tag:www.thedonovan.com,2012://1/tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10313- 2012-03-24T15:23:14Z We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 Movable Type 4.12 tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10313 2009-01-21T13:58:56Z 2009-01-23T21:13:16Z

The Armorer http://www.thedonovan.com ISAF USFOR-A (my bad) tries to get its story out to counter the Talibanic story, as the following release shows.

Afghan officials, Coalition forces investigate claims of civilian casualties in Kapisa

KABUL, Afghanistan - Coalition forces are meeting with Afghan officials to look into allegations of civilian casualties as a result of operations conducted in Kapisa Jan. 20.

Statements from Kapisa leaders and Coalition operational reports maintain Coalition forces only killed Taliban commander Mullah Patang and 18 other militants. However, Pahjwok Afghan News reported Tuesday Kapisa residents said Coalition troops killed 25 civilians during the operation.

Coalition forces met with Kapisa leaders before and after Tuesday's operation. Governor Abu Bakr told Coalition forces after the operation Tuesday that he knew the target, Mullah Patang ("Mullah the Robber"), and thanked the Coalition for removing him and his supporters. Afghan Islamic Press also quoted Nesar Ahmad Safay, a Hezb-e Eslami spokesman, who confirmed Coalition forces killed "Commander Patang" and 13 other fighters in Tuesday's incident.

During the operation, multiple groups of armed militants exited several buildings and attempted to engage approaching Coalition forces with small-arms fire. Coalition forces returned small-arms fire and used close-air precision munitions to prevent the armed militants' movement against Coalition forces. Coalition forces used small-arms and precision munitions to minimize the risk to civilians in Kapisa.

"We take reports of civilian casualties very seriously," said Col. Greg Julian, U.S. Forces Afghanistan spokesman. "Our primary effort is to provide security for the Afghan population and we operate in strict accordance with our commander's directive. Our investigation into recent operations in Kapisa will weigh all inputs to determine the truth."

]]> tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10313-comment:83207 Cannoneer No. 4 http://cannoneerno4.wordpress.com U.S. Forces Afghanistan, ISAF doesn't appear to have much to do with it.

Pajhwok Afghan News  looks to be the only Afghan media reporting online in English about civilians killed, and their story requires subscription to see.

Dead Taliban look a whole lot like dead civilians once their weapons and accouterments are taken off.  They learned from Hamas to surround themselves with women and children as either human shields or involuntary martyrs whose tragic deaths at the hands of infidels with the temerity to shoot back when fired upon can be used to increase the outrage of the Muslim street and the hand wringing of the bedwetters in the West.

We need to start these investigations as soon as the smoke clears, before the Taliban or the locals can contaminate the scene, have COMCAM video the mess and the ANA LNO who should have been attached to witness the operation testifying on tape in Pashto and Dari about what happened.

Some of these PGM's ought to be coming out of ANA tubes.  Let an indig  pull that lanyard.  Have the JTAC let the ANA rep push the button.  It's their country.  Let them bear some responsibility for who gets killed.]]> 2009-01-21T18:16:36Z 2009-01-21T18:16:36Z