U.S. Still Denies Iraq Attack Hit Wedding (party in "subversive area")

[papau]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4262430,00.html


U.S. Still Denies Iraq Attack Hit Wedding

Wednesday June 30, 2004 5:46 PM


BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The U.S. military said Wednesday an initial investigation of an air attack near the Syrian border last month hit a legitimate military target, despite claims (and videos) by Iraqi survivors and police who said it was a wedding party.

``Post-strike intelligence still leads us to conclude that that was a location that was a way station for a number of foreign fighters coming into the country,'' a senior U.S military official said on condition of anonymity. ``We still believe that it was a significant intelligence target.''

The attack on May 19 killed more than 40 people, Iraqi officials said. The U.S. military said the target was a suspected safehouse for foreign fighters from Syria. Police and survivors said the victims had been attending a wedding. <snip>

U.S. officials said they could not rule out that a party may have taken place but said that did not detract from their view that the area was used for subversive activities.

[bahrbearian]

1. Guilt by association ? They were associated to where they Lived.