Propaganda

Taleban death toll 'inaccurate'

Claims of casualties in have been almost impossible to verify

The Nato force in Afghanistan has said claims it killed up to 80 Taleban fighters in a battle earlier this month were inaccurate.

A statement released on Sunday said the true figure was seven or eight.

It is understood that figures for the total number of fighters and the number of casualties were confused, but the mistake was not immediately corrected.

The clash near Musa Qala in Helmand province involved Danish forces who were fighting alongside British troops.

Despite the battle, Nato's International Security Assistance Force claims a peace deal with local elders, which saw British troops pull out of Musa Qala, is still holding.

The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Kabul says this year has seen a huge upsurge in violence and there have been many claims of casualties by the Taleban and the international forces - but they have been almost impossible to verify.

Thousands of people are thought to have been killed by both sides, many of them civilians in suicide bombings, and others in air strikes and heavy fighting, our correspondent says.


I remember a similar thing happened with the American Soldier (I think his name was Tillman) he was shot several times by his own men on the Tora Bora mountains. Th US gov knew this soon after it occurred, but did not correct the mistake. The media went crazy and used the death of this former professional American football player to whip up patriotism and support for the ill conceived wars.

I guess the UK aren't that far behind their deceitful masters

We can all see why they do it
Deflate casualties + inflate enemy kills = Higher morale + fend off public support against war + Can argue victory (or partial victory)

I am sure theres more to it...