"It does not provide operational guidance on nuclear targeting or planning," the Pentagon statement said.

A Pentagon statement said the maneuvers were also intended to "enhance amphibious warfare skills."

But a Pentagon statement described "catastrophic damage" and said "anyone who survived the initial impact could not have survived the fire that followed."

Some of the commanders here dismiss the Pentagon statements.

"Nothing has been found to show that the error was anything but an honest mistake," said a Pentagon statement on the report, which is classified.

"We regret the loss of any civilian life," the Pentagon statement said after today's FA-18 strike.

"He went about his normal duties immediately after the jump," the Pentagon statement said.

Under terms of the agreement, "any use of force is totally unjustified," the Pentagon statement said.

The Pentagon statement said the incident was under investigation and did not say why the laser might have been used.

The allegations "are not supported sufficiently by the evidence," the Pentagon statement said.

"It does not provide operational guidance on nuclear targeting or planning," the Pentagon statement said.

A Pentagon statement said the maneuvers were also intended to "enhance amphibious warfare skills."

But a Pentagon statement described "catastrophic damage" and said "anyone who survived the initial impact could not have survived the fire that followed."

Some of the commanders here dismiss the Pentagon statements.

"Nothing has been found to show that the error was anything but an honest mistake," said a Pentagon statement on the report, which is classified.

"We regret the loss of any civilian life," the Pentagon statement said after today's FA-18 strike.

"He went about his normal duties immediately after the jump," the Pentagon statement said.

Under terms of the agreement, "any use of force is totally unjustified," the Pentagon statement said.

The Pentagon statement said the incident was under investigation and did not say why the laser might have been used.

The allegations "are not supported sufficiently by the evidence," the Pentagon statement said.