The
Washington Post reported Tuesday that US Gen. David Petraeus, the top US
commander in Afghanistan and head of Afghanistan’s International Security
Assistance Force, ISAF, suggested Sunday in a closed meeting at the
presidential palace in Kabul that pro-Taleban Afghans caught up in a coalition
attack in northeastern Afghanistan might have burned their own children or
invented stories to exaggerate claims of civilian casualties.
During the
meeting, the governor of Konar, Fazlullah Wahidi, cited reports from villagers
that dozens of women and children perished.
Aides present at the briefing said Petraeus dismissed
allegations by Karzai's office and the provincial governor that civilians were
killed and injured, to pin the blame on US forces and force an end to the
operation.
Afghan
officials present at the meeting were said to be unhappy by Petraeus’s comment.
One participant, said: “This was
shocking. Would any father do this to his children? This is really absurd.”
Petraeus so
far has declined to comment. The
Pentagon press office did not return AN inquiries before deadline.
Meanwhile,
a US military spokesman is rejecting reported characterizations of remarks by
Petraeus. Rear Adm. Gregory Smith, the top US military spokesman in Kabul, told
the Post that he reviewed the footage and “found no evidence women and children
were among the fighters.”
Smith
then told reporters the newspaper incorrectly characterized Petraeus’ comments.
According to
intercepted conversations, Smith said, insurgents discussed contacting
government officials to tell them that civilians were being killed so that
coalition helicopters could be stopped from firing. The insurgents also
discussed their casualties, “stating they lost 50 and needed help in getting
out the wounded and quickly burying the dead,” he said.
“I believe my exact statement (to the
reporter) was that his understanding of what was said at the meeting was
‘overstated,’ and like with you, I declined to comment further,” he said.
US and
Afghan officials are investigating what happened during the three- to four-day
operation in the mountains of Ghaziabad district, one of the most dangerous and
inhospitable parts of Afghanistan. US military officials said there is no
evidence that civilians died.
Petraeus’
accusation allegedly so infuriated the Afghans that they went straight to the
Washington Post to complain about the insensitivity of whatever Petraeus said.
It's been a few
months since Petraeus had a dustup with the Karzai government, and many are now
wondering whether Petraeus and/or Karzai will respond to his allegations.
Meanwhile,
the Pentagon
denied reports this week that Petraeus is leaving his post.
Pentagon
Press Secretary Geoff Morrell allegedly told some folks that President Barack
Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates already were searching for a
replacement commanding general for ISAF.
Twitter
quickly caught onto the story, while the Huffington Post posted a headline
saying Petraeus was “out” in Afghanistan; other reports said he was “quitting.”
The
WP, meanwhile, reported that Petraeus, and his deputy commander Gen. David
Rodriguez, were widely expected to step down by the end of the year.
But
Morrell told the military’s Stars and Stripes that: “Despite some sensational
speculation…., I can assure you Gen. Petraeus is not quitting as ISAF
commander.
He
then added, somewhat paradoxically: "Nor does he plan to stay in
Afghanistan forever. Obviously he will rotate out at some point, but that point
has not yet been determined and it will not occur anytime soon. Until then, he
will continue to ably lead our coalition forces in Afghanistan.”
