Friendly fire?...Don't the Yanks ever learn?

searchfothetruth

The British forces are under double pressure as they not only have to be aware of attacks from the Iraqi's but they have to keep one eye on their American friends.

During the last gulf war, the Americans inflicted more casualties on the Coalition forces than the Iraqi's did.

Friendly fire seems to be limited to the Americans. You never hear of the Royal Marines accidentally shooting up a car of journalists or blowing an American plane out of the sky...

but, what am I saying, the Americans have a president that has attacked another nation without just cause... so thats where they get it from.

Watch out boys!...the Americans are about. Take cover.

teenyuck

Perhaps you missed this:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/22/48886/1.ashx

but, what am I saying, the Americans have a president that has attacked another nation without just cause... so thats where they get it from.
Watch out boys!...

What you are saying is inflammatory and uncalled for. SaintSatan already started a thread on this; why another?

searchfothetruth

How is it inflamatory?

Is it true? Yes. The Iraqi's did not kill one coalition serviceman during the last war but the Americans killed quite a few by friendly fire.

Again, we have seen today the same things happening. We were told last week that British marines and American marines had been mixed together in special units to try to avoid the instances of friendly fire.

Friendly fire is going to happen when you have so many troops and so much firepower at their disposal, but why is it always Americans that make the mistakes?

As for SaintSatans thread, I didn't see it and I apologise for taking up a precious line in the index.

Simon

I can understand the strong feeling ... war is bad enough without being killed by your own forces.

However, given the present danger in the area, the complexity of running an impromptu major flight centre and the general confusion during a conflict it is not surprising that these things happen.

It would be a shame if lessons couldn't be learnt and I'm sure there is always somthing that can be improved but its one of the inevitibilities of war.

Thnings are improving ... we now count the causualties of Friendly Fire (such a bad term) in low digits whereas years ago (such as in WWII) whole regiments could have been carpet bombed.

Simon

For me the key things are:

They should be open and honest about it and apologise which they seem to have done.

It should be an accident and not negligence (or else someone should be kicked)

War is a risky business ... perhaps we expect too much?

Englishman

The latest incident of "Friendly fire" is the downing of a UK Tornado fighter plane:http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1084724,00.html

As for whether or not the thread can be considered inflammatory, IMHO "Don't the Yanks ever learn" will alienate Americans generally, be they pro or anti war, so yes, it does appear to me to be an inflammatory heading.

It's just too much of a generalisation and appears, to me anyway, to hold all Americans collectively responsible for the "friendly fire" incidents, which is rather unfair in my view.

Englishman.

teenyuck

E-man, you said what I was going to....

Thank you.

Simon

I would like to calm things down but it takes BOTH SIDES.

There have been equally inflamatory topics by pro-war'ers (whatever the word is)

I hope my comments on this thread have been fair.

searchfothetruth

If someone asked if the Brits ever learned, if they were 'accidentally' killing American servicemen/women I wouldn't be offended because I am not over there firing a gun or flying a fighter. If anyone is offended by me critisising the American 'Military' then they should be offended by the tide of critisism that the world is throwing at the American Government for starting this war.

teenyuck

Simon, I think your comments were very fair.

I totally agree.

Friendly fire?...Don't the Yanks ever learn?

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