Pentagon Defends Samarra Death Count

By: Seth Porges Despite eyewitness testimonies to the contrary, a 4th Infantry Division spokesperson in Baghdad told E&P Online Wednesday that the military stands by its assertion that there were no civilian casualties in the firefight that left numerous Iraqi insurgents dead in the city of Samarra Sunday.

"In an incident like this we have an initial assessment, followed by more detailed assessments," 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs officer LTC Bill MacDonald said via e-mail. "At this time, we do not know of any civilian casualties in the attack on our convoy."

Military reports and press coverage of the incident have been shrouded in controversy. The military claims that 54 Iraqi guerrillas and no civilians were killed in the battle that left no Americans dead. However, hospital accounts and Iraqi eyewitness testimonies have accounted for no more than eight Iraqi deaths, including several civilians, and dozens of civilian injuries.

Following initial coverage of the incident, in which the military's official death toll had been reported, many newspapers issued follow-up reports noting the discrepancy in the reported casualties versus witness and hospital reports.

MacDonald also reiterated the official view regarding the number of Iraqis killed in the battle, all based on soldiers' accounts, as no dead bodies were recovered. The military has asserted that the dead must have been carried away by their comrades in the dark of night.

"We are very confident of our assessment," MacDonald said. "Commanders are responsible for providing timely, accurate information. This process includes quick assessment of the situation as it happens, followed by a more detailed analyses and After Action reviews. All this is done immediately after the event, so we know exactly what happened and when."

The military has touted the deadly battle as a lesson to would-be Iraqi insurgents. However, newspaper reports following the incident report many Iraqi witnesses only growing angrier towards the American military following the deaths. "If I had a gun, I would have attacked the Americans myself," Iraqi shopkeeper Satar Nasiaf told The New York Times Tuesday. "The Americans were shooting in every direction."