On Sun, 28 Mar 2004 20:39:02 -0800, Henry J Cobb wrote:

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/29/in...al/29MARI.html
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.

Of course, that's only part of the extensive and detailed report. The
report also noted that it was a Marine controller that called in the
strike.

So once again The Force cannot accept any responsibility for anything
they do.

Who is "The Force"? Certainly the military accepted full
responsibility for conducting a detailed investigation of the tragedy.
And, the military made the report of the investigation available to
the public. And, you can bet that the outcome of the report is that
the oversights and errors that occurred will drive the development of
procedural changes to minimize the chance of recurrence.

How many more will die before they leave tac air to the services that
can at least identify unique American vehicles on sight?

What services would that be, Henry? Ever been in a battle in a
tactical fast-mover? Ever tried to identify a vehicle from an
airplane? Ever seen a camouflaged vehicle from the air? Ever employed
a weapon system of any kind? In battle?

I didn't think so. It's damnably easy to be critical and glib when
demeaning a system from the comfort of one's easy chair.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8