US Airstrike Killed Afghan Civilians: Nobody’s Accountable

(MARCUS YAM / LOS ANGELES TIMES)

Once once more, expectations for accountable management from the Pentagon’s senior governance are dashed. The Associated Press lately reported that U.S. Central Command’s General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. and Special Operations Command’s General Richard D. Clarke decided no disciplinary motion needs to be taken within the errant missile assault that killed harmless Afghan adults and kids on Aug. 29.  In its protection of the incident, “Unpacking the Kabul Drone Strike Tragedy,” Liberty Nation stated it appeared a direct intelligence failure led to the “horrible mistake.” U.S. Air Force Inspector General Lieutenant General Sami D. Said was tasked with conducting an inquiry into the drone strike and on Nov. 3 introduced his findings to the Pentagon. His conclusion: No one needs to be held to account.

Joe Biden (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

On Dec. 13, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs John Kirby defined why: “If [Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin] believed that in the case of the 29 August airstrike that accountability was warranted and needed, he would certainly support those kinds of efforts.” There is perhaps one other rationalization. If any of these in senior navy management had been held accountable, then the commander in chief – Joe Biden — would in the end be accountable and, sure, accountable. But the president will get a cross.

Still, Austin endorsed the advice, establishing the official Defense Department place. According to The Guardian’s report, Kirby stated, “[The secretary] approved their recommendations … [and] is not calling for additional accountability measures.” Does Kirby have the that means of “accountability” all improper? It is the essence of management and the intrinsic consequence of the actions of troopers and their leaders. Someone is accountable for what occurred in Kabul.

Instead, Kirby blamed processes, evaluation of intelligence, and the “actual execution procedures of a strike.” He went on to say that “as the Secretary said himself, we’re not going to be above or afraid to make changes to the way we analyze information and intelligence.” The challenge right here isn’t concern of change. The downside is that selections had been made, and nobody will step up and take possession.

Particularly disturbing about Austin’s resolution is that McKenzie, the accountable commander within the area who ought to have been held accountable, was one of many senior leaders who permitted the Air Force Inspector General’s report. What might be higher for him? Worse, instantly after the killing of the Afghan humanitarian help employee and 9 of his household, McKenzie admitted in a New York Times article the circumstances on the bottom had been such that “[we] did not have the luxury to develop pattern of life,” which is a essential step in figuring out a viable goal. Had McKenzie not seen that important step as a “luxury,” the implications of the strike resolution may need been the identical, however the common wouldn’t be responsible of failing to comply with procedures.

Unfortunately, Austin has made it clear that any heinous resolution by senior leaders within the U.S. armed forces, together with the commander in chief, will go with out penalties. What a regrettable message to ship to the troops within the discipline. Their lives rely on the judgment of their superiors, and apparently nobody is answerable for lethal management selections. Does anybody imagine such dereliction goes unnoticed by the women and men in our navy?

The views expressed are these of the writer and never of some other affiliation.

~  Read extra from Dave Patterson.