http://www.boston.com/news/daily/16/attacks_redcross.htm

International Red Cross compound hit by U.S. jets

By Associated Press, 10/16/01

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The compound of the International Committee of the Red Cross was struck Tuesday by a U.S. bomb which destroyed wheat and other humanitarian supplies, committee officials and witnesses said. One Afghan security guard was injured.

"Two depots of the Red Cross were destroyed," ICRC security chief Mullah Rohani said as he stood before the smoking compound in northern Kabul. "We are very sad because these things belong to the people."

Afghan staff of the ICRC tried to salvage some of the goods stored in one warehouse. They covered their faces with cloth and rushed into the cloud of billowing black smoke, emerging later with blankets, medicines and tents.

A second warehouse that housed wheat was burning from the same attack.

In Islamabad, Pakistan, ICRC spokesman Mario Musa confirmed that the compound was hit Tuesday afternoon and that one security guard outside the second warehouse was injured.

He said the roof of the building was marked with the Red Cross symbol.

Also Tuesday, three farmers in the Badam Bagh area of Kabul were injured when bombs fell nearby, according to a neighborhood shopkeeper, who did not give his name.

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001

Answers

Long as nobody was killed and it wasn't the Chinese embassy. We can replace the supplies shortly.

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001

guess the bomber forgot his glasses?

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001

dyslectic GIS operator?

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001

Or maybe the Taliban blew them up. . .

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001

In a war, $hitty things happen. This is a really $hitty war so really $hitty things will continue to happen.

Tears over blankets and wheat are surprisingly misplaced. Better they go for the thousands of American families who are now missing loved ones.

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001

http://www.boston.com/news/daily/16/attacks_redcross.htm

Red Cross condemns strike on Kabul warehouse No confirmation that US bombed the site

KABUL - A warehouse operated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the centre of the Afghan capital was struck on Tuesday, prompting a furious reaction from officials who said it was clearly a civilian facility. However, it is not yet clear whether two US bombs hit the structure, or whether it was Taliban anti-aircraft fire.

Rescue workers and Afghan ICRC employees raced to try to put out the blaze with fire extinguishers, but at least 35 percent of the food and other equipment stored at the facility were destroyed, witnesses and officials said.

An ICRC worker was slightly wounded by flying glass in the raid, witnesses said.

"It is definitely a civilian target. In addition to that, it is a clearly marked ICRC warehouse," said Robert Moni, head of the ICRC delegation in Kabul and now evacuated to Pakistan.

"It is marked on the top with a red cross. People should take all necessary measures to avoid such things," he said.

All aid agencies withdrew their international staff after the ruling Taliban said they could no longer guarantee their security in the face of attacks by U.S. warplanes.

The ICRC had already complained to U.S. embassy in Islamabad and the Geneva headquarters had complained formally to the U.S. mission there, he said.

"We have to evaluate the damage and how it will affect our work," said Macarena Aguilar, an ICRC spokeswoman in Geneva.

"Of course we regret what has happened. This was not a legitimate target."

Another ICRC's representative told Reuters that two bombs landed on the complex.

"We have a warehouse compound with five buildings," said Pascal Duport, deputy head of the ICRC mission in Kabul until the organisation pulled out all its foreign staff.

"One was hit by two bombs. A fire started and apparently the fire brigade got control of the fire but I can't tell you if it was stopped.

"Another building was touched by the fire but it was saved. It (the building hit) contained humanitarian assistance -- wheat, oil, blankets and so on. We think it is only partially affected."

U.S. defense officials Tuesday said they were checking reports that the Red Cross building was bombed by the U.S.

"We've heard the reports and we're looking into it," Pentagon spokeswoman Victoria Clarke told a media briefing.

"I have no confirmation at this time. As we get some more information, we'll let you know," she added.

Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold, director of operations for the military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the U.S. military used two Air Force Special Forces AC-130 gunships in operations Monday but declined to identify the targets.

He said the missions of the four-engine turbo-prop aircraft "were for specific purposes" but would not say at which locations they were used.

U.S. strikes Monday hit 12 target areas that included "a terrorist camp and a training area," Newbold said.

The bombing struck air fields, aircraft, and anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missile sites, he added.

"We struck the Taliban forces in a robust way that included troop and vehicle staging areas, some storage and maintenance sheds," Newbold said.

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001

Fox reported that the Pentagon has admitted two 1,000lb bombs fell on the warehouses. They were led to believe the Taliban were storing supplies there.

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001

I heard that we had credible info showing the Taliban was using buildings in the area. I wouldn't put it past them to paint a red cross on theirs in hopes of hiding that way.

-- Anonymous, October 17, 2001