Officials: Aid Worker Killed By American Grenade, Not Suicide Bomber
Linda Norgrove Died During Rescue Attempt By US Special Forces in Afghanistan
'The Use of a Hand Grenade Is Ridiculous'
Norgrove was in one of the most dangerous areas in all of Afghanistan -- something that her friends say she was worried about but largely took in stride, confident that keeping a low profile and not traveling with security was the safest way to travel.
"She believed in respecting of other people's environments," said friend Gerard Russell, who also hiked with her last summer. "She believed in getting close to people, and understanding them."
In July a group of Western aid workers were kidnapped and killed in a district north of where Norgrove died. Security has already been severely tightened by Western organizations working in Afghanistan, and many workers will soon not be able to travel much at all.
"It's a blow for people's morale for people who want to work in the field," Russell said. "We should celebrate these people and what they do – while it's still going on."
Elite American special operations forces have become familiar with the rugged landscape of eastern Afghanistan as have they more than doubled targeted raids against mid-level Taliban commanders there this year. They are extremely well trained, but in an operation such as this one, there is a thin line between success and failure.
"These guys are experts, but they're going into a situation they can't control," says a former Army Ranger.
Some former special operations troops criticized the tactics of the team, suggesting they were at fault for the mission's failure.
"The use of a lethal hand grenade in a hostage rescue situation is ridiculous. It's not appropriate," argued Robin Horsfall, a former British special operations soldier, on Al Jazeera English today.
And depending on the speed with which the team had to dispatch to the site, it's possible that they were not the most elite or cohesive group.
CLICK HERE to follow the ABC News Investigative Team's coverage on Twitter.
"There's a possibility that they had the wrong man in the wrong place," Horsfall said.
Do you have more information about this topic? If so, please click here to contact the editors of ABC News.
