US: explanation of atrocity "speculative"

Chris Burford cburford at gn.apc.org
Mon Mar 31 23:16:56 PST 2003


This morning a US spokesperson from allied HQ in Kuwait, Lt Col Cox of the US air force, was interviewed by the critical Channel 4 News programme (UK)

He did not defend the original defence of the massacre of 7 women and children at 4:30pm yesterday local time. He referred to the claim that warning shots were fired as "speculative". When asked about the quote in the Washington Post that one of the solders was told he had just killed these civilians, he said, that is why we are having an investigation.

It seemed strange to have a mere Lt Col of the US air force undermining the official position, and I presume he is seconded to the grave damage limitation unit of the US news management team that it probably based in the comfort of Kuwait, near or in the Hilton, rather than in Qatar.

In other words this is a public relations disaster and a cause of grave unease in the relations between the virtuous allies.

Chris Burford London



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