Shortly after a suicide bomber killed 13 American service members and 169 Afghan civilians at the Kabul airport, the United States ordered a retaliatory drone strike, reportedly blowing up a vehicle carrying “multiple suicide bombers” from Afghanistan's Islamic State affiliate before they could attack our military evacuation, “U.S. says drone kills ‘suicide bombers’ targeting Kabul airport,” (Aug. 29).

At the time it seemed like a “righteous" strike, to use General Milley’s words.

Unfortunately, there were no terrorists or explosives in that car. Just a longtime employee of an American aid organization. He was killed in his driveway along with his seven children and two others, possibly family members. These deaths should not be confused with collateral wartime damage; for that to exist the intended enemy target must be hit.

It was a horrible tragedy caused by a combination of inadequate intelligence, flawed risk assessment and poor judgment.

A formal government apology, reparations, and a high-level resignation from the command chain that recommended this strike to President Biden would signal sincere remorse.

Long term, the Pentagon needs to reassess its intelligence capabilities, and use better judgment when exercising their darling, high-tech, over-the-horizon drone strikes.

Ed Javor

East Lyme