Harsh spotlight on security contractors in Afghanistan
Mirza Mohammed Dost at the grave of his son, Raheb, 24, who was shot by Blackwater (now Xe) security contractors in May as he walked in his neighborhood. Another man was also shot fatally and a third was wounded. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
Dost’s nephew, Milad, 5, stands near Raheb’s grave. The incident has enraged residents who say their area has no insurgent activity; Mirza Dost says, “The Americans must answer for my son’s death.” (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
The headstone at Raheb Dost’s gravesite reads: “Raheb Dost, martyred by Americans.” Dost died June 5th, after spending a month in a coma. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
Tribal elder Mohammed Shafi stands in the Yaka Toot cemetery near the grave of Romal, 22, who was shot dead in the same incident as Raheb Dost. Romal was a passenger in a car whose driver told Shafi that the Americans had ordered him to stop, then told him to move on. When he began pulling away, Shafi said, the Americans started shooting. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
The grave of Romal, 22, who was killed by private security contractors. “Some Americans think all Afghans are terrorists or insurgents, “Mohammed Shafi said. “But if they keep killing civilians, I’m sure some Afghans will decide to become insurgents.” (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)