Review finds no misconduct in mistaken Afghan airstrike

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-kabul-bf24b4a670895ab1cc0b345ee9c90c74

WASHINGTON (AP) — An independent Pentagon review has concluded that the U.S. drone strike that killed innocent Kabul civilians and children in the final days of the Afghanistan war was not caused by misconduct or negligence, and it doesn’t recommend any disciplinary action, The Associated Press has learned.

The review, done by the Air Force Lt. Gen. Sami Said, found there were breakdowns in communication and in the process of identifying and confirming the target of the bombing, according to a senior defense official familiar with the report. But, Said concluded that the mistaken strike happened despite prudent measures to prevent civilian deaths, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a report not yet released.

As inspector general of the Air Force, Said had no direct connection to Afghanistan operations and thus was deemed an independent judge of the matter.

Said’s review said the drone strike must be considered in the context of the moment, as U.S. forces under stress were being flooded by information about threats to troops and civilians at the Kabul airport, just days after a deadly suicide bombing. Thousands of Afghans were swarming the airport, trying to get out of the country following the Taliban takeover.

[PoliticAverse]

1. So we killed those innocent people fair and square? n/t

[WhiskeyGrinder]

2. According to rules we set, yes.

[lame54]

3. Oops! is a legitimate military strategy

[gratuitous]

4. If your "prudent measures to prevent civilian deaths" actually result in civilian deaths . . .

What can we conclude about those measures? But isn't it nice that an Air Force Lt. Gen. absolved the Air Force of any misconduct? I can't help but wonder if a review of the drone strike conducted by the grieving relatives and survivors might come to a different conclusion. "Oh, but they'd be biased by their own experiences and the deaths of those near and dear to them!" And that presumed bias is disqualifying while Lt. Gen. Said's vision is crystal clear and free of any taint of bias.