I wrote in a previous post about the possible use of a video of a US air raid that supposedly proves Taliban members caused civilians to be killed before, during and/or after a US air raid. That video has yet to be released.
I was beginning to wonder why we don't more routinely release videos of Taliban atrocities, since they make such excellent propaganda use of coalition mistakes and often talk about the suffering and deaths of women and children.
In Pakistan, the video of a young girl being flogged by the Taliban did more than the Pakistani government ever could to help turn public opinion strongly against them. So why hasn't ISAF begun releasing tapes of this nature when they have them?
It seems now they will.
Today Combined Joint Task Force-82 released a video of a grenade attack in Afghanistan which had been perpetrated by someone in the crowd while Coalition forces were working to free and armoured vehicle. At least 2 witnesses said the grenade had been thrown by the soldiers.
This is an excellent tactic. Why not use drones to spy a little more and release footage of Taliban and insurgent atrocities? This would show their true colors to foreign donors who only support them as fighters against foreign invades, but who would never want to be ruled by them. Press releases and other claims by Coalition Forces are likely to fall on deaf ears. Video of local events witnessed by tens or hundreds of people are much more difficult to counter.
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