US troops get training to avoid friendly-fire attacks on British

[redacted]

A British officer in Basra said: “The Americans can be pretty pumped-up. Sometimes they fire in broad daylight when we are traveling at two miles per hour, shouting that we are British out of the window and waving the Union Jack. If they shoot, our drill is to slam on the brakes and race in the opposite direction.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-1517327,00.html

[jpgray]

1. This is probably what the Pentagon wants to cover up vis-a-vis Sgrena

As opposed to an assassination attempt. I bet the RoE are rarely followed, if they even exist.

[xray s]

2. Should be a little easier with the British

In that we share the same language and all...well, they do have funny names for food and call the hood of a car a bonnet...but still, I think they know "Stop or I'll blow the living shit out of your car" means stop.

[Liberal Veteran]

3. This requires training?

Um, hey guys! Those are brits. See the uniform and flag?

[theHandpuppet]

7. Do you really think...

... even half of those guys could identify the Union Jack? I don't.

[aden_nak]

4. It's actually not surprising.

When you consider the way these kids were trained. . . or should I say considering the lack of training these kids got. Remember, a large percentage of them were whisked through to Iraq at completely irresponsible speeds, having signed up for what they thought would only be domestic, weekend duty.

So now they're in a foreign county where every patch of dirt is a roadside bomb and every approaching car is a suicide attack. Those are intolerable levels of stress, and it's really no suprise that some of the soldiers are getting trigger happy. When everything is out to kill you, it's common to try to kill everything else first.

Tunnel vision can be a dangerous thing when you're looking down the scope of a rifle.

[Guckert]

5. How about, DON'T SHOOT YOUR ALLIES!! training over.

unless their French? Thanks Bushy

[LizW]

8. LOL!

My thoughts exactly! Training to prevent friendly fire? It's in the manual right after "Don't shoot yourself."

[Squatch]

6. Friendly fire ain't.

[htuttle]

9. Huh. Must be those new "Faith-Based Rules of Engagement"

Close your eyes, pull the trigger, and hope you don't hit anyone you know.