Three more British soldiers on Friday - how can we stop them killing our troops ?
2007-08-26 08:18:52 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Andy - I know it's not intentional - it's sheer incompetence. And are the troops there to "drive out terrorists?" Sorry, I thought it was to get rid of Saddam. But we did that. Oh no, wait, it was to establish a democracy and elect a government. But we did that ? So, it's getting rid of the terrorists now, is it ?
Terrorists would be those who kill innocent people for no reason, would it ?
Talk about moving the goalposts!
2007-08-26 08:44:21 · update #1
Sean G - you're quite right, the most recent incident was in Afghanistan. However my point was that this keeps on happening wherever our troops fight alongside. When I added my later comment, I was replying to Andy, who was talking about Iraq. Should have made myself clearer on that. Personal insults don't advance your argument at all.
2007-08-26 21:00:18 · update #2
War is never the answer. The United States needs political leadership that will work with the world instead of acting like a self-righteous bully in the sandbox. Too many innocent people of ALL nations are dying daily because of greed, big business decisions and oil reserves. Not just in Iraq, either.
It's no consolation, I know, but 18,000 of us are dying prematurely here in the U.S. from lack of health care.
2007-08-26 08:29:50 · answer #1 · answered by jen_zen1950 2 · 2⤊ 7⤋
Whilst some Americans are a bit 'trigger happy' most are very professional. Our overstretched army is getting into dangerous situations because it knows that the air forces - RAF and US - will do their utmost to support them when required. It's a complicated and dangerous game but it's certain that many more soldiers have been saved by timely and accurate air strikes. Hopefully the US government will co-operate properly in the inquest this time but let's not blame them before the facts are known. The aircrew must be responsible for their actions but I wonder how well equipped our ground forces were and how much this contributed to the incident. Rather than blame the US military we should be asking what the rest of the world should be doing to help.
2007-08-26 16:49:21 · answer #2 · answered by lotsmorewine 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The latest incident happened in Afghanistan.
It dose seem that all ground forces, are going back to a more visible uniform. Perhaps we would be better of wearing red uniforms again. The vehicles have high vis. orange on their roofs. And the troops at night have flashing infer red lights on themselves. I have a pair of goggle which would pick these lights up. I would be very uneasy having flashing lights on myself, but maybe friendly fire is more of a concern.
They must have been in a bad situation to call in an air strike so close. But they do have the Sky's to them selves. I'm sure they could take a bit more time. The only ground to air missiles the Taliban have are the out of date ones that the CIA gave them.
But it all to easy to comment in the comfort of our homes. I would like to see some MP's going out to see where they are sending other people's sons.
2007-08-26 18:24:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Are your really suggesting that the British "retalliate" for American errors?
You are far too good a nation to lower yourselves to that level.
I don't know the answer; pull out and leave the Americans alone, refuse to go into the field in the same sectors... I just don't know what would make your troops completely safe.
I do hope that no one ever dies from Friendly Fire again. British, Canadians or Americans.
g-day!
2007-08-27 22:36:03 · answer #4 · answered by Kekionga 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Troops killed by friendly fire is part of war. It's not intentional. It is now documented more than ever so you hear about it more frequently. With the technology we have today it doesn't occur as much as it did in the past. This is a tough war. Americans need to succeed in driving terrorists out of Iraq so stability can come forth. But they need the help of the Iraqi people and the world. If they exit too early the country will crumble and become a breeding ground for everything crazy in this world.
2007-08-26 15:37:06 · answer #5 · answered by Andy G 2 · 6⤊ 3⤋
Two points, Firstly Britain is not prepared to send more planes of its own to Afghanistan. Why not, the RAF is far more efficient than the USAF? Its to do with money, Gordon Brown is as tight as a mackerels *** with the purse strings!
Secondly, it wasnt intentional, it was a mistake, these things do happen in war. Most people realise the US forces are pretty incompetent, they have the largest and best equipped military, but man for man theyre not that impressive.
The SAS had to rescue a whole company of us soldiers who had been pinned down in the mountains by a handful of taleban a couple of years back!
2007-08-27 08:09:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 2⤋
First off the incident was in Afghanistan Nutter, you mention Saddam so your braindead.
Secondly, with what can the UK retaliate with? You've 7 airplanes to provide Close Air Support in Afghanistan, If your Properly sent your own support you wouldnt have to rely on Seppo's for it.
Face it with Des Browns cutbacks you've become a 10th rate power who has to take what they can get like Beggars, since you cant be bothered to Cover yourselves...
as a Para Major recently said about the RAF:
"Utterly, Utterly, Utterly Useless"
2007-08-26 16:34:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
Sorry to tell you this but in war Soldiers are expendable, and should expect to be injured or killed - the media, mod, etc all try to glam it up, which is why they do not advertise the armed services, with pictures of soldiers with no limbs, or in a box with a union flag on it.
2007-08-27 09:49:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the reason for these so called 'friendly fire' deaths may be because the USAF is short of regular pilots and giving sotires to inexperienced reserve pilots who may never have flown in combat before.
If you are out there, you have my personal persmission to shoot back. Hope you get one.
2007-08-27 15:12:36 · answer #9 · answered by Dragoner 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
And we are not trigger happy. were one of the only military over there that have to shoot a warning shot. well at least when i was there, the rules of engagement were so fucked up you would have to get shot to maybe get the chance to shoot back with out having being charged with murder. thank you American politics
2007-08-26 19:51:08 · answer #10 · answered by angryarron 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
So your solution to what is an accident is to purposly attack an American Military Unit in retaliation.
You are not smart kid, in fact the word dumb comes to mind.
Friendly fire occurs in the "fog of war" for numerous reasons but you cannot prove in this incident the pilot deliberatly planned to bomb British troops.
Hence, you have no intelligent reason to advocate for retaliation.
You obviously have never served in the military* or know how and why such incidents can happen.
*Computer games dont count.
2007-08-27 06:45:22 · answer #11 · answered by conranger1 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋