Civilian Casualties in Afghanistan: Who’s Telling the Truth?

The lead article in today’s New York Times is titled, “Civilian Deaths Imperil Support for Aghan War.” The article describes a recent airstrike in Afghanistan and local claims about the death of more than 100 civilians.

Reports from the scene of the crime are grisly, and the U.S. and Pakistan are planning a joint investigation. However, some U.S. generals are claiming that the deaths may have been caused by the Taliban specifically to blame the U.S. and turn popular opinion against the troops.

The Taliban are militant in many respects, but I find it hard to believe their campaign to establish Islamic law would involve the destruction of innocent women and children from their own country. We’ve seen some brazen acts by them, but it makes much more sense, in this instance, to think the United States is responsible.

It’s just a little too glib and easy to bring out that conspiracy argument when something goes wrong. Mass death is very likely to occur with air strikes, and they cannot be targeted as precisely as operations on the ground. For the Taliban to use grenades or other weapons to kill so many people, without being spotted by any witnesses, strains credulity.

We should own up to the unfortunate event and try to take concrete steps to prevent a reoccurrence.