Congress has largely been silent about the US's bombing of a Doctors without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, three weeks ago. Yesterday, however, Keith Ellison (MN-05), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Barbara Lee (CA-13), and Raul Grijalva (AZ-03) led 14 other House Democrats in calling for a full and independent investigation into the attack.
The internal Pentagon investigation that the president has called for would be funny if it weren't so insulting and the incident so tragic. Internal investigations are designed for self-exculpation. If there is to be a chance for any shred of justice (even though it will still be difficult given the US's out-sized influence on the UN and history of committing war crimes with impunity), there would have to be an independent investigation.
Here is the text of the letter:
Dear President Obama,
We write to request a full and independent investigation to determine what led to the bombing of a Doctors Without Borders (MSF) hospital in Afghanistan. We appreciate your willingness to reach out directly to MSF to apologize and your call for a Pentagon investigation. We believe a civilian-led independent investigation is also necessary to ensure an impartial assessment and confidence in the findings of the investigation.
We are deeply disturbed by the news that U.S. airstrikes in Afghanistan destroyed the MSF trauma hospital in Kunduz, killing 12 humanitarian aid workers and 10 of their patients lying in their beds, including three children. The repeated airstrikes on the hospital also injured 37 civilians, including 19 MSF staff members.
Cooperating with a thorough investigation conducted by the United Nations or other independent body would send an important message to the world that the United States is unequivocally committed to the transparency and accountability required to ensure such a catastrophic event does not happen again.
Under international law, hospitals in conflict zones are protected spaces. An independent investigation will help ensure future military engagements keep humanitarian heroes, like the MSF staff, safe.
Your leadership and statements by our top military officials communicates the sentiment of many who are saddened by this tragedy: deep regret and a desire to ensure it never happens again. We look forward to working with you to ensure that the United States prioritizes protection of civilians in its conduct of military operations around the world.
Sincerely,
Here are the other 14 signers:
Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
John Conyers (MI-13)
Judy Chu (CA-27)
Yvette Clarke (NY-09)
Pete DeFazio (OR-04)
Lloyd Doggett (TX-35)
John Garamendi (CA-03)
Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC)
Alan Lowenthal (CA-47)
Betty McCollum (MN-04)
Jim McDermott (WA-07)
Mark Pocan (WI-02)
Maxine Waters (CA-43)
Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12)