Pentagon mistakenly reports decline in Taliban attacks

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Apart paraphrase Mark Twain reports of the impending death of the talent -- Have been greatly exaggerated turns out the narrative from the US led military coalition in Afghanistan.

That the insurgent groups staged fewer attacks on coalition troops last year.

Was wrong.

National security correspondent Jennifer Griffin tells us what that means.

The Pentagon has been using misleading figures about the war in Afghanistan and how well it is going.

You are regrettable error and identity systems that was discovered -- me.

Routine quality check we are making the appropriate adjustments in spite of the stated adjustment for assessment of the fundamentals of progress in Afghanistan remains positive.

The US led military coalition in Afghanistan incorrectly reported a decline in Taliban attacks last year.

Reporting attacks were down by 7%.

A fact that drove the Obama administration's narrative that its strategy was working allowing US troops to come home early.

I don't know of any overt action by the administration to cook the books if you will over in Afghanistan.

But everyone I talked to testifies to a subtle pressure.

All the part of commanders in the field to shape the narrative and Afghanistan as positively as they possibly -- the coalition corrected these quote.

Clerical errors by removing without explanation.

All the monthly reports from last year on transit security and violence.

It now turns out that the number of Taliban attacks in 2012 was flat compared to 2011.

And did not represent the 7% -- -- Despite a report to congress to the contrary and US officials repeated claims otherwise.

Violence levels have been trending downward.

In the last two years after five years of steady increases beginning in 2000.

Six.

Unfortunately those statements by the Defense Secretary weren't true it seems somebody forgot to include the Afghan security forces numbers.

In the database because the Afghan commanders forgot to send in their reports.

From the battlefield Brett -- -- -- -- pentagon Jennifer thank you.

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Pentagon mistakenly reports decline in Taliban attacks

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