Six brave souls showed up at the Drone Command Center's main entrance in Des Moines for an hour vigil in memory of ten people who were killed (two) months ago Oct 29th, in Kabul, when a U.S. Predator drone fired a Hellfire Missile into the family’s courtyard.
By Frank Cordaro, reprinted with permission, first printed Nov. 30, 2021
See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
The victims, seven of them children, were members of the Ahmadi family. The U.S. military mistakenly identified Zemari Ahmadi as a terrorist. After following him for eight hours, analysts concluded he was driving a car filled with explosives intended for an attack that could harm U.S. military at the Hamid Karzai International airport in Kabul.
Even as the Pentagon insisted this was a righteous attack, international media reports conclusively showed that Zemari Ahmadi worked for a U.S. NGO; he was transporting canisters of water to assist his family and neighbors, and at least one of the children surrounding his car as he drove into the family courtyard was visible on video footage available to U.S. drone analysts two minutes before orders to fire the Hellfire missile were given.
This vigil in Des Moines was held in coordination with similar protests in many of the 22 U.S. communities in which there are U.S. killer drone control and/or training centers, as well as other communities.
Daniel Hale is now serving four years in prison because of disclosing U.S. government documents which showed that, over one five month operation, “Operation Haymaker,” in Afghanistan, the drone attacks killed someone other than the “intended target” 90% of the time. What is unusual in the attack which killed Zemari Ahmadi and nine of his family members is the international coverage which continues to expose the suffering endured by this family.
Activists participating in the “Don’t Look Away” campaign across the country urge U.S. elected representatives to demand more information and accountability regarding drone attacks. They also call on the U.S. government to “Unfreeze” Afghanistan’s assets and seek compensation for the Ahmadi family and all who have been harmed by U.S. drone attacks.
Activists in Des Moines are begging their local religious leaders to speak out against their DM Drone Command Center with little to no response.
Ultimately, the Ban Killer Drones campaign (bankillerdrones.org) believes an international treaty prohibiting weaponized drones should become part of international law.
Thanks for showing up to (LtoR) Fr David Polich, Eloise Cranke, Ed Bloomer, Jon Krieg and Kathleen McQuillen. Photo taken by Frank Cordaro!
For more info:
Local contact Frank Cordaro <frank.cordaro@gmail.com> 515 490 2490
National contact Nick Mottern <nickmottern@gmail.com> 914 806 6179 bankillerdrones.org
Frank Cordaro is founder and current member of Catholic Worker House in Des Moines. They have held a presence at the Drone Command Center for several years.
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