By Alishba I. Kassim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

WASHINGTON – A U.S. military investigation in Afghanistan continues to uncover mistakes in airstrikes that have exponentially added to the civilian death toll.

The 2000 pound bomb dropped in the 8 hour long strike was dropped by an Air Force B-1 bomber at night, making it even more difficult to determine whether civilians were present. A U.S. defense official who chose to remain anonymous commented that dropping a 2000 pound bomb was “overkill,” particularly since there is evidence the bomber may have briefly lost contact as well.

Another U.S. official confirmed that the civilian death toll would probably have been much lower if U.S. air crews and ground troops had followed proper rules to prevent civilian casualties. Afghan officials put the civilian death toll from air strikes in the Farah province to as high as 140 deaths. By contrast, U.S. military officials have said that 20-35 civilians have been killed among 80-95 people – the majority of whom they say were Taliban fighters.

The U.S. investigation, ordered by General Petraeus, has largely concluded that one U.S. aircraft, cleared to attack Taliban fighters, did not confirm targets before dropping deadly bombs. This leaves open the possibility of militants fleeing the targeting area, leaving just civilians in place.

The New York Times quoted a senior military official saying “in several instances where there was a legitimate threat, the choice of how to deal with that threat did not comply with the standing rules of engagement.” A second military official told Reuters that certain mistakes were linked to the choice of weapons used in the operation rather than any protocol violation. Regardless of the specific means, the reports are mostly concluding that several mistakes were made that added to the civilian death toll.

A senior military official familiar with the report cautioned that the report was not yet complete and went on to pose the ultimate question “given what was known, what was seen from the air, and given the threat, was that the right choice?”

One would be hard-pressed to answer in the affirmative when protocol is ignored and contact is lost when dropping 2000 pound bombs on a nation already ravaged by war.

For more information, please see:

AP – U.S. Broke Bombing Rules in Afghanistan June 3, 2009

Reuters – U.S. Finds Mistakes in Deadly Afghan Strikes June 3, 2009

Los Angeles Times – Some Afghanistan Airstrikes were Mistakes June 3, 2009