RAF leaflet box kills Afghan girl

[Guest PerArduaAdAstra]

I'm honestly not sure how to react to this story on the BBC website. Should I express dismay at the unfortunate and sad death that resulted, or should I laugh quietly and think they have some kind of shit-hot bomb aiming gear on that C130? And what are the odds of this happening?

link

RAF leaflet box kills Afghan girl

The Ministry of Defence is investigating the death of a young Afghan girl who died after being hit by a box of leaflets dropped by the RAF.

The information leaflets were dropped in boxes from an RAF Hercules aircraft in Helmand province on 23 June.

The box failed to break apart in mid-air and landed on top of the girl who died later in hospital.

The MoD said it deeply regretted the "tragic incident", and a full investigation was under way.

A spokesman said the public information leaflets were dropped by the C130 Hercules in a rural area. The boxes are supposed to open in mid-air, scattering the leaflets over a wide area.

The unopened box seriously injured the girl who was treated at a local hospital in Kandahar.

"Despite the best efforts of staff, she died as a result of her injuries," the spokesman said.

Leaflet drops have been used extensively in Afghanistan by US and British forces in the battle to win the "hearts and minds" of the local population.

The MoD would not comment on what type of leaflet was involved, but past leaflets have included information about the election campaign, mine awareness campaigns, and warnings of impending military action in an area

In May, C130 aircraft based in Afghanistan with 904 Expeditionary Air Wing dropped 200,000 leaflets in support of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force.

The picture of an RAF Herc that accompanies the article is captioned "The RAF tries to reach local people with leaflet drops".

I wonder if the copywriter didn't have some kind of warped sense of humor also.

[slacker]

I'm honestly not sure how to react to this story on the BBC website. Should I express dismay at the unfortunate and sad death that resulted, or should I laugh quietly and think they have some kind of shit-hot bomb aiming gear on that C130? And what are the odds of this happening?

A little girl was killed- I fail to see the humor.

[FlyingWolf]

A little girl was killed- I fail to see the humor.

2

Really quite saddening. Shit happens in war, but damn, a leaflet drop? The very purpose of such a drop is to inform the populace of dangers and to win popular support. What a truly tragically ironic occurrence. My prayers to her family.

[brickhistory]

A little girl was killed- I fail to see the humor.

Because in a tragically warped way, it is ironic. Dark humor at its darkest.

I get per's point.

And what "investigation?"

A bad case of "sh1t happens" and a crew is under "investigation?"

Y'all watch your backs out there. As the cartoon strip used to say, "We've met the enemy and he's us..."

[Guest Rubber_Side_Down]

"The RAF tries to reach local people with leaflet drops".

That is dark humor.