The Next Abu Ghraib?

I generally don't cover much about Afghanistan, but I felt this merited an exception.  By now you've probably heard about the attacks in Afghanistan that are in response to alleged Qur'an burnings in the US.  There was a Qur'an burned, but apparently the story grew in Afghanistan and people began rioting and killing.  The whole incident is deplorable, but a new scandal has been brewing and things could get even worse.

This is the first I had heard about it, but FireDogLake has an article describing the situation.  Der Spiegel has been researching the incidents and has produced a documentary [this documentary is supposed to be very graphic] about it.  Members of the 5th Stryker Brigade in Afghanistan formed a "kill team" and went around killing innocent Afghanis.  For no reason.  Just because they could and it was "fun."  I want to state right here that most American soldiers are not like that.  This "kill team" is an aberration.  But these 12 men killed innocent civilians for fun and then took photos of the bodies.  They are now being tried for war crimes in a US military court.

Middle East Mess

Well, things continue to get interestinger and interestinger. Lots of news from Turkey:

• The EU wants more than just the blockade lifted.
  

• Istanbul has decided to become the sister-city of Gaza.
  

• A coalition of groups is still planning a new flotilla.

• It's becoming harder to defend human rights in Israel. (This reminds me of life under George W. Bush. "You don't like torture - you're un-American, you traitor.")
  

• The President of Syria things Israel is raising the risk of another Middle East war. (Remember, you heard it here first.)
  

More Flotillas on the way!

Well, things are getting interesting again:

Juan Cole links to an article about a German Jewish group that is sending its own aid flotilla to Gaza. I wonder how they'll be treated.

According to Hurriyet Daily News (Turkey), Iran is sending 3 Red Crescent ships to Gaza as well. The Red Crescent is the Islamic version of the Red Cross, so that's fine. But the first 2 ships are orchestrating their moves with Turkey, and should arrive by the end of this week. This scares me. Iran and Israel have no love for each other, and are always verbally sniping. I simply cannot see Israel allowing 2 Iranian ships through their blockade. And I can't see these Iranian ships peaceably allowing Israel on board to search for contraband. This looks like a big disaster just waiting to happen. I know that in the past, an Iranian Red Crescent ship was turned away without repercussions. But the ante has been upped by the deaths of at least 9 peace activists on the Mavi Marmara. Iran isn't just randomly deciding that now is a good time to send some aid ships. They are sending a message, to Israel and to the world.

This could be the straw that starts a war between Iran and Israel. And throw Turkey into the mix too. Turkey has a huge military, and could probably march down to Israel. Iran has a large military and missiles. Israel has nukes. Syria is always hanging around the edges, too. Egypt depends upon US and Israeli good will, but a matter of honor could push it into the mix. Could this be the start of another war: Arab-Israeli War 2010? Is that what it will take before anything changes?