In the days following the rogue US soldier\u2019s shooting spree in Kandahar, most of the media, us included, focused on the \u201cbacklash\u201d and how it might further strain the relations with the US.<\/p>\n
Many mainstream media outlets channelled a significant amount of\u00a0energy into uncovering the slightest detail about the accused soldier \u2013 now identified as Staff Sergeant Robert Bales. We even know where his wife wanted to go for vacation, or what she said on her personal blog.<\/p>\n
But the victims became a footnote, an anonymous footnote. Just the number 16. No one bothered to ask their ages, their hobbies, their aspirations. Worst of all, no one bothered to ask their names.<\/p>\n
In honoring their memory, I write their names below, and the little we know about them: that nine of them were children, three were women.<\/p>\n
The dead:<\/strong><\/p>\n Mohamed Dawood son of\u00a0 <\/em>Abdullah The wounded:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nKhudaydad son of<\/em> Mohamed Juma
\nNazar Mohamed
\nPayendo
\nRobeena
\nShatarina daughter of<\/em> Sultan Mohamed
\nZahra daughter of<\/em> Abdul Hamid
\nNazia daughter of<\/em> Dost Mohamed
\nMasooma daughter of<\/em> Mohamed Wazir
\nFarida daughter of<\/em> Mohamed Wazir
\nPalwasha daughter of<\/em> Mohamed Wazir
\nNabia daughter of <\/em>Mohamed Wazir
\nEsmatullah daughter of <\/em>Mohamed Wazir
\nFaizullah son of<\/em> Mohamed Wazir
\nEssa Mohamed son of <\/em>Mohamed Hussain
\nAkhtar Mohamed son of<\/em> Murrad Ali<\/p>\n