via McClatchy.com
GAZIANTEP, TURKEY — A U.S.-led coalition airstrike killed at least 50 Syrian civilians late last month when it targeted a headquarters of Islamic State extremists in northern Syria, according to an eyewitness and a Syrian opposition human rights organization.This has been a private irritation for me for quite awhile.
The civilians were being held in a makeshift jail in the town of Al Bab, close to the Turkish border, when the aircraft struck on the evening of Dec. 28, the witnesses said. The building, called the Al Saraya, a government center, was leveled in the airstrike. It was days before civil defense workers could dig out the victims’ bodies.
The U.S. Central Command, which had not previously announced the airstrike, confirmed the attack Saturday in response to repeated McClatchy inquiries. “Coalition aircraft did strike and destroy an ISIL headquarters building in Al Bab on Dec. 28,” Col. Patrick S. Ryder said in an email.
He said a review of the airstrike showed no evidence of civilian casualties but offered to examine any additional information, “since we take all allegations seriously.” ISIL is an alternative name for the Islamic State.
U.S. officials acknowledged for the first time last week that they are investigating “at least a few” claims of civilian casualties as a result of airstrikes on Syria. “This is something we always take seriously,” said Pentagon spokesman Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby. “We are very mindful of trying to mitigate the risk to civilians every time we operate, everywhere we operate.”
Tremendous successes by US forces are watered down and instead the "coalition" is given credit. Tremendous failures occur and it becomes "the US-led coalition".
Don't get me wrong. I'm sorry if 50 people died in an airstrike, but war is war and no matter how much some want it to be painless it never will be. People will die. Innocent people will die. Its always been that way and always will be that way.
But I know for a fact that US forces will go out of their way to avoid those type casualties. I'm not so sure that some members of the coalition feel the same way.
Who am I talking about? Well I'm not talking about Canada, Australia, France or the other European countries that are launching strikes with us. I am pointing a finger at some of our Middle Eastern allies that have joined the fray.
Central Command and the Pentagon need to stop sullying the US' reputation and state plainly whether a US jet caused the deaths or not. If we didn't (and I suspect they didn't) then you don't have to name the country...just make it clear that we didn't do the deed.
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