Ernest Sparks

There is no doubt that US forces are deadly. But in all that vaunted warmaking technology they still can't tell friend from foe? Couldn't they set up a signalling system like the old naval shot-across-the-bow (meaning, "turn away now and acknowledge me! I'm on the attack!")?

Gurdur

There are already full systems of recognition flares and signals in place.

Doesn't help when those systems and signals are simply ignored, as when recently two A10 pilots strafed twice a British group, killing several, despite recognition signals.

Ernest Sparks

This MSNBC news item is what spurred my query:
It does seem that it is US forces predominantly killing allies. Is US having problems with allied commanders?

schu

It is surprising that there are not more accidents considering that the pilots are cranked up on speed.

Why wasn't there more disclosure about the military making their pilots use speed. If a truck driver gets caught using it they can go to jail while at the same time another part of the government requires its use.

I guess that while the war, "police action" is going on we are not supposed to think negatively about our military.

Think warm fuzzy thoughts and don't look behind the curtain.

Ernest Sparks

I notice these are all airborn hits. Is it perhaps the case that acquire-fire targetting is just a bit too automated?

Easy Be

The Air Force fly over 1800 sorties a day on average. Don't you think their are bound to be some mistakes???? Please how can you not give our Air Force credit. We have lost a measly TWO coalition warplanes.

That quote you make reference to was a mistake by a US commander with kurdish fighters who apparently called in a airstrike on an Iraqi tank. It had nothing to do with allied commanders.

Predominantly killing allies?

Maybe because the US is the predominant force fighting the war?
How many planes do you think are flying that aren't US?

Never before have this many sorties been carried out with as few friendly fire casualties.

Misso

And how many British ones did "we" shoot down?

To my knowledge, none, except for the British planes - also not to be fired at.


I heard today that the British lost more men to "friendly fire" than they lost to "enemy fire".

Amen-Moses

About 90% of our casualties so far are "friendly fire" incidents.

Oh and coalition air losses are currently 2 jets knocked out by patriots, 5 choppers to accidents, 1 chopper to "friendly fire" and 1 to enemy fire.

(that we have actually been told about of course)

Amen-Moses

Optional

Anybody here keeping up with the alleged GRU briefings at the iraqwar.ru site? Any idea whether or not they're legit?

If they are, then a LOT more have been killed than we've been told, mostly in combat. Still less than 200 or so, but more than the official number.

-me

Loren Pechtel

Two to Patriots? I thought the second pilot managed to kill the radar in time and wasn't shot down.