Afghanistan by NATO Forces

THIS JUST IN — horrific news from our friends in Kabul. Over the weekend two kids, age 7 and 8, were killed by NATO forces while herding cattle in the Uruzgan Province in Afghanistan. 

The Afghan Peace Volunteers, with whom Shane visited a few weeks ago, took to the streets in nonviolent protest.

They were accompanied by a couple of cows, as a reminder of the innocence of these children who were killed alongside their livestock. 

They carried signs that read: “We are those 2 children.”  Here is a video they sent us:

Here’s a quote from their response to the killings: “We have woken up, and we detest the method of mutual killing in war that the leaders of the world have adopted. We say, with due respect to the leaders, but with no respect for their, or any, act of violence, 'We are very wrong. You are very wrong … We cannot go on resolving conflicts this warring way.'

NATO has issued an apology.

The Afghan Peace Volunteers responded to the apology of NATO Commander General Joseph Dunford by saying, “We are tired of ‘sorries’.” 

Here are their own words: We don’t want ‘sorry-s.’ We want an end to all killing. We want to live without war. We want all warriors to run back anxiously to their own homes, and fling their arms around their sons and daughters, their grandsons and grand-daughters, and say, 'We love you and will never participate in the killing of any child or human being again.'

Shane Claiborne is a Red Letter Christian and a founding partner of The Simple Way community, a radical faith community that lives among and serves the homeless in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. He is the co-author, with Chris Haw, of Jesus for President.