NATO admits 4 killed in Afghanistan were civilians, not ‘known insurgents’

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghan-civilians-20100422,0,5372923.story


NATO admits 4 killed in Afghanistan were civilians, not ‘known insurgents’

Western military officials acknowledge that none of those in a car fired on by soldiers had links to the insurgency. The incident is likely to stoke Afghan furor over civilian casualties.


Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan

Western military officials on Wednesday acknowledged a case of mistaken identity in the killings of four Afghan civilians in eastern Afghanistan -- the second such lethal episode in just over a week.

NATO had initially described two of the four occupants of a car that was fired on Monday night by troops in Khowst province as "known insurgents." The soldiers, whose nationality was not disclosed, unleashed a fusillade of bullets after the vehicle accelerated toward a military convoy, according to alliance officials' account.

Family members and local officials had insisted that the group, which included three teenage boys, was returning home from a sporting event.

They said none of the car's occupants had links to the insurgency -- in fact, one was a police officer. And they expressed vehement disbelief that the four, none of whom was armed, had demonstrated any hostile intent toward the Western troops.

The episode came seven days after American troops in Kandahar province -- apparently believing themselves under imminent threat of attack -- also fired on a vehicle approaching a military convoy. It turned out to be a passenger bus, and four Afghans aboard were killed, including a woman.


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Their stories always change.....when they get caught. You can't believe a word from the Pentagon or NATO. They all play CYA. It is sickening. If they really gave a damn about civilians lives, they wouldn't try to cover-up and lie about every incident where they mow down innocent people.

The Pentagon is never to be believed. Truth is not their goal.

When they're dead because we killed 'em they really strongly usually tend to be known insurgents. And that's how they're marked, unless some nosy busybody digs around and finds out there's no evidence for calling them insurgents. In which case the deceased are reclassified "not known insurgents". Close enough for government work.