McChrystal Visits Site of Airstrike, Pledges Inquiry

Gen. Stanley McChrystal visited the site of a NATO airstrike today that killed scores of Aghan civilians and made an unprecedented televised address in which he promised a full public inquiry, Reuters reports. “Nothing is more important than the safety and protection of the Afghan people,” said the US commander. "I take this possible loss of life or injury to innocent Afghans very seriously."

NATO officials, meanwhile, met with victims and their families to offer condolences. The attack—planes bombed fuel trucks thought to be commandeered by the Taliban—has drawn widespread criticism in Afghanistan and Europe, and may fuel anti-war sentiment in Germany. But the governor of Kunduz province blamed the villagers, saying they “paid a price for helping and sheltering the insurgents.” (More Afghanistan stories.)