Yanks shoot up civilians in Libyan village

[Gromit]

// The wrecked war plane erupted in a ball of flames, heightening the sense of fear. But the first American to walk clear – tall and with a moustache – need not have worried. He held up his hands in submission and tried his best to surrender, calling out "OK, OK" to the advancing crowd. But his parachute had delivered him safely into a field of sheep, deep in rebel-held territory.
"I hugged him and said don't be scared we are your friends," said Younis Amruni, 27, one of the first on the scene.
An American rescue was meanwhile on its way, and it was to taint this touching scene of comradeship. Witnesses said a helicopter whirred low over the treetops as a second warplane strafed the meadow in a botched attempt to collect the two men. Six people were hurt as they scrambled for cover and US military chiefs later declined to comment or denied that shooting had taken place. While they did so, the injured lay in hospital, and one had to have his leg amputated. //

http://www.telegraph....-the-bullets-fly.html

Didn't take long for the Yanks to start shooting the wrong people. This was deep in rebel held territory, a long way fro Gaddafi's men. Is this history repeating itself? The US start off as liberators only to turn the people against them by 'friendly fire' incidents against civilians?

[boxtops]

Trigger happy again by the sound of it - I heard that story on the news this morning, two farmers ran out to help the downed pilot and were shot for their helpfulness. Does the US no favours, they shoot before they think (or so it seems).

[starone]

Panic, as usual.

[anotheoldgit]

Get real, you don't seriously think that the crew member shot up this crowd just for the hell of it?

Perhaps you have never been in a situation where a split second decision has turned wrong.

This is a war situation and lives are often at risk, when one has a micro second to make an assessment of a situation.

[RATTER15]

I imagine the American pilots had no idea these guys were friendly, it was a rebel held territory, they were trying to protect their comrades from the locals that were running towards them.

Difficult call if you ask me.

[Sqad]

It´s called "WAR"...........collateral damage...........it happens all the time.

As AOG says..........do you wait for him to shoot you OR...............!!!!

Ratter is correct.....difficult call.

[NOX]

The whole terminology here amuses me no end. If you are in Libya and object to Col Gadaffi you are a 'rebel', if you are in Iraq and object to the Yanks and Brits being there you are an ' insurgent' and if you were in Ireland and objected to the 500 year occupaiton of your country by the English you were a 'terrorist'- so which is it people? The only thing all three have in common is that you WILL get shot- often in the back.

[Sqad]

Nox ;-)

[The-HouseHusband]

Firstly it is not a war!! It is an uprising of public anger against what they see as a harsh leader.

Secondly it has nothing to do with the USA or British or any other UN member state that called for the no fly zone.

Thirdly, the Yanks have always been trigger happy, when you have experienced it first hand you may understand what a bunch of cowboys they are!! Even with the correct markings, radio call signs and other electronic gear designed to prevent this sort of thing the Yanks will still shot first and then ask try and dig their way out afterwards!!

Yet again we have been dragged into a situation that is nothing to do with us but the Yanks say jump so our spineless leaders ask how high and how many.

[The-HouseHusband]

AOG, RATTER, Sqad & triggerhappy, before commenting did you read the article or establish facts, it was not a split second decision as it was some time after the plane was grounded that this "heroic" rescue mission took place.

Helicopters tend to fly a lot slower than attack aircraft and they are not sent out at the same time just in case a plane gets downed.

This was a planned rescue that happened some time after the event, no doubt after surveillance of the area by satellite and drones.

[McMouse]

There is a very strong ethic in some military organisations to do whatever possible to rescue injured or cut-off comrades. It is a natural instinct to see armed 'irregulars' on the ground as possibly hostile and to react accordingly. Friendly fire incidents happen.....yes, the US seem to have more of such incidents than other countries but the US happen to carry out more air sorties than all other countries put together. If I needed rescuing I'd rather the US were looking for me than our French, Italian or German allies.

[rojash]

"If I needed rescuing I'd rather the US were looking for me"
Hmm, I seem to remember the last time they rescued a non-US citizen, they blew her up with a grenade.

[NOX]

If I needed rescuing I'd rather the US left me with my captors because I think I'd be safer:(

[anotheoldgit]

/// Firstly it is not a war!!///

War : A state of open, armed often prolonged conflict carried on between nations, states, or parties.

/// it was not a split second decision as it was some time after the plane was grounded that this "heroic" rescue mission took place.///

That is obvious, but it may become a split second decision situation once the helicopter finally reaches the crash scene.

There would have been no time for a survey of the scene by satellite and drones as you suggest, but if there was would the survey be able to come to a conclusion whether or not these people were friend or foe?

Yes I did indeed read the article and also established the facts,

/// "We didn't hear any shots. It just fell from the sky by itself and then there was a big explosion."///

/// Before they knew it the rescue helicopter had swept in low from the north.///

Judging by this it doesn't seem that it was a some time before the rescue mission took place, as you also stated.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit, you criticised my Avatar in an earlier post, well I have just been looking at yours.

Didn't have you down as a 'Queen' Gromit.

[anotheoldgit]

Macmouse

Don't have the Germans down as our allies Macmouse, didn't they abstain from the UN's 'no- fly zone' vote?

[youngmafbog]

I dont think anyone can deny that the Sepics are a bit gung ho. General rule is never go into battle in front of them. Still hopefully they will back out of it soon

[Gromit]

AOG

I did not criticise your avatar, I was surprised that someone who normally dislikes all things European should adopt the Eurofighter. It was the result of European countries working in unity and the result proves what can be achieved by such cooperation.

The Queen Gromit is a bit old hat. I will change it when I can.

[dotty.]

My sister was the buyer for all the cockpit bits for the eurofighter and got an award for it too, a gold pen, nice,.

[Xylene]

Dotty, what colour scheme did she choose?