2007 Shinwar shooting

Alleged killing of a number of Afghan civilians June 2026 November 2019 The Shinwar Shooting or Shinwar Massacre was the killing of a number of Afghan civilians on 4 March 2007, in the village of Spinpul,Carlotta Gall Carlotta Gall The Wrong Enemy: America in Afghanistan, 2001–2014 https://archive.org/details/wrongenemyameric0000gall registration 8 April 2014 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 978-0-544-04568-2 115 The thirty-man platoon was hit by a suicide car bomb in the midst of heavy traffic at a village called Spinpul. in the Shinwar District of the Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan. United States Marines, fleeing the scene of a car bomb attack and ambush by Afghan militants, fired on people and vehicles surrounding them, according to initial reports, killing as many as 19 civilians and injuring around 50 more. A later U.S. Navy investigation found that between 5 and 7 adult men were killed, and 2 civilians, a 16-year-old boy and a woman, were injured. However, the exact figures remain unknown, as U.S. Military Police did not find any dead or wounded civilians when they arrived 30 minutes after the shooting. The United States Marine Corps began an internal inquiry in January 2008. In May, "no criminal charges were brought against any officer, although some did receive an "administrative reprimand." All involved troops were subsequently issued Combat Action Ribbons, and one gunner was issued a Purple Heart. The report was condemned by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and by the United Nations mission in Afghanistan. Further revelations in 2010 led employees of Amnesty International and the International Bar Association to assert that there was prima facie, or superficial evidence that international humanitarian law had been violated, but could not speculate further without knowing the details of the inquiry. In 2019 the Board for Correction of Naval Records recommended the platoon's Marine commander be retroactively promoted to lieutenant colonel with back pay, and the board criticized the 2007 senior commanders who failed to "respond appropriately to an enemy information operation and stand by the troops." Sequence of events On 4 March 2007, Haji Ihsanullah, a member of Hezb-i Islami Khalis (or the Tora Bora Military Front, depending on source), drove a minivan laden with explosives into one of the vehicles making up a U.S. military convoy, which included either three or six Humvees. A U.S. Marine was injured. Sources differ on whether hidden gunmen then also opened fire on the convoy. The Marines fled the area, firing on some vehicles for between 6 and 16 miles while driving along the Afghan street. According to several witnesses and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, the U.S. Marines' response to the car bombing included indiscriminate firing at passing civilians on the busy highway. They asserted that elderly men, women and children were killed. Akhtyar Gul, a local reporter who witnessed the shooting, claimed that the Marines sprayed civilians with machine gun fire even though the Marines were not under attack. According to Associated Press and Afghan journalists, U.S. troops confiscated photos and videos of the incident and its aftermath. A freelance photographer working for the Associated Press claimed that two Marines and a translator asked him: "Why are you taking pictures? You don't have permission." Another photographer claimed that he had been told by U.S. troops through an interpreter: "Delete them [your photos], or we will delete you." Afghan response The killings were followed by widespread protests across Afghanistan and drew sharp criticism from President Hamid Karzai. The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission's report asserted that: "In failing to distinguish between civilians and legitimate military targets, the U.S. Marine Corps Special Operators employed indiscriminate force. Their actions thus constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian standards." Aftermath Major General Frank Kearney, head of the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), ordered the entire 120-member unit out of Afghanistan pending an investigation into the incident and announced that there was no evidence supporting the Marines' story that they had come under fire. The unit's commander and senior officer were relieved of their duties on 3 April 2007 and reassigned to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Kearney's order to have the unit depart Afghanistan was later found by the Department of Defense's Inspector General to be within his authority and reasonable. Compensation payments of $2,000 each were paid to the families of those killed or wounded;Cloud David S. 9 May 2007 U.S. Pays and Apologizes to Kin of Afghans Killed by Marines https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/world/asia/09afghan.html The New York Times 27 May 2015 In a videoconference to reporters at the Pentagon, he added, "We made official apologies on the part of the U.S. government" and paid $2,000 for each death. overall more than fifty Afghans received compensation payments.Talton Trista 15 January 2008 Payments to Afghans detailed at MarSOC inquiry http://archive.navytimes.com/article/20080115/NEWS/801150317/Payments-Afghans-detailed-MarSOC-inquiry Navy Times 1 June 2015 April 2019 medicmedic Investigation and inquiry The shooting came under investigation by both Afghanistan and the United States. On 12 April 2007, an initial investigation headed by a United States Air Force colonel was conducted, endorsed by a United States Army general.deGrandpre Andrew 3 April 2015 Task Force Violent: The unforgiven http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/04/03/task-force-violent-part-5/24310609/ Military Times 27 May 2015 Zucchino David 26 January 2008 Marine Humvee was shot at, Army expert testifies https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jan-26-na-inquiry26-story.html Los Angeles Times Mero, who examined the Humvee within two days of the March 4 incident, said he was pressured by the Air Force colonel in charge of the investigation to alter his conclusions. 27 May 2015 It determined that the Marines used "excessive force when they killed civilians after a suicide bombing" and referred the case to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service for a criminal inquiry; the investigation occurred two months after the shootings, with investigators only able to study the site of the shooting for an hour.Associated Press Navy: No Proof to Marines' Ambush Story http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,160066,00.html Navy: No Proof to Marines' Ambush Story 15 January 2008 1 June 2015 The New York Times of 20 April 2007 included an article asserting that the shooting was similar to the Haditha massacre. The Pentagon issued a formal apology for the incident on 7 May 2007. "This was a terrible, terrible mistake," said U.S. Army Colonel John Nicholson, "and my nation grieves with you for your loss and suffering. We humbly and respectfully ask for your forgiveness." Nicholson commanded Task Force Spartan, whose area of operation as defined by ISAF Regional Command East included the area of the shooting.Zucchino David 24 January 2008 Army colonel again criticizes Marine unit https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jan-24-na-inquiry24-story.html Los Angeles Times 27 May 2015Talton Trista Naylor Sean D. 15 February 2008 The story of 'Task Force Violence' http://archive.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20080215/NEWS/802150317/The-story-8216-Task-Force-Violence- Marine Corps Times 27 May 2008 This was dismissed as premature by General James T. Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, who said: "I would just as soon that no one ... apologize or talk about 'terrible, terrible mistakes'." James Mattis, then a Marine Corps lieutenant general, ordered a court of inquiry to be held. The court at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, formally investigated the incident in January 2008, hearing from more than 50 witnesses, including Afghans, over 17 days. Much of the testimony was characterized as "vague and contradictory". The four Marines who had fired their weapons did not testify—according to Declan Walsh, writing in The Guardian of London, "because they had not been granted immunity from prosecution". During the court of inquiry, Colonel Nicholson stated the Marines did not coordinate their operations with his command when conducting operations and that the Marines' failure to remain at the scene of the attack amounted to failing to "preserve evidence", according to David Zucchino of the Los Angeles Times. Marines who had been present testified that they had been forced to leave the scene by a "complex ambush". One Marine testified that not all Marines in the convoy returned fire against those ambushing the convoy—return fire, he said, was limited to some gunners. This Marine elaborated that the gunners were ordered to cease fire some minutes later by a Marine captain. Associated Press Ex-Marine testifies in Afghan deaths tribunal https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22561378 NBC News 8 January 2008 1 June 2015 Thompson Estes 9 January 2008 Civilians died needlessly, former marine tells court of inquiry http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2008/01/09/civilians-died-needlessly-former-marine-tells-court-of-inquiry Welland Tribune Canada 1 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104654/http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2008/01/09/civilians-died-needlessly-former-marine-tells-court-of-inquiry 4 March 2016 dead Testimony by Afghans, including an Afghan police lieutenant colonel, and a 1980s mujahideen commander, contradicted the testimony of the Marines.Meek James Gordon 21 February 2013 Helped U.S. Win Cold War; Marines Killed His Family http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/helped-u-s-win-cold-war-marines-killed-family-blog-entry-1.1661323 New York Daily News 1 June 2015 Zucchino David 23 January 2008 2 Afghans testify in Marine inquiry https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jan-23-na-inquiry23-story.html Los Angeles Times 1 June 2015 Nicholson testified that thirty minutes after U.S. Marines left the area, other U.S. troops arrived at the location of the minivan attack and found no dead or wounded Afghans. He speculated that this might be because Afghans collect and bury their dead quickly in line with Islamic tradition, but also acknowledged that Taliban insurgents often fake or exaggerate civilian deaths, stating "That's why it's so important for us to stay on the scene." According to one of the Marines' defence lawyers, Mark Waple, an investigation by the U.S. Navy estimated that the number of people killed was between five and seven, all adult men; Waple continued that despite the prior claims of massacred women and children, witness statements attested only to a wounded 16-year-old boy and a woman with an injured hand.Zucchino David 30 January 2008 Marine court hears dueling depictions of accused https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jan-30-na-inquiry30-story.html Los Angeles Times 1 June 2015 He said the U.S. military made payments to the families of 17 dead listed by the governor, but a later Navy investigation put the number of dead at five to seven. And despite reports that children and women had been killed, Waple said, testimony produced only a wounded 16-year-old boy and a woman with a hand injury. In May 2008, the court of inquiry concluded that they had "acted appropriately and in accordance with the rules of engagement and tactics, techniques and procedures in place at the time in response to a complex attack." Testimony to the inquiry was classified and not released, and the 12,000-page report was not published. In March 2015, excerpts of the "key conclusions" were published in the Military Times.deGrandpre Andrew 19 March 2015 Task Force Violent: The unforgiven http://www.militarytimes.com/longform/military/2015/03/19/task-force-violent-part-3/24309667/ Military Times 27 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150521234059/http://www.militarytimes.com/longform/military/2015/03/19/task-force-violent-part-3/24309667/ 21 May 2015 dead No criminal charges were brought, although "some officers" did receive an "administrative reprimand". The court of inquiry recommended judicial and/or administrative actions be taken upon two Marine captains and two enlisted Marines.Talton Trista 28 June 2008 MarSOC report: More investigation needed http://archive.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20080628/NEWS/806280311/MarSOC-report-More-investigation-neededJune Marine Corps Times 27 May 2015 The verdict infuriated the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission. Kubra Aman, a member of the Afghan House of Elders from Nangarhar, said "I am very angry. This is too much." The decision was also criticised by the United Nations mission in Afghanistan, whose spokesperson Aleem Siddique said "It is disappointing that no one has been held accountable for these deaths". The two Marine captains were later "cleared of wrongdoing", according to the Marine Corps Times.Seck Hope Hodge 21 February 2015 MARSOC remains a growing, changing force after 9 years http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/2015/02/21/marsoc-at-9-anniversary/23607665/ Marine Corps Times 27 May 2015 More than a year after the court of inquiry concluded, Marines involved received Combat Action Ribbons, and an injured turret gunner was awarded the Purple Heart.https://www.militarytimes.com/special-projects/task-force-violent/2015/03/20/task-force-violent-the-unforgiven-part-3/ Task Force Violent: The unforgiven | Part 3 12 February 2018 In 2010, Mark Ellis of the International Bar Association told Channel 4 News of the UK that based on the Afghan War documents leak, "there is prima facie evidence from the military log that suggests the troops could be investigated for war crimes" but that legal hurdles would probably prevent a hearing before the International Criminal Court. Sam Zafiri of Amnesty International took a similar line, saying that "There is certainly prima facie evidence of violations of international humanitarian law ... It's not so much about whether an investigation into what happened at Jalalabad is re-opened, but rather publish what the U.S. military did investigate, who they talked to, what were the results and how did they arrive at the decision they came to." In March 2015, the Military Times published a series of articles about the incident, written by Andrew deGrandpre. Fred Galvin, who commanded the Marine unit at the time of the incident, said that despite being cleared by the court of inquiry, he and his men thought that their side of the story had not been properly publicised and that they still felt they were stigmatised as a result of the accusations. Although cleared of wrongdoing, members of the unit were adversely affected by the perception of the event.deGrandpre Andrew 16 February 2017 The military blackballed these Marines. Four congressmen are fighting to restore their honor http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/marines-fox-company-walter-jones-task-force-violent-marsoc-fred-galvin MilitaryTimes Sightline Media Group Springfield, Virginia 17 March 2017 2019 Retroactive promotions In January 2019, the Board for Correction of Naval Records reported that Major Fred Galvin (USMC retired) should be promoted to lieutenant colonel and given back pay. The board found "The ambush of 4 March 2007 was not a tactical "misstep". The board found the convoy's response was irreproachable and found no fault relative to the Marines' conduct and performance. The only misstep was the inability or unwillingness of senior U.S. leaders to respond appropriately to an enemy information operation and stand by the troops until competent evidence was gathered."https://thenewsrep.com/112457/breaking-us-navy-to-fix-what-the-marine-corps-wouldnt-by-clearing-marsoc-fox-company-commander-of-false-accusations-of-war-crimes/ Breaking: US Navy to fix what the Marine Corps wouldn't by clearing MARSOC Fox Company commander from false accusations of war crimes 7 January 2019 See also Civilian casualties in the war in Afghanistan (2001–present) Coalition casualties in Afghanistan Command responsibility International Security Assistance Force Taliban insurgency List of massacres in Afghanistan References 30em Prince Stephen 13 August 2013 Firestorm: American Film in the Age of Terrorism https://books.google.com/books?id=SPgcyGainyYC&pg=PA210 Columbia University Press 210 978-0231148702 6 May 2015 2009 South Asia Defence and Strategic Year Book https://books.google.com/books?id=BksqAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Shinwar+massacre%22 Panchsheel 254 6 May 2015 Tucker Spencer C. 8 October 2010 Encyclopedia of Middle East Wars, The: The United States in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts https://archive.org/details/encyclopediamidd00tuck registration ABC-CLIO 1368 9781851099481 Danes Kay 2010 Beneath the Pale Blue Burqa: One Woman's Journey Through Taliban Strongholds https://books.google.com/books?id=ANy3sflK14UC&pg=PT110 Big Sky Publishing 110 978-0980658286 6 May 2015 Talton Trista Naylor Sean D. The story of 'Task Force Violence' http://archive.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20080215/NEWS/802150317/The-story-8216-Task-Force-Violence- Marine Times 15 February 2008 6 May 2015 https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/23/AR2007032301721.html Marine Unit Is Told To Leave Afghanistan Ann Scott Tyson Washington Post 23 March 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20110821215903/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/23/AR2007032301721.html 21 August 2011 live 11 September 2009 Declan Walsh Afghanistan war logs: How US marines sanitised record of bloodbath The Guardian 26 July 2010 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jul/26/afghanistan-war-logs-us-marines 26 July 2010 London https://web.archive.org/web/20100729013421/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/26/afghanistan-war-logs-us-marines 29 July 2010 live Associated Press 4 March 2007 Wounded Afghans say U.S. forces fired on civilians after suicide bomb http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-03-04-afghans-civilians_N.htm USA Today United States 6 May 2015 U.S. forces flee Afghan ambush firing wildly http://www.currentargus.com/ci_5356692 https://web.archive.org/web/20110708213603/http://www.currentargus.com/ci_5356692 8 July 2011 dead 3 May 2007 11 September 2009 Current-Argus Faiez Rahim Iqbal, Anwar (16 April 2007) "Marines killed civilians in Afghanistan: report", Dawn.com Bright, Arthur (16 April 2007) "Pentagon inquiry finds US Marine unit killed Afghan civilians. Csmonitor, 16 April 2007 "U.S. investigating reports of Afghan civilians killed by its military forces ", AlaskaReportJune 2017 InternetArchiveBot yes , 5 March 2007 World Almanac of Islamism 2011 https://books.google.com/books?id=5oLNv7_tB9MC&pg=PA827 Rowman & Littlefield 978-1-4422-0714-1 827 2011 http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070415/NEWS/704150407/1039 Marines Accused in Afghanistan Slayings Carlotta Gall The New York Times 15 April 2007 17 April 2007 30 September 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070930153621/http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070415/NEWS/704150407/1039 dead "US Seizes Afghan Shooting Footage https://web.archive.org/web/20080116123210/http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FBF1B06D-723D-4A91-BF4D-5B65984D9AB4.htm 16 January 2008 ", Al Jazeera English, 6 March 2007 http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-03-04-voa5.cfm US Revises Downward Number of Civilians Killed in Afghan Convoy Attack VOA News dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070306205119/http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-03-04-voa5.cfm 6 March 2007 22 March 2012 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6556721.stm US 'excessive' in Afghan attack BBC News 15 April 2007 16 March 2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6419235.stm US 'erased Afghan attack footage' BBC News 5 March 2007 18 April 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070315223447/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6419235.stm 15 March 2007 live Kevin Baker War in Afghanistan https://books.google.com/books?id=7CbCAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA221 2011 Rosenberg Publishing Pty, Limited 978-1-921719-39-4 221 http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/04/marine_specops_investigation070411/ 11 April 2007 Probe: Spec ops Marines used excessive force – Navy News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports – Navy Times Navytimes.com 3 March 2012 http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/15/africa/afghan.php https://web.archive.org/web/20070415174226/http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/15/africa/afghan.php dead Rights group assails U.S. marines in killings of Afghans – International Herald Tribune 15 April 2007 Michael Haas George W. Bush, War Criminal?: The Bush Administration's Liability for 269 War Crimes https://books.google.com/books?id=-DR-1TjtUcEC 2009 ABC-CLIO 978-0-313-36499-0 53 Investigation began in early 2008 for those involved in the Shinwar massacre. Six Marines were granted immunity to testify. Their testimony served to exonerate those not granted immunity, thereby infuriating Afghanistan's human rights commission. 6 June 2008 Many Afghans outraged at US decision on Marines http://newsok.com/many-afghans-outraged-at-us-decision-on-marines/article/3198653 Associated Press NewsOK 6 May 2015 http://www.dodig.mil/foia/ERR/H07L105376221%20Locked.pdf H07L105376221 10 July 2008 Office of Inspector General United States Department of Defense 6 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150923010835/http://www.dodig.mil/foia/err/H07L105376221%20Locked.pdf 23 September 2015 dead Probe backs commander who removed Marine unit http://www.whec.com/article/stories/S71828.shtml?cat=10036 WHEC Rochester, New York Associated Press 16 September 2008 6 May 2015 20 August 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170820195521/http://www.whec.com/article/stories/S71828.shtml?cat=10036 dead http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article1654878.ece US troops accused of killing civilians Sarah Baxter The Sunday Times London 15 April 2007 17 April 2007 September 2024 medicmedic https://www.cbsnews.com/news/9-afghan-civilians-killed-in-nato-strike/ CBS News 9 Afghan Civilians Killed in NATO Strike 5 March 2007 23 December 2008 http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1176152775203&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Probe: US Marines killed civilians in Afghanistan | Jerusalem Post Fr.jpost.com 3 February 2012 3 March 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110917133717/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1176152775203&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull 17 September 2011 http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/05/08/us.afghan.apology/index.html 8 May 2007 CNN Pentagon apologizes for deaths of Afghan civilians 22 April 2010 Nicholson John 8 May 2007 DoD News Briefing with Col. Nicholson from Afghanistan http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=3959 United States Department of Defense 27 May 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150528054051/http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=3959 28 May 2015 http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,136157,00.html Conway Condemns Afghanistan Apology Christian Lowe 18 May 2007 Military.com 3 March 2012 Talton Trista 11 October 2007 Court of inquiry ordered in spec-ops case http://archive.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20071011/NEWS/710110303/Court-inquiry-ordered-spec-ops-case Marine Times Gannett 6 May 2015 Marine Corps unit cleared in Afghan shootout David Zucchino LA Times 24 May 2008 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-may-24-na-convoy24-story.html 10 September 2009 von Zeilbauer Paul Killings of Afghan Civilians Recall Haditha https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/20/world/asia/20abuse.html The New York Times 20 April 2015 5 May 2015 Jepson Kris Afghan shootings raise war crimes question http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/international_politics/afghanistan+shootings+raise+war+crimes+question/3725277.html Channel 4 London 27 July 2010 5 May 2015 http://www.militarytimes.com/topic/93164e61-4723-43bb-a7e0-4511c1e534fd/task-force-violent/ Task Force Violent: The Unforgiven deGrandpre Andrew 2015 Military Times Garnett 5 May 2015 "Marine court hears dueling depictions of accused https://web.archive.org/web/20231109225823/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jan-30-na-inquiry30-story.html 9 November 2023 ", Los Angeles Times, 30 January 2008 "Army colonel again criticizes Marine unit https://web.archive.org/web/20231109225833/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jan-24-na-inquiry24-story.html 9 November 2023 ", Los Angeles Times, 24 January 2008 External links EagleOne Commander Salamander Andrew deGrandpre Episode 278: Betrayal, leadership, loyalty, and redemption: Task Force VIOLENT Midrats BlogTalkRadio United States Naval Institute 3 May 2015 http://blog.usni.org/2015/05/01/on-midrats-3-may-2015-episode-278-betrayal-leadership-loyalty-and-redemption-task-force-violent 5 May 2015 Category:2007 massacres in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Category:March 2007 in Afghanistan Category:Civilian casualties in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Category:Massacres committed by the United States Category:United States war crimes in Afghanistan Category:United States Marine Corps Category:21st century in Nangarhar Province