NYT: Austin Orders 90-Day Internal Review of Baghuz

Pentagon Chief Orders New Inquiry Into U.S. Airstrike That Killed Dozens in Syria

​"The investigation by Gen. Michael X. Garrett, the four-star head of the Army’s Forces Command, will examine the strike, which was carried out by a shadowy, classified Special Operations unit called Task Force 9, as well as the handling of the task force’s investigation by higher military headquarters and the Defense Department’s inspector general, the official said. General Garrett will have 90 days to review inquiries already conducted into the episode, and further investigate reports of civilian casualties, whether any violations of laws of war occurred, record-keeping errors, whether any recommendations from earlier reviews were carried out, and whether anyone should be held accountable, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation had not been announced."

Comment: This is a welcome indication that SECDEF is taking this matter seriously. The question on the mind of many, though, is whether an internal investigation is sufficiently independent. Some reactions below.