Watchdog finds no misconduct in mistaken Afghan airstrike – By Lolita C. Baldor/The Associated Press and Meghann Myers/Military Times (Military Times) / Nov 3 2021
WASHINGTON (AP) — An independent Pentagon review has concluded that the U.S. drone strike that killed innocent Kabul civilians and children in the final days of the Afghanistan war was not caused by misconduct or negligence, and it doesn’t recommend any disciplinary action, officials said during a Wednesday press conference.
The review, done by Air Force Lt. Gen. Sami Said, found there were breakdowns in communication and in the process of identifying and confirming the target of the bombing, according to a senior defense official familiar with the report. But, Said concluded that the mistaken strike happened despite prudent measures to prevent civilian deaths, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a report not yet released.
Said told reporters Wednesday that while his review didn’t single out any bad actors or recommend any discipline, he does not have the final say.
“I didn’t eliminate the possibility of accountability,” he said. “That is commander business.”
