Friendly fire: the untold story of the U.S. bombing that killed four Canadian soldiers in Afghanista...

[ConcernedCanuk]

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Friendly fire: the untold story of the U.S. bombing that killed four Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan

I just finished reading the book - 2 days almost continuous reading - almost 600 pages.

I just missed the "anniversary" of the tragedy by a few days, this happened April 18th, 2002. The book was published in 2005.

The Author, Michael Friscolanti, offers no analysis, just has recorded the facts from as many sides as he could without comment.

The author and staff spent years interviewing the participants, and at the front of the book, he dedicates almost two pages to define all those military acronyms that drive one to distraction.

For being non-fiction, it is well written and coordinated, presenting the views from the victims and their families, the pilots involved, the command structure involved, and the politics of both the USA and Canada . .

a quote from the book, and at the above link

At Tarnak Farm, A Company begins to board the trucks that will take them back to camp. Out of habit , Lt. Luft conducts a roll call of his platoon. 1 Section. Here. 2 Section. here 3 Section. Alastair stops himself. there is no 3 section. Except for Cpl. Chris Oliver, the troops are either dead or in the medical tent.

The guys left behind watch the trucks drive away. For nearly two hours, everyone has been operating on instinct, on training. but now, all the noise, all the adrenaline, are gone. It's suddenly real. Four men are dead. Outside the ambulance, Wilson and Speirs are chain-smoking Korea 88s, replaying the chaos and confusion of those first few minutes. could we have been faster? Did we save everyone who could be saved? there will always be doubts...

By now, there is little doubt about what happened. Some of the guys heard the jet. Some even saw it. They don't know the details yet. Nobody really does. but the Taliban doesn't have any F-16s. that was a U.S. bomb.


(sigh)

[Oregone]

1. Canada needs to just invade and annex Arkansas already

[bvar22]

5. As an Arkansas resident, I can only say....

PLEASE.
I'll wave in the Canadian Army, and let them park at my place if they will cover me with their HealthCare.

[ConcernedCanuk]

2. The overwhelming response just makes our Canuk hearts warm up

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The first casualties of us Canuks in Afghanistan was at the hands of the US War-machine, our "allies".

Took Bush TWO DAYS to figure that it might be a good idea to apologize for killing four of us Canadians

I wish that we had got our asses out of the Afghanistan right then -

We know how much our efforts are "appreciated"

as far as our trade wars recently,

I'd just bite the bullet and cut the USA off of our gas and oil

We CAN live on a lot less than we do, I know

15 years ago I was making 40 grand,

last 10 years I've been living on less than 25% of that,

still alive.

I'm sorta NOT really surprised at the lack of response

that is sad

(sigh)

[gula]

6. Don't hold your breath

We (Canukistanians) don't count for s**t in the US of A.

[malaise]

3. Bushco never cared about these deaths

and M$Greedia virtually ignored them.

[barbtries]

4. that's for sure

i just learned about them with this post.

[Posteritatis]

7. Lord knows the pilot responsible didn't either

All but said they had it coming, refused to ever admit he'd done anything wrong, sued the Air Force for reprimanding him, etc. To seen any more remorseless than he was he'd have to have finished off the soldiers who were wounded.

Folks didn't seem to have much of a problem with that, though. After all, it was only foreigners who were killed, not real people.

[ConcernedCanuk]

8. Many of us Canadians realize this, especially our Armed Forces

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USA should remember,

many of the fellow soldiers and friends of those killed will be alive for over half a century.

We will NOT forget;

or forgive.

Those that want to dispute our Canadian attitude, I suggest they read the book

It will REALLY throw your respect of your military into question.

Try the truth, maybe someone can save the USA from killing itself.

Someone should strap Dim-son onto a gurney and read him that book;

once a month for the rest of his life.

THAT would be justice.