Probe Into Afghan Deaths Reveals Procedural Lapses

Defense Department investigators of a May 4 incident during a firefight in Afghanistan’s Farah province, in which between 20 and 30 Afghan citizens were killed, have concluded that aircraft intended to provide close air support did not completely follow tactics, techniques, and procedures. Responding to a reporter’s question during a June 8 press briefing, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said that the report cites discrepancies regarding at least one plane – an Air Force B-1 Lancer bomber – "because of how it takes its bombing routes." The plane "had to break away from positive ID of their target, at one point, to make its elongated approach," Morrell said. He noted, however, that the report did not specifically blame the B-1 crew for the civilian deaths. Rather, Morrell said, the bomber’s action was "one of the problems associated with how all this took place." Morrell also said that Marine Corps ground units "took extraordinary care" to avoid civilian casualties during the firefight.