Marine Is Blamed in Marine Deaths

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/29/international/worldspecial/29MARI.html

WASHINGTON, March 28 (Reuters) — The worst American case of troops having been killed by their own side in the Iraq war has been ascribed to a Marine captain who called fighter jets to strike suspected Iraqi positions last March, unaware that dozens of marines were in the area, defense officials said Sunday.

Ten marines were killed and three were wounded in a firefight near the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriya in which fire from the American side played a partial role. An investigation report, to be released on Monday by the United States Central Command, said the dead were so shot up by both Iraqis and A-10 Air Force jets that it was almost impossible to determine exactly how they had died.

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[MSgt213]

1. Yea well the Captain nor the Marines would have been where they were if

were'nt for GWB so it's his fault. I'm sure the Marine Captain will except responsibility though unlike his boss.

[mn9driver]

2. Friendly fire casualties will always happen

whenever you have troops on the ground in a combat situation. Battle is just too confusing and mistakes get made. This Marine may have screwed up, but he isn't the first and sadly, he won't be the last.

[Columbia]

5. He made no mistake, he is a scapegoat

How about finding out why the air controller was not notified that troops would be in that area? Were they supposed to be there in the first place? Who gave the order for them to be there?

There is a bigger fish to fry up the chain...

[Voltaire99]

3. Are the dead "heroes," would you say?

I would call them victims, first and foremost, of our corrupt politicians.

And not only of pols. Victims, too, of a public that willingly (and excitedly) sacrificed them on the altar of its self-righteous hatred.

Is it possible for the public to come to its senses soon, or is the nation too soundly asleep, dreaming of bigger cars and TV screens, for the development of a moral conscience? And if it does come to its senses, can our political establishment be made to obey us?

Unhappy questions for a low hour in our history...

[Bucky]

6. Yes. Friendly fire is a hazard of war. They took on that risk to serve us.

They wore their country's uniform and did what their civilian bosses asked of them. It doesn't matter which hazard of war you die from. It takes a special quality of bravery to put on that uniform. I disagree with the policy, but I don't see that there could be any debate about whether the people in uniform are showing valor in carrying out their duties. Even the ones making bad decisions (like the army officer who ordered the housed bulldozed down for having pro-Sadaam grafitti on them) are doing their best in an impossible situation.

Blame the damned policy, not the guys who are following orders.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

4. This is what happens when mistakes are made

I was involved in such an incident when I was with the Marine Corps. I hope this guy can find peace, as I finally have.

[xchrom]

7. this is bush's fault

the buck stops at the oval office.

[truthspeaker]

8. but why was he unaware?

Every friendly fire incident seems to focus on the person who pulled the trigger or the immediate superior who gave the order. I never hear anything about what system, if any, was in place to keep everyone informed every other unit's position and why it failed.