U.S. Says Airstrike Killed Five Militants (Not 11 Civilians)

[DUreader]

So who do you believe?


http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3646226,00.html


snip


Crowds of armed men emerged from nearby compounds
after the airstrike and the American forces, accompanied by
Afghan troops, withdrew to avoid a major battle.

U.S. officials vowed to review the procedures for airstrikes
after killing 15 Afghan children in two raids last month,
drawing strong protests from Afghan officials and the
United Nations.

Rahman insisted those killed Saturday were civilians.

``They were simple villagers. They were not Taliban,'' he
said. ``I don't know why the U.S. bombed this home.''


snip

[TolstoyAndy]

1. US Military is always lying

If they say the sky is blue I go to my window to verify it.

In Afghanistan, the presence of armed men does not mean they are Taliban or AQs. Did they think we forgot that the country has been at war for 25 years? Everyone has a gun.

It's kinda sucky that we can't trust a thing our gov says.

[daleo]

2. I suppose this will take a while to become clear

But the track record of the U.S. military is not particularly good in these situations.

[yellowcanine]

3. Come on. Everyone knows those villagers bombed their own houses.

They are just trying to get new houses to replace their old ones.

[IndianaGreen]

4. Considering the US record of lies and deceit, this is a no brainer.

I will point out that the provincial governor is one of the sources for the story about civilian killings by the US.

Last Updated: Tuesday, 20 January, 2004, 15:25 GMT
US denies Afghan civilian deaths

The US military in Afghanistan says there are no indications that civilians were killed by US forces in Oruzgan province on Sunday.

The provincial governor told the BBC that 11 civilians, including women and children, died in a US air raid.

But a US spokesman said coalition forces only fired on five armed men.

American officials are keen to deflect any fresh allegations of civilian deaths, after dozens died in two US-led attacks in December.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3413971.stm