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Originally Posted by Chief Bones The part about Bush pisses me off ...but ... it doesn't change my view (see last post).
Questions were brought to the IG's attention and instead of sweeping it under the carpet he directed the CID to check out the circumstances and file a final report to clear up any misunderstanding (or) confusion.
Irregardless of 'who' he was, I feel this is the least we can do for one of our own ... don't you? |
Dear Member,
I have no issue with the friendly-fire death of Tillman. That is war. As they say sh*t happens. My father in WW2 was on a destroyer escort off of Okinawa and he stated he saw US Navy fighters shot down by US warships more than once. It was a fast decision about incoming Kamikazies and it had to be made. During the invasion of Sicily the incoming C-47s towing assault gliders flew over the invasion force and lost a large number of both aircraft and gliders to friendly-fire.
You have to accept friendly fire by ground forces - ie especially infantry -- in a more understanding way. If a fighter-bomber does not release all that happens is some bad guys might not be killed. If a warship refuses to fire a missile it has its close in back up and low level missiles. But if an infantry man in the heat of combat holds fire it can result in his death.
Finally, I have no doubt that those soldiers who accidently fired on Tillman will feel bad about it the rest of their lives. But I think they need a lot more understanding. It is the one time that President Teddy Roosevelts famous statement quoted by JFK is so true "... the credit and blame belongs to the man in the arena in the dust in blood ...." or something to that effect if I remember correctly. If they hang one of those poor soldiers involved it will be one of the grosses injustices of the 9/11 War. It will show that officers are held to no standard and enlisted to the maximum standard.
Jack E. Hammond
PS> I once talked to a retired colonel and he stated that in warfare it is not like wine. To wit "Bad news does not get better with age." That is something every new US Army general staff officer is taught. But for what ever reason that US Army general when Tillman was killed was as Tony Soprano stated "If you can quote the rules, you can obey the rules." He couldn't do that. And now the piper must be paid I fear.