NATO Air strike Accidentally kills two civilians

Nation
Accidentally
Targets
Orphans.


Accidental
Incidents,
Rightfully.


Strategic
Tragedy
Rampant.
I
Know
Everything


The New York Times recently published an article online about a NATO Air Strike that didn't go quite as planned, resulting in the death of two civilians in Kabul, Afghanistan. The article brought a question to mind, that I will attempt to put across to all of you. 

Let's decide their intent

Based on reputation

And the enemy

By the same brush

Alright - NATO blows two civilians away while they were walking past the target they were preparing to eliminate. Lets assume for a moment that the roles have been switched, shall we? Imagine the article read that two civilians has been killed by a botched Afghani air strike. What would the reaction be?

I can't guarantee anything, but I'm pretty sure there'd be a damn site more of an uproar. Think about it. Allied forces get taken into custody by the "enemy", and the entire Western world hears about it in volumes. What we don't ask is how many of the "enemy" have been captured, brutalized and murdered by the Allies. Is it somehow easier, more acceptable to believe that NATO made an honest mistake than it would be to believe that the "enemy" had done the same?

I'm not saying anyone's right or wrong, here... I am simply wondering where we should draw the line. I am saddened that those civilians lost their lives to military inaccuracy, and I wish their families well. 

The plight of women

Rape - Arguably the most reprehensible of crimes. Rampant and seemingly unstoppable, this crime of violent hatred leaves it's vile stain each passing day. Rape.co.za is an astounding site, full of some truly horrifying figures. I quote:

It is estimated that a woman born in South Africa has a greater chance of being raped than learning how to read.

 I have been reading up on the subject lately and would like to offer the resulting poetry, posted first on my twitter account as #micropoetry, as the beginnings of my wish to see an end to this plague.

One way journey

From the state of her hair

Via inter-

coarse abrasions

To the state of her mind

Recklessly defiled

---

She flees

Chased by trauma

Chaste by the river

No more

---

Absorbing tears

My chest

My arms

Her sobbing

---

So many women have been touched by the brutality of such an attack. Many remain silent - perhaps fearful of the consequences. We need to push for greater support systems, increased efforts to protect our women and a system whereby these crimes can be reported and resolved, providing much needed closure for an abused soul. What can we do?

Opening thoughts

I live in a country where anything goes, and statistically very little is known about the full goings on. The vast majority of crimes go unpunished, aren't investigated and don't technically get recognized as crime. I live in a country that allows two days for victims to report a crime, until the police can no longer take action. This is South Africa. My temporary home.