The NZDF’s ever-changing story on Operation Burnham just changed again (David Fisher in The Herald):
NZDF admits it was wrong to say there were no photos from NZSAS raid
The New Zealand Defence Force has admitted it was wrong to claim there were no photographs from the controversial 2010 raid in Afghanistan alleged to have left six civilians dead.
After 20 days checking and then asserting there were no photographs, it has now had to admit it was wrong and there were photographs taken during Operation Burnham.
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NZDF also shifted its position on the claims of civilian deaths, saying that “unfounded” meant that it was possible civilians had been killed by coalition air support.
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And the only video it has admitted to having was from United States air support, even though the Herald has confirmed the NZSAS regularly wore helmet cameras on missions in Afghanistan. …
The qualifier “it has admitted to having” is an interesting one. The whole piece is well worth a read, but the most devastating observation is saved for last:
He [Intelligence analyst Dr Paul Buchanan] said it was standard practice to photograph, fingerprint and take DNA or dental impressions from those killed to match up with intelligence reports.
Asked what he made of the claim there were no photographs, Buchanan said: “That may be because they didn’t kill any insurgents and the people they did kill, they didn’t want to photograph.”
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