Sorry Canucks

Undertoad · 04-18-2002, 01:56 PM

Nic, Ziggurat, and any other Canadians we have here... my deepest condolences to the familes of your countrymen. Four Canadians soldiers dead from US friendly fire. To put it plainly... that sucks!

ndetroit · 04-22-2002, 11:35 AM

An interesting article on slate:

http://slate.msn.com/?id=2064055

saying that 24% of all US casualties in the gulf war were victims of "friendly fire"..

.... flags around here (vancouver) were at half staff for part of last week, which I believe is unusual. (Half-staff usually reserved for high-ranking military, politicians, etc)

Nic Name · 04-22-2002, 01:09 PM

Friendly fire, casualties of war, acceptable losses, etc.

These terms are military jargon that sanitizes the horror of the experience.

Yes, it's a very dangerous place over there, and war is hell. Everyone over there is aware of the risks.

These men were volunteers to defend our freedom. The survivors, and those left behind, struggle to find purpose in the deaths of these soldiers.

Inevitably, there will be accidental casualties in the heat of battle, where human error combines with mechanical failure and freak accident.

But the tragedy in this case is that it was not actually a "heat of battle" scenario for the F-16 pilot. It was not mechanical failure. It was not miscommunication. It was an error in judgment of the worst kind, where a soldier mistakenly attacks his own troops without command and control direction.

Based on preliminary information, it seems to have been an avoidable loss. It certainly merits the fullest inquiry that would be given the loss of American lives in the same circumstances, had American soldiers been bombed by coalition forces of whatever nationality.

Not to assign blame, but to ensure the better safety of all coalition soldiers over there. Being attacked by coalition forces shouldn't be one of the things they have to worry about.

Not so the pilot should feel more pain that he surely does. We feel for him, too. It must be the worst thing that can happen to a soldier. Except, perhaps, to have been on the ground.

Here is the story of that tragic incident from the perspective of the Canadian survivors, in their own words.

Moment of peace turns into terror

Thanks for your condolences, UT.

Nic Name · 04-28-2002, 08:25 PM

Fallen soldiers honoured at
memorial service, today.

04-18-2002, 01:56 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Sorry Canucks Nic, Ziggurat, and any other Canadians we have here... my deepest condolences to the familes of your countrymen. Four Canadians soldiers dead from US friendly fire. To put it plainly... that sucks!

04-22-2002, 01:09 PM	#3
Nic Name retired Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,930	Friendly fire, casualties of war, acceptable losses, etc. These terms are military jargon that sanitizes the horror of the experience. Yes, it's a very dangerous place over there, and war is hell. Everyone over there is aware of the risks. These men were volunteers to defend our freedom. The survivors, and those left behind, struggle to find purpose in the deaths of these soldiers. Inevitably, there will be accidental casualties in the heat of battle, where human error combines with mechanical failure and freak accident. But the tragedy in this case is that it was not actually a "heat of battle" scenario for the F-16 pilot. It was not mechanical failure. It was not miscommunication. It was an error in judgment of the worst kind, where a soldier mistakenly attacks his own troops without command and control direction. Based on preliminary information, it seems to have been an avoidable loss. It certainly merits the fullest inquiry that would be given the loss of American lives in the same circumstances, had American soldiers been bombed by coalition forces of whatever nationality. Not to assign blame, but to ensure the better safety of all coalition soldiers over there. Being attacked by coalition forces shouldn't be one of the things they have to worry about. Not so the pilot should feel more pain that he surely does. We feel for him, too. It must be the worst thing that can happen to a soldier. Except, perhaps, to have been on the ground. Here is the story of that tragic incident from the perspective of the Canadian survivors, in their own words. Moment of peace turns into terror Thanks for your condolences, UT. Last edited by Nic Name; 04-22-2002 at 01:20 PM.

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04-22-2002, 11:35 AM	#2
ndetroit Master Locutor Join Date: May 2001 Location: vancouver Posts: 158	An interesting article on slate: http://slate.msn.com/?id=2064055 saying that 24% of all US casualties in the gulf war were victims of "friendly fire".. .... flags around here (vancouver) were at half staff for part of last week, which I believe is unusual. (Half-staff usually reserved for high-ranking military, politicians, etc)

04-28-2002, 08:25 PM	#4
Nic Name retired Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,930	Fallen soldiers honoured at memorial service, today.

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