Do you think US authorities should cooperate with allies after friendly fire incidents?

Question

It seems that there is very little integrity in keeping secret, details of soldiers or units involved in friendly fire.

Please see this link http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070208/wl_uk_afp/iraqbritainusmilitarylegalpolitics_070208121723;_ylt=Aj441EyROEwsiEdc7LhX8Y0UewgF

Should the airman who made the mistake attend the coronial inquest?
Should the airman apologise?
Should the US government keep this stuff secret?
Is this the way to behave towards allies?

OK. I agree I have made judgements based on hearsay. I guess the overall point I am making is not about blame, but about whether agencies and governments ever behave with integrity and principle. I would want to apologise if I killed someone. That is all.

Answer 1

>Should the airman who made the mistake attend the coronial inquest?
Your assumption here is that the pilots made a mistake. They called the forward air controller (who was british) several times to voice doubts that the tanks were enemy forces and were told by the british forward air controller that there were no frienly forces in the Kill Zone. This was because mission control over the british convoy failed to properly log their mission, so they had entered a kill box completely unannounced. With IFF problems and radio frequency problems between the convoy and the forward air controller, that all compounded into an unstoppable accident.

>Should the airman apologise?
Why? The did exactly as training and procedure instructs a pilot to do, they even repeatedly confirmed with the Forward Air Controller that there weren't friendlies scheduled to be operating in the area. Had the mission been properly filed and there hadn't been problems with IFF for the convoy vehicles, none of this would have happened.

>Should the US government keep this stuff secret?
The US Government gave the video to the investigating agency in the British Government with the request that to protect the pilots (who hadn't acted in error) that the video be kept confidential. The British investigating agency likewise chose not to release the video, even though it was used in the inquest.

>Is this the way to behave towards allies?
That depends, alot of people are basing opinions off of hearsay with little use for facts or research. There's not a lot shady about the whole dealings here, as the American pilots haven't been brought about on criminal charges of wrongdoing.

Answer 2

As McQ says, FF is a fact of life. During other wars, it was a daily fact of life.

If the situation was reversed and a Allied aircraft shot at an American convoy, would the US media accept that the Allied military wished to keep the tape secret? I think not.

First of all from the tape, I do not believe that the airman was at fault directly. The tape shows that he asked for target confirmation and got it. However, as the pilot of the aircraft, he is wholely responsible for the attack (Responsible yes, at fault no) , That is just like the captain of the ship being completely responsible fo all actions of his ship and crew.

The US governement will NOT allow the airman to go to the inquest. If they did, it would open the doors to allow any government to force an US Militay member to show up at thier inquest. Imagine Lybia calling an inquest and expecting the F14 pilot who shot down one of thier aircraft a few years ago to show up... For the same reason the tape was made secret. As much as I don't like it, I understand it.

Answer 3

Well in the case your talking about, British military authorities did talk to the pilots. The US and British defense departments both investogated the incident. It was a civilian British Court of Inquest ( coroner ), who wanted to bring the pilots to Britian for the inquest. No they shouldn't be court martialed. A british Air Controller, told the pilots there were no British soldiers anywhere near the area the pilots were in. Plus the fact, that the Brits, have not court martialed an British soldiers for the 6 friendly fire incidents they have been involved in. The Brits can always provide thier own Air Support.

Answer 4

Actually the United states did cooperate fully during the investigation of this incident.

The USAF and the British MOD has already done a full investigation of the incident back in 2003.

The tape was turned over the the British MOD in 2003, so what secrets were kept?

Now whither the US should cooperate during Civil proceeding in Britain, is another story.

Answer 5

Friendly fire is a regrettable consequence of going to war. It should not be hidden and the troops who did it should be investigated but not vilified. It needs to be investigated to learn from the mistakes that caused it.

Answer 6

The US was caught out again with this issue, they tried to hide the fact that this happened, they did not freely give the tape over, it was leaked to the Media. Just like the US more cover ups more lies, it's a sad part of War friend's do get hurt all the time yet most is kept HUSH HUSH.
I for one thank the brave sole that leaked the tape, we again see the true Colors of the US Government,
Those of you that think it was handed over by the US, take your heads out of the sand, your being bushwhacked lied to again.

Answer 7

yes. why should we abandon those that were willing to help. as for truth,there is much we never hear or know the truth about. in the video the airman admitted doing wrong,yet the US claims they did no wrong.

Answer 8

The U.S. is cooperating with the Brits. Where do you think they got the in-flight recording from?