Psychological Warfare in Afghanistan

Atrocities committed under US Command
by John Martinkus

October 21, 2005
SBS Australia Dateline (Transcript)

Since September 11, we've all become uncomfortably familiar with names like Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib, Fallujah, and maybe even Bagram in Afghanistan. They're all places we now associate with human rights violations or worse-- military atrocities and possibly potential war crimes. You can add another place to that list: Gonbaz in southern Afghanistan, about a 100km from the former Taliban stronghold of Kandahar. In recent months, the former Muslim extremist Taliban and their al Qa'ida allies have launched more attacks against US forces than at any time since the Americans first invaded in 2001.

Earlier this month, Dateline's John Martinkus was in Afghanistan to cover their elections, but his story tonight actually starts with some startling footage from another Australian, photojournalist Stephen Dupont, who, while he was embedded with the Americans, managed to record some of the grotesque tactics being used by Australia's allies in that part of the world. Dateline should warn you that this report does include some pretty disturbing scenes, particularly for any Muslim viewers.

I chose not to view the film. You can find it by searching John Martinkus.