Conway: Taliban, not U.S., to blame in deaths - Military News | News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

Conway: Taliban, not U.S., to blame in deaths

WASHINGTON — Evidence will show that the Taliban, not a U.S. airstrike, was to blame for killing dozens of civilians in western Afghanistan this month, the top Marine officer said Friday.

The joint Afghan-U.S. probe is ongoing, and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway said it's not clear when it will be completed.

"We believe that there were families who were killed by the Taliban with grenades and rifle fire that were then paraded about and shown as casualties from the airstrike," Conway said, responding to a question at a seminar on Pentagon policies. "Casualty after casualty has said that, in the hospitals, in terms of what they saw and what really took place."

Conway's comments came as New York-based Human Rights Watch said its own preliminary probe of the May 4-5 clash concluded that the U.S. military had not done enough to reduce the civilian casualties, including women and children.

Afghans blame U.S. airstrikes for the deaths and destruction in two villages in western Farah province. American officials say the Taliban held villagers hostage during the fight.

It is unclear exactly how many people died in the fighting. The Afghan government has paid out compensation to families for 140 dead, based on a list gathered from villagers. The U.S. military has said that figure is exaggerated, but it has not provided its own estimate.

If the Afghan toll is correct, it would be the largest case of civilian deaths since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion to oust the Taliban.

Conway said the Taliban appeared to have purposely planned the attacks — and anticipated the U.S. response — around Afghan President Hamid Karzai meeting in Washington with U.S. President Barack Obama and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.

He said it showcased the Taliban's expertise in turning "our tactics back on us."

"So the timing of it was exquisite," Conway said. "The understanding of what it took to escalate to the degree that we would drop a bomb was complete and precise. And so what it tells us is that we are up against a vicious, first of all, but very intelligent enemy."