Army reviewing Afghan & Iraq casualty reports

Team Infidel

Forum Spin Doctor
Media: The Associated Press
Byline: SCOTT LINDLAW
Date: 24 August 2006

SAN FRANCISCO_The Army has opened a re-examination of casualty reports on
American soldiers killed in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere since 2001, a
response to complaints that it has not always given families accurate
information.

The review covers hundreds of casualties in Operation Enduring Freedom and
Operation Iraqi Freedom _ the campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, two senior
military officials said. It also includes American soldiers killed in
neighboring countries in support of the two operations.

In coming weeks, the Army will issue a directive formalizing the review,
according to two military officials. One spoke Thursday on condition of
anonymity because officers at the highest levels of the Army are still
making minor changes. The other described the initiative in memos obtained
by The Associated Press.

The step follows high-profile mistakes in informing families of the
circumstances of soldiers' deaths.

The best-known is that of Cpl. Pat Tillman, the one-time NFL star who quit
football to join the U.S. Army Rangers and was killed by friendly fire in
Afghanistan in April 2004. Tillman's family was originally told he had been
killed by enemy fire.
 
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