Pilots's Trial

[efty]

Why is this trial public? These men risked their lifes and now the media is making this a bigger mess than it is.

What do you expect in war. Mistakes are made, it is part of being human, but having these people and the victim's family go through all these BS media attention is just not right.

[Wombat]

I assume you're talking about the friendly fire case. Of course it should be public - it's a manslaughter case. Personally, I hope the blame shifts where it belongs: the culture of forced drug use.

[efty]

I don't know about the forced drug use. What I know from my army service is that people make mistakes when under pressure. They made a mistake and should pay for it, but having a public trial and the jurnalists all over the case does not make the whole situation easier.

Imagine how would you feel if you risked your life for your country and then being accused of manslaughter and facing 64 years in prison!! If was in such a situation I would not hesitate a second to shoot back.

[KvHagedorn]

I didn't see the case.. could you post a link efty?

[efty]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/01/16/mistaken.bombing.ap/

[KvHagedorn]

That's a tragedy.. what are the precedents for dealing with friendly fire cases, I wonder? It is, as they said, the responsibility of their commander to brief them before their mission. If they were not properly briefed and the allies did not have proper communications with each other, it is the fault of their commanding officer for sending them on the mission.

[Joel]

Just another case of the higher ups on both sides of the issue looking for a scapegoat.

Joel

[Kooldino]

That's a shame. Looks like the "commander" is the one to blame.

[R.Carter]

Transcript of radio communications.
Pilots acted with 'reckless disregard': air force general.
U.S. pilots should have known Canadians were below, inquiry told.