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  4. Friendly Fire always seems to be American

Friendly Fire always seems to be American

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  • S Sean Reilly

    Jeremy Falcon wrote: Know what ya get when you break down the word assume? Ass-u-me? An ass out of u and me. Jeremy Falcon wrote: Yeah, there's that shining example of your maturity again. Pot calling kettle? In the last few days alone, as reported on CNNs web site and tirelessly on the television news, a British Tornado GR4 was shot down by a Patriot missile. An American F-16 pilot on Monday was forced to engage a battery of Patriot missiles after they locked onto his plane as a hostile target. A busload of Syrians (you probably care little for them) was blown to pieces by American planes. Two cruise missiles landed in Turkey - albeit without hurting anyone. Do you wish me to include other incidents - the canadians in Afghanistan, the myriad of allies in the Gulf War 1? The point is, that the majority of these incidents seem to stem from the US side. Now, clearly you are an apologist for anything that comes out of the White House - and that's fine - but to take umbrage over immutable facts simply because they seem, in your overly paranoid mind, to "blame" or "accuse" America is myopic and nesceient. From CNN:"• A U.S. F-16 fighter jet early Monday mistakenly fired on a U.S. Patriot missile battery about 30 miles south of Najaf, Iraq, U.S. Combined Forces Air Component Command said. There were no coalition casualties in the strike. It was the second friendly fire incident of the war. Two British pilots were killed Sunday when a Patriot missile shot down their Tornado GR4 as it returned from a mission over Iraq." http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/25/sprj.irq.war.main/index.html

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    Jason Henderson
    wrote on last edited by
    #26

    Sean Reilly wrote: Patriot missile Nothing is perfect. Sean Reilly wrote: A busload of Syrians (you probably care little for them) was blown to pieces by American planes. Wrong place at the wrong time and not friendlies per se. Sean Reilly wrote: Two cruise missiles landed in Turkey Nothing is perfect. If the British were the main combatants, or Canadians or French or German, they would be the ones with the majority of friendly-fire incidents. On the other hand, we wouldn't hear about Iraqi ff incidents now would we?

    Jason Henderson
    "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi

    articles profile

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    • S Sean Reilly

      Richard Stringer wrote: The guy , Sean, is an idiot anyway so don't cloud is silly little head with any facts. He probably is the type who runs from poodles or anyone over 5' tall. But he is a legend in his own mind. Marvelous wit, not to mention linguistic talent, you display there. Why would this be? Because someone dares to voice an opinion you dislike? I suppose you'll now come and invade my home and "americanise" me.

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      Doug Goulden
      wrote on last edited by
      #27

      Is that like cunninglinguistic?:rolleyes: Uptight Ex-Military Republican married to a Commie Lib - How weird is that?

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      • J Jeremy Falcon

        Sean Reilly wrote: Pot calling kettle? Nope. It's a known saying in the US meaning that both parties in a bitchfest are nothing more than a couple of asses. Sean Reilly wrote: An American F-16 pilot on Monday was forced to engage a battery of Patriot missiles after they locked onto his plane as a hostile target. This is just a repeat of the same info below. Sean Reilly wrote: A busload of Syrians (you probably care little for them) was blown to pieces by American planes. No, that's tragic. But, accidents do to happen in war. I don't like hearing this as much as I don't like hearing about US soldiers being killed. What makes the matter worse is when everyone and their mother are just waiting to bash the US. And the media hype doesn't help because, as been stated before, everyone wants to know what the US is doing, not the other way around. So, US screw-ups are reported way much more. And such a blind assumption (again) on your part. Tisk tisk! Sean Reilly wrote: It was the second friendly fire incident of the war. Enough said. Jeremy Falcon

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        Sean Reilly
        wrote on last edited by
        #28

        Jeremy Falcon wrote: This is just a repeat of the same info below. Indeed. But you also asked for a link. Jeremy Falcon wrote: What makes the matter worse is when everyone and their mother are just waiting to bash the US. In your own paranoid mind. What was it you said .. Jeremy Falcon wrote: And such a blind assumption (again) on your part. Tisk tisk! And even if they do "bash" the Almighty US of A ... what of it? Is there some rule of law that prohibits people from voicing disquiet over American actions or is it just written somewhere that whatever the US does has a mandate from Heaven. Is the US Heaven? Does God live in the White House? Inquiring minds want to know ...

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        • K KaRl

          About WW2, there are plenty of stories of british planes attacked by US fighters (for example the squadron leader Pat Thornton-Browne of the 609 West Riding shot down by P47s which also shot 2 others typhoons in the attack) , or in Closterman's book "the Big Show" the attack of his flight by P51s and how one of his wingman even fired back) Jeremy Falcon wrote: Because nobody cares unless it's the US in the frying pan. Perhaps.


          Angels banished from heaven have no choice but to become demons Cowboy Bebop

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          Jason Henderson
          wrote on last edited by
          #29

          More anti-US crap out of Karl the commie. X|

          Jason Henderson
          "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi

          articles profile

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          • D Doug Goulden

            Is that like cunninglinguistic?:rolleyes: Uptight Ex-Military Republican married to a Commie Lib - How weird is that?

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            Sean Reilly
            wrote on last edited by
            #30

            You bugger! I now have coffee all over my monitor ...

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            • S Sean Reilly

              I'm sure there is the odd incident where the side doing the firing isn't American, but I haven't heard of any. Is this trend due to the sheer prevalence of US forces and arms or due to a wider degree of incompetance? Even rated on a proportional basis, the Americans do seem to screw up a lot. Just goes to show - there's nothing more dangerous than a dumb user.

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              Doug Goulden
              wrote on last edited by
              #31

              For all you apologists, and people who wanna criticize the US: Earlier Colonel Vernon told the BBC that Iraqi forces were using human shields to defend Basra. "Seventh Armoured Brigade have made reports of gunmen, irregular forces, coming forward with civilians in front of them - we assume being coerced," he said. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2886805.stm[^] Uptight Ex-Military Republican married to a Commie Lib - How weird is that?

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              • K KaRl

                Paul Belikian wrote: Maybe it's because most of the 300,000 troops are American? Intersting point. How many Americans are in Iraq and how many of them are fighting troops "on the field" (ie not services, intendance, HQ..) ? US Army is known to have a lot of services to follow the battle core. During WW2, Marshall hoped to make 212 divisions with 8 millions men, but finally could only make 90 (+ the armoured divisions? can't remember), because of the inflation of the services. So I wonder how many troops the US really use. Even 300 000 men seem pretty a pretty low number to take and control such a big country.


                Angels banished from heaven have no choice but to become demons Cowboy Bebop

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                Chris Austin
                wrote on last edited by
                #32

                That is intersting KaЯl. I would venture to guess that the lower number may be a result of the increased use of air power to "shape" targets. But, it does seem like a small force to me. Hey don't worry, I can handle it. I took something. I can see things no one else can see. Why are you dressed like that? - Jack Burton

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                • S Sean Reilly

                  You bugger! I now have coffee all over my monitor ...

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                  Doug Goulden
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #33

                  Now why would that be? :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh: Uptight Ex-Military Republican married to a Commie Lib - How weird is that?

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                  • D Doug Goulden

                    For all you apologists, and people who wanna criticize the US: Earlier Colonel Vernon told the BBC that Iraqi forces were using human shields to defend Basra. "Seventh Armoured Brigade have made reports of gunmen, irregular forces, coming forward with civilians in front of them - we assume being coerced," he said. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2886805.stm[^] Uptight Ex-Military Republican married to a Commie Lib - How weird is that?

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                    Sean Reilly
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #34

                    Apologist? For what exactly? Look, pointing out the inhuman lunacy of the Iraqi regime isn't exactly going to alter the fact that over the course of the last half-dozen or so conflicts that allied troops have been involved in, the overwhelming majority of "freindly fire" incidents have been perpetrated by US forces. Next you'll be dragging up Pol Pot as an example of "friendly fire". Human shields are not "friendly fire" in the military sense - as you well know, being an ex-military type!

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                    • D Doug Goulden

                      Now why would that be? :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh: Uptight Ex-Military Republican married to a Commie Lib - How weird is that?

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                      Sean Reilly
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #35

                      Because despite, apparently, being a communist-terrorist sympathiser who dared wag a finger at Gods own people I do have a sense of humour.

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                      • S Sean Reilly

                        Jeremy Falcon wrote: This is just a repeat of the same info below. Indeed. But you also asked for a link. Jeremy Falcon wrote: What makes the matter worse is when everyone and their mother are just waiting to bash the US. In your own paranoid mind. What was it you said .. Jeremy Falcon wrote: And such a blind assumption (again) on your part. Tisk tisk! And even if they do "bash" the Almighty US of A ... what of it? Is there some rule of law that prohibits people from voicing disquiet over American actions or is it just written somewhere that whatever the US does has a mandate from Heaven. Is the US Heaven? Does God live in the White House? Inquiring minds want to know ...

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                        Jeremy Falcon
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #36

                        Sean Reilly wrote: In your own paranoid mind. What was it you said .. Just so you can get your stupid insults straight... par·a·noid adj.

                        1. Relating to, characteristic of, or affected with paranoia.
                        2. Exhibiting or characterized by extreme and irrational fear or distrust of others: a paranoid suspicion that the phone might be bugged.

                        Sean Reilly wrote: what of it? Would you like to find hordes of people insulting your homeland without real reason aside from propaganda? Sean Reilly wrote: Is there some rule of law that prohibits people from voicing disquiet over American actions I sorta agree. We should let the Neanderthals kill themselves. Sean Reilly wrote: Is the US Heaven? Does God live in the White House? Inquiring minds want to know ... You're making my job of making you look asinine way too easy. Jeremy Falcon

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                        • S Sean Reilly

                          Because despite, apparently, being a communist-terrorist sympathiser who dared wag a finger at Gods own people I do have a sense of humour.

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                          Doug Goulden
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #37

                          Ohhhhhhh....... BTW I don't recall saying I was one of God's own people, not anymore than anyone else anyway, although I am considered quite handsome :-D Uptight Ex-Military Republican married to a Commie Lib - How weird is that?

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                          • J Jason Henderson

                            More anti-US crap out of Karl the commie. X|

                            Jason Henderson
                            "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi

                            articles profile

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                            KaRl
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #38

                            All I describe are historical facts. Where the crap?


                            Angels banished from heaven have no choice but to become demons Cowboy Bebop

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                            • J Jeremy Falcon

                              Sean Reilly wrote: In your own paranoid mind. What was it you said .. Just so you can get your stupid insults straight... par·a·noid adj.

                              1. Relating to, characteristic of, or affected with paranoia.
                              2. Exhibiting or characterized by extreme and irrational fear or distrust of others: a paranoid suspicion that the phone might be bugged.

                              Sean Reilly wrote: what of it? Would you like to find hordes of people insulting your homeland without real reason aside from propaganda? Sean Reilly wrote: Is there some rule of law that prohibits people from voicing disquiet over American actions I sorta agree. We should let the Neanderthals kill themselves. Sean Reilly wrote: Is the US Heaven? Does God live in the White House? Inquiring minds want to know ... You're making my job of making you look asinine way too easy. Jeremy Falcon

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                              Sean Reilly
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #39

                              Jeremy Falcon wrote: Would you like to find hordes of people insulting your homeland without real reason aside from propaganda? You really have swallowed the party line. So, there is nothing that anyone can fairly criticise the US about then? It's all just propoganda. Jeremy Falcon wrote: You're making my job of making you look asinine way too easy. Funny that you would see it that way. Somone makes a fair criticism of the US and you're off on a crusade ... I guess that explains a lot. Jeremy Falcon wrote: I sorta agree. We should let the Neanderthals kill themselves. You were talking about looking asinine ...

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                              • C Chris Austin

                                That is intersting KaЯl. I would venture to guess that the lower number may be a result of the increased use of air power to "shape" targets. But, it does seem like a small force to me. Hey don't worry, I can handle it. I took something. I can see things no one else can see. Why are you dressed like that? - Jack Burton

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                                KaRl
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #40

                                Whatever the air power, ground forces are needed to occupy the field, especially infantry troops. Air control eases the attack, but doesn't guarantee by itself the victory, IMHO.


                                Angels banished from heaven have no choice but to become demons Cowboy Bebop

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                                • D Doug Goulden

                                  Ohhhhhhh....... BTW I don't recall saying I was one of God's own people, not anymore than anyone else anyway, although I am considered quite handsome :-D Uptight Ex-Military Republican married to a Commie Lib - How weird is that?

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                                  Sean Reilly
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #41

                                  Doug Goulden wrote: ... although I am considered quite handsome "Mirror, mirror on the wall ..." doesn't count. :| And I don't recall saying that you had referred to yourself as the offspring of a deity ... I was merely "taking the sense" as Maggie was wont to say.

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                                  • S Sean Reilly

                                    Richard Stringer wrote: The guy , Sean, is an idiot anyway so don't cloud is silly little head with any facts. He probably is the type who runs from poodles or anyone over 5' tall. But he is a legend in his own mind. Marvelous wit, not to mention linguistic talent, you display there. Why would this be? Because someone dares to voice an opinion you dislike? I suppose you'll now come and invade my home and "americanise" me.

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                                    Richard Stringer
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #42

                                    Won't need to - McDonalds-CNN-Levis-the net - they have already 'americanized' you. However I don't think that there is a cure for the illness that you have. It seems to be particularly European. Oh what the hell - we'll own the whole damn place anyway if a short time so why sweat the small stuff. Richard In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love; they had five hundred years of democracy and peace and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock. Orson Welles

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                                    • S Sean Reilly

                                      Jeremy Falcon wrote: Would you like to find hordes of people insulting your homeland without real reason aside from propaganda? You really have swallowed the party line. So, there is nothing that anyone can fairly criticise the US about then? It's all just propoganda. Jeremy Falcon wrote: You're making my job of making you look asinine way too easy. Funny that you would see it that way. Somone makes a fair criticism of the US and you're off on a crusade ... I guess that explains a lot. Jeremy Falcon wrote: I sorta agree. We should let the Neanderthals kill themselves. You were talking about looking asinine ...

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                                      Jeremy Falcon
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #43

                                      Sean Reilly wrote: So, there is nothing that anyone can fairly criticise the US about then? I never said that. And there is a difference between constructive criticism and a blithe troll. Sean Reilly wrote: Somone makes a fair criticism of the US Refer to my previous statement. Sean Reilly wrote: You were talking about looking asinine ... Yes I was. :) Jeremy Falcon

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                                      • K KaRl

                                        Paul Belikian wrote: Maybe it's because most of the 300,000 troops are American? Intersting point. How many Americans are in Iraq and how many of them are fighting troops "on the field" (ie not services, intendance, HQ..) ? US Army is known to have a lot of services to follow the battle core. During WW2, Marshall hoped to make 212 divisions with 8 millions men, but finally could only make 90 (+ the armoured divisions? can't remember), because of the inflation of the services. So I wonder how many troops the US really use. Even 300 000 men seem pretty a pretty low number to take and control such a big country.


                                        Angels banished from heaven have no choice but to become demons Cowboy Bebop

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                                        Paul Belikian
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #44

                                        Well, the object of the war is not to take control of the country; it's to free the Iraqi people. ;P It's very interesting that France wants a huge part in rebuilding Iraq. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that they will be losing billions in oil contracts if Saddam is out and the US/UK are in?

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                                        • S Sean Reilly

                                          Apologist? For what exactly? Look, pointing out the inhuman lunacy of the Iraqi regime isn't exactly going to alter the fact that over the course of the last half-dozen or so conflicts that allied troops have been involved in, the overwhelming majority of "freindly fire" incidents have been perpetrated by US forces. Next you'll be dragging up Pol Pot as an example of "friendly fire". Human shields are not "friendly fire" in the military sense - as you well know, being an ex-military type!

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                                          Doug Goulden
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #45

                                          Didn't mean to imply that it was the same thing, just aggrevated that everything in here is anti-American. Seriously though, and a lot more on topic, I think that there is probably no greater chance of an individual American soldier being killed by friendly fire than there is for anyone else. With body armor and a lot of the training these guys get, the incidence is probably less. I think you cn probably attribute most of the friendly fire incidents into 2 categories. 1. Technical failure - A supposedly high tech automated weapon, like a smart bomb, or Patriot missle going off course. 2. Mistaken identity - Shooting at the wrong person, or being in the wrong place. I seriously doubt the Iraqis have to much problem with smart weapons malfunctioning. And infantrymen don't have to be worried about being involved in vehicle accidents. So I think it really boils down to the reality that the US has had many more troops in the field than most any country with a free media. Do you think that Saddam Hussein or the Taliban would allow there media to report on a "friendly fire" episode? I think friendly fire has probably been around since cavemen started chucking spears at one another, the difference is now we hear about it. Uptight Ex-Military Republican married to a Commie Lib - How weird is that?

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