If they made a mistake, why didn't they own up and face the consequences, instead of covering it all up.
2007-02-06 19:41:59 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in News & Events ➔ Current Events
americans screw it up all the time! how many of our brit soldiers have died due to friendly fire. it's time we got things sorted.
2007-02-06 19:45:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋
The were part-time national guard pilots who should have used their own judgement when they saw the orange on their vehicles - but the ground control also told them not once, but twice, that there were no 'friendlies' in the area. So I don't think that the pilots were entirely to blame: they were in a situation which arguably required full-time pilots.
What's unforgiveable is the way in the both the MoD and the US then sat on the tape, and the MoD actually denied the existance of the tape for 3 or 4 years.
2007-02-07 05:26:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why does anyone cover up a mistake? Because they're ashamed of what they've done (even if it was an accident) and scared of being found out.
I truly don't believe the soldiers intended to kill their allies. Friendly Fire has killed countless soldiers in countless conflicts. It's the nature of war, the fact that a soldier is placed in a noisy, confusing and dangerous environment. It's very difficult in such a situation to retain a 'civilian' rationale, i think they just got swept up in the moment and started shooting wildly (as opposed to deliberately), before the fog of war lifted and they realised what they'd done and panicked.
2007-02-07 11:27:08 · answer #3 · answered by Nikita21 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Did any of you even read the transcript of the tape? The guys were told they were clear of all friendlies. This means they engage what appears to be an enemy position.
Yes, I regret the loss of life of a friendly countries soldiers, both by friendly and enemy fire. But, in battle, mistakes happen. Especially as quickly as the invasion went, positions move quickly and the advancement of the coalition forces was much faster than expected, there should not have been friendlies in that area, except for the fast retreat and surrenders that were happening on the ground.
I am sorry that everyone feels this is "normal" for the US.
2007-02-07 03:55:45 · answer #4 · answered by gabster_65 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
They did it because the American military treats war like it was a video game not a thing where real people die.
If the pilots were Brits and the victims American then the pilots would be facing murder charges in America by now.
2007-02-07 17:00:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's bad training,bad leadership,and a gung ho approach to everything they do.But mostly it's arrogance because they always know best ,and if you do not agree you are tortured or bribed with offers of loads of money (if they cannot blackmail you )
How many YANKS have we killed by so called friendly fire ???
None of course our soldiers are fully trained,well led,and not stupid!!!We are not worth special measures as we have not got much oil for them.
2007-02-08 10:24:09 · answer #6 · answered by TONY G 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Poor training, little experience and poor eyesight? How could they mistakenly identify orange panels as rockets?
Given the Americans view on its military appearing in foreign courts, I doubt they will appear before a British Judge.
2007-02-07 13:39:00 · answer #7 · answered by James Mack 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I can't defend the US military on this one. Bad reconaissance and worst of all pilots firing on a target they had not clearly identified. You DO NOT fire on something until you know what it is. This is why so many civilians and coalition forces have been killed by American fire.
The American soldier always goes in with the best intentions but due to inadequate training, gung-ho attitudes, bad leadership and poor inteligence lead to incidents such as this.
2007-02-07 03:59:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
I asked this question earlier, and they dont seem to get it? How many Americans have been killed by British Soliders? I tell you, 0, zilch none.
If there losing the respect from their allies how can they win the war in Afganistan and Irag.
I some times feel that the American military are a bunch of idiots being lead by a idiot !
2007-02-07 05:44:06 · answer #9 · answered by simon m 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Hello,
(ANS) Because the USA trains its military people to shoot first and ask questions afterwards. Because Americans are gunghoo, dreadfully arrogant in their appraoch, because they think they have a god given right to behave this way. Because they still think they back home playing XBOX and that they are removed from the reality of life & death sitting in a jet fighter.
**Cover up!! because yet again the US military doesnt want to loose face by having to admitt they F**** up!! and that they didnt even know the difference between UK troops on the ground and the true enemy.
**For once in my life (I never thought I'd say this!!) I'm really glad the sun newspaper exposed the video tape. The wife & family of the dead solider will get more justice this way. Sadly even if it is on the back of that dreadful paper the sun.
IR
2007-02-07 04:05:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
Because they are unable to distinguish a clearly visible orange "coalition forces" panel on the vehicles in the convoy. More of us Brits were killed in the first stages of the 2003 campaign by US forces than by Iraqi. We should pull out and leave the US originated mess, it's not as if we have even benefitted from the conflict! All regeneration projects have gone to US companies!
2007-02-07 04:04:47 · answer #11 · answered by smartpulse 2 · 4⤊ 2⤋