🚀 go-pugleaf

"George" <gpublicover@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ee102bf7.0209170842.e695784@posting.google.com...
> I disagree with the decision to lay criminal charges in the friendly
> fire incident. A military court martial, yes...civilian criminal
> court...no way.

Why? People died. Someone is accountable. The Canadian Military isn't
allowed to try cases such as these and the American Military has continually
shown it's inability to operate in a manner that follows it's own code of
conduct on a regular basis.

 I would doubt that a civilian court would have any
> jurisdiction anyway.

In Canada, Military murder and rape charges have to be run through civilian
courts. Civilian court always takes precedence over Military.


 What these pilots did was tragic, but not
> criminal.

Yes it was criminal. They violated their standing orders as well as their
rules of engagement. These actions resulted in the deaths of 4 people.

 We should not hold soldiers criminally responsible for
> battlefield activities...

Yes you should. That's why we have the Geneva Convention Articles. You're
not suggesting soldiers who machine gun thousands of civilians into trenches
shouldn't be held accountable?

military courts have been setup for such
> reasons.

No they are not. They are there to preserve the good order and conduct of
it's members within the confines of the Miltary's goverment approved
operational taskings.

 It seems that the pilots did not follow proper procedures and
> they will be punished...this was yet another incident in an
> environment of recklessness which seems to run rampant through the US
> military as they continue to kill more of their own troops than do the
> enemy.

Which is exactly why we try these people. If we do not, there is no basis on
which to form a deterrent from someone going 'Rambo' in an F-18 over a fly
zone.

As Canadians we should put our efforts behind the creation of a solution
that will reduce the chances of this from occurring again. Secondly, we
should treat those being charged with the dignity and respect servicemen
deserve, and hold them accountable for their personal actions.

Above all, we should remind ourselves that in a civilian court you are
innocent until proven guilty. It is NOT the same in a military court.

Magix