This new report tonight has me thinking about initial reports, follow-on reports and getting at reality as best we can. 1/
As @DefenseBaron reports, 11 service members at Al Asad air base during Iran's missile strike have been transported to Germany for follow-on care with concussions/TBI. 2/
There's a portion of Twitter already claiming great lies by the government, etc. So let's rewind. 3/
As @DefenseBaron notes tonight, the U.S. government line in the hours after the attack was that there were "no casualties, no friendly casualties, whether they are U.S., coalition, contractor, et cetera.” 4/
The problem is, sometimes when people say "casualties," they really mean "fatalities" or "deaths." Other times it's used to roll up anyone killed or injured. 5/
In this case, President Trump came out the following morning at the White House and went even farther. Here's what he said: /6 
The definition of "casualties" there is vague. But as we now know, certainly some service members were "harmed." /7
Last weekend, CNN spent some time at Al Asad. Then @OIRSpox's staff brought media out from Baghdad on Monday. Immediately, the situation sounded starker. In fact, it sort of explained why Gen. Milley initially said last week that he thought the Iranians were trying to kill. /8
Numerous outlets came away from that trip reporting that numerous service members were being treated for apparent concussions. No state secret there. Here's how @leloveluck reported it: /9
Today, we learn 11 of those service members required additional care.
To my reading, that means that *more* than 11 suffered some form of harm. But 11 still need treatment. 10/
To my reading, that means that *more* than 11 suffered some form of harm. But 11 still need treatment. 10/
As I'm tweeting, @CENTCOM just released this statement from Navy Capt. Bill Urban. Explains a bit more. 11/
Now, there are times in my job where I grow quite irritated with a lack of transparency and accountability. In fact, I'm still wondering why an embed in Afghanistan I discussed last fall disappeared. 12/
But there are also times where details in a chaotic situation develop over time.
Ever covered a firefight while in it? First question isn't usually whether someone has a skinned knee. It's whether everyone made it. 13/
Ever covered a firefight while in it? First question isn't usually whether someone has a skinned knee. It's whether everyone made it. 13/
For now, it seems to me that @OIRSpox deserves credit for transparency and willingness to let service members tell their own stories. Ninety percent of the details that mattered emerges Monday while media conducted interviews. 14/
Trump's language wasn't fully accurate in his remarks the morning after the attack, to be sure. Noting that too, to be clear. 15/
Think we should slow down the knee-jerk condemnation on this particular issue, though.
Also think we should remember what's important: Those troops had a hell of a night last week. Grateful they all made it through. /FIN
Also think we should remember what's important: Those troops had a hell of a night last week. Grateful they all made it through. /FIN
Addendum: Here's @leloveluck, @AlexHortonTX and I with the latest on what happened.
New detail: Not all 11 service members who left Iraq did so because of concussion-like symptoms. Some did so to seek apparent mental-health assistance after the attack.
washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
New detail: Not all 11 service members who left Iraq did so because of concussion-like symptoms. Some did so to seek apparent mental-health assistance after the attack.
washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
