2 U.S. forces mistakenly killed by drone attack in Afghanistan

[Bosonic]

Source: NBC

WASHINGTON — A U.S. Marine reservist and a Navy corpsman were killed in a drone airstrike in Afghanistan last week in an apparent case of friendly fire, U.S. military officials tell NBC News.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42537620/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/

[OhioChick]

1. The right hand is not knowing what the left hand is doing n/t

[Angry Dragon]

2. That is what happens when you turn war into a video game

[dipsydoodle]

3. Killed by a chicken

coming home to roost.

[goobergoober01]

4. AND who will be sending the big OOPS note to the family...

sorry, R2D2 and I couldda sworn it was an enemy, or maybe just a blur, well, y'know, we said SORRY!!!

maybe we could get colin powell for this job, he has a history of saying how SORRY he is

[SpiralHawk]

5. "Condolences." - Pat Tillman (Victim of 'Friendly Fire' & Republicon Lies)

[Arctic Dave]

6. Give the families a few hundred bucks and tell them it was for their own good.

Freedom is messy.

[No Elephants]

16. Freedom?

[Plucketeer]

7. Sure hope

the drone pilot didn't have his supper spoiled by this little goof. Be a real shame if there was another casualty.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. If the drone pilot was at fault

I'd guess the drone pilot sits at the bottom of some totem pole, with spotters, target selection officers, decision-makers and other authorities sitting above him.

Whoever is at fault, and it's probably a number of people, yes the drone pilot will be losing sleep and appetite. And will be in for a alien-abduction level of scrutiny and hopefully some therapy.

[Plucketeer]

15. There may be a STRING of characters in line for blame

but it's the pilot that pulled the trigger ultimately.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Afghanistan: Drone missile 'killed two US soldiers'

Source: BBC News

12 April 2011 Last updated at 03:39 ET
Afghanistan: Drone missile 'killed two US soldiers'

A drone missile strike is suspected of killing two US soldiers by mistake in southern Afghanistan last week, US military officials have said.

The apparent case of "friendly fire" is being investigated - if it is confirmed it would be a rare instance of pilotless aircraft killing US forces.

The incident took place in Helmand province where US-led troops are trying to push back Taliban insurgents.

US drones frequently target suspected militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan.


Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13046183

[midnight]

9. Yesterday I was listening to Pat Tillman's mother and she said

her son being killed by friendlies happens more than the military is letting families know....

[democrank]

10. On and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on

[douglas9]

12. Niles community remembers sailor who died in Afghanistan

NILES -- A Niles man has been killed in Afghanistan. Navy Corpsman Benjamin Rast, 23, died while on patrol in Afghanistan Wednesday morning. So far, the Navy has not released the cause of his death.

Navy officials say they have to wait 24 hours after the family is notified before they share information of that matter. But his father says he was told that his son was killed by an explosion from a hellfire rocket while on patrolling. That is a weapon that is typically fired from American helicopters.

Now, the Niles community is remembering the young hero they just left.

“He was always smiling, he was always happy," said Aaron Edquist, a high school friend.

http://www.southbendtribune.com/sbt-niles-community-remembers-sailor-who-died-in-afghanistan-20110407,0,5474411.story

[douglas9]

13. Military investigates possible friendly fire

The military is investigating the deaths of a Houston-based Marine reservist and Navy hospital corpsman in an apparent friendly fire incident, a Defense Department spokeswoman said Monday.

Lt. Col. Elizabeth Robbins said the deaths of Marine Staff Sgt. Jeremy Smith, 26, of Arlington, and Navy Seaman Benjamin Rast, 23, of Niles, Mich., in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday are being investigated by International Security Assistance Force Joint Command but declined to give further details.

The families of both men say military officials told them the two were killed Wednesday by a Hellfire missile, a weapon fired by U.S. aircraft.

Smith and Rast were assigned to 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, also known as The Lone Star Battalion.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/military/7517507.html

[Nihil]

14. Collateral damage.

Tough shit.

That's what happens in a war zone.

They were probably insurgents anyway.

It's worth it if it saves even one US soldier's life. Oops.


(Have I missed any?)

[No Elephants]

18. +1

[Rage for Order]

17. At least the military admitted it this time, rather than trying to cover it up

That's an improvement