Another U.S. Credibility Problem?

So, it appears that the U.S. Military has a little credibility problem in Afghanistan. Of course this is not shocking considering who they listened to so as to verify the initial U.S. “cover-up” investigation of the killing of Afghani civilians in the attack to kill or capture a head of the Taliban.

This was pointed out by Froomkin:

Afghanistan Watch

James Gerstenzang writes in the Los Angeles Times: "Amid rising anger over civilian deaths in Afghanistan, President Bush says he is sending more forces to fight there, but cautions 'there will be times' when U.S. strikes result in the loss of innocent life. . . .

"Tension over civilian casualties in Afghanistan flared after an Aug. 22 U.S. strike in the western province of Herat in which Afghan and United Nations officials said 90 civilians died. U.S. military officials had concluded that 35 militants and up to seven civilians were killed.

"However, the military is sending a senior officer to review new evidence after videos surfaced showing dead children and grieving Afghans. . . .

"Bush is addressing the issue in the face of growing criticism, including from Afghan President Hamid Karzai, a close ally.

"'Regrettably, there will be times when our pursuit of the enemy will result in accidental civilian deaths,' Bush says in his prepared speech, without mentioning the Aug. 22 strike. 'This has been the case throughout the history of warfare, yet our nation mourns every innocent life lost.'

Candace Rondeaux and Karen DeYoung write in The Washington Post: "The U.S. decision to again probe the Aug. 21 attack in Azizabad, near the western city of Herat, came at the urging of Gen. David D. McKiernan, the top NATO commander in Afghanistan. McKiernan said he was prompted by 'emerging evidence' that threw into question the finding of a U.S. investigation that five to seven civilians died. McKiernan had earlier said he concurred with that finding....

"Military officials said the new evidence included a cellphone video showing dozens of civilian bodies, including those of numerous children, prepared for burial in Azizabad after the attack. McKiernan was shown the video Friday by Kai Eide, the chief U.N. representative in Afghanistan."

Tom Coghlan writes in the Times of London: "The Pentagon's original investigation concluded last week that US forces used close air support after coming under heavy fire during a mission to seize a Taleban commander named Mullah Sadiq. They allege that he died in the operation.

"The US military said that its findings were corroborated by an independent journalist embedded with the US force. He was named as the Fox News correspondent Oliver North, who came to prominence in the 1980s Iran-Contra affair, when he was an army colonel."

Good for McKiernan. It is good to see someone in the Military Command who when presented with actual evidence is willing to re-evaluate the “Military Cover-Up.” However, does the name Gen. Antonio Taguba and Abu Ghraib ring a bell?

I am not saying, I am just saying!