The Child Martyrs of Kabul
I felt like this was worth sharing. It's from my mom's blog. I found an article that I posted below that explains what happened. My dad was in the United States at the time; he's now back in Kabul. He has shopped here many times. He loves the children there and has always tried to buy scarfs and things when he can to help them.
From my Dad: Unfortunately, the bombing victims from the blast near the ISAF entrance in front of the carpet store injured or killed each of the kids I had bought things from--including my bodyguards. The bomber was an outsider who the kids had confronted. They probably saved some Americans who ultimately were the intended victims. All those killed or injured were Afghan civilians--and all but 2 victims were under the age of 15. At least 3 of those killed were girls.
From my Mom: (These are the girls that Dave has been buying skarves from for a long time. He used the word bodyguards, because, if you will remember about a year ago Dave was walking to work, and the 2 little girls, ages 7 and 10, said, "Where are your bodyguards?" And he told them he didn't have any. They said, "We will be your bodyguards." And when he would see them, they would save their prettiest or best skarves for him, and they would chatter to him in English and walk with him part way. Dave really did love them, and talked to us about them when he was home. So he is heartbroken. Perhaps these little girls are still his bodyguards, only from the other side.)
From my Mom: (These are the girls that Dave has been buying skarves from for a long time. He used the word bodyguards, because, if you will remember about a year ago Dave was walking to work, and the 2 little girls, ages 7 and 10, said, "Where are your bodyguards?" And he told them he didn't have any. They said, "We will be your bodyguards." And when he would see them, they would save their prettiest or best skarves for him, and they would chatter to him in English and walk with him part way. Dave really did love them, and talked to us about them when he was home. So he is heartbroken. Perhaps these little girls are still his bodyguards, only from the other side.)
Kabul attack: Bomber kills children near Nato base
A teenage suicide bomber has killed at least six people near the headquarter of the Nato-led international coalition (Isaf) in Kabul.
A number of children are among the dead. There were no reports of casualties among Isaf troops.
The police said the attacker was a boy, 14, on a motorbike, who detonated a bomb near an entrance to the HQ.
Kabul security has been tightened as supporters of an anti-Taliban warlord mark 11 years since his assassination.
Ahmad Shah Massoud - a hero of the 1980s war against Soviet occupiers, and later of opposition to the Taliban - was killed by al-Qaeda suicide bombers on 9 September 2001.
Following Saturday's explosion, the Isaf HQ, home to some 2,500 personnel, was placed "on lockdown", the Isaf spokeswoman said.
'Child hawkers'
Child street hawkers are believed to have been caught in the blast and witnesses quoted by Reuters said small bodies could be seen being carried to ambulances.
A police official speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP news agency: "Most of the victims are young children who gather around Isaf to sell small items to soldiers leaving or getting into the base."
The US embassy, the Italian embassy and the presidential palace are also located near the site of the attack.
The Taliban have claimed they were behind the attack, but say it was carried out by a man in his 20s, targeting a building used by the CIA to train Afghan spies.
But the BBC Jonathan Beale, in Kabul, says there is also speculation that it could have been the work of another insurgent group - the Haqqani network - which carried out a series of coordinated attacks in the city earlier this year.
Scores of dignitaries were attending commemorations of Massoud's death in Kabul on Saturday, which is a national public holiday in his honour.
1 comment:
What a horrible and wonderful day we live in. I am so thankful that your dad had those sweet kids in his life and that he was able to bless their lives too. Sad, sad times.
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