Witness: Taliban dead may be civilians

[CHIMO]

Nato's claims to have killed 11 Taliban who were preparing an ambush in Afghanistan have been disputed by local people who have said that the dead were civilian grape-pickers.

The Nato-led peacekeeping force in Afghanistan said its troops spotted 15 Taliban near a main road in Kandahar late on Tuesday.

After realising they had been detected, the men then moved to a nearby compound which Nato aircraft then bombed, said Major Scott Lundy, a Nato spokesman.

Lundy said: "11 Taliban were killed in the air strike, while two insurgents were later seen leaving the compound."

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/5AC9033E-41EA-4585-A219-278040F31E73.htm

[OwnedByFerrets]

1. I dont believe ANYTHING

coming from military spokesmen anymore.

[AlamoDemoc]

5. Indeed.....most of military spokesperson is trained media personal

For example, former pentagon spokesperson now NBC reporter Mr. Pete Williams was the Bush 1st spokesperson at the pentagon. Voila!

[kenny blankenship]

2. Translation by babelfish-> military to english:

"Some itinerant farmworkers noticed our troops' approach, then moved from a field to a farmhouse, which we then bombed from the air, killing them."

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. Reminds me of similar reports from the oh so distant past -

"Spotted two VC from 1000 feet, fired rockets and eliminated them and their transport".

Trans. "killed two kids riding a water buffalo".

Some things never change.

[Sherman A1]

3. Well that would be a surprise

the military, using creative reporting?

[PointAndLaugh]

4. It wouldn't be the first time.

..

[Tempest]

7. Vietnam all over again

Civilian deaths were called VC deaths by Westmoreland.

After he was caught, he made no apologies.

[Roy]

8. Wait... let me check the U.S. military encyclopedia...

Yep.. it says right here under definitions of persons native to invaded/occupied nations

If they are alive, they are people we're here to liberate.

If we kill them, they are Taliban

If they get away (heavens forbid), they are witnesses Insurgents.

"Lundy said: "11 Taliban were killed in the air strike, while two insurgents were later seen leaving the compound."