Canadian soldier killed in accidental shooting in Afghanistan

[snfu73]

All about the country side there are shots fired... granted. But this was a secure area and in his tent. I may be over speculating but not over sceptical. Blue on Blue has been a favorite tool to bash the US Military because we have thousands in theaters all over the world. We get into far too many conflicts and the odds are that if we are fighting year after year we will have a lot of Blue on Blue.

Listen, I am no hero but I have been to combat. I was in Panama. It is nothing compared to what these kids in Iraq are going through. We lost a person in my battalion to freindly fire. I was on a listening post myself and was fired upon by other Marines. I can see how it happens... and easily.

When myself and another Corporal set in for the night in the jungle we found that the position we were assigned provided 0 Visibility. I crawled back to the Sgt. and told him I was dropping back 10 meters from the planned position and to pass the word down what we were doing.

During the night we were fired upon by a Marine who didn't get the word and thought people were sneaking up on us when it was US he was firing on. Luckily he missed.

It happens and it is unfortunate.

Please don't think I'm saying that it probably wasn't a Canadian bullet that got into this guy. I have no clue, but, ya, from the sounds of things, there is a good chance that it was. What gun in came from exactly and under what circumstance however need to be explored. But, indeed, I mean, you know, I HAVEN'T been in war or anything like it, but, like I said earlier, just being around that many guns, and that many people, in that tense of a situation, and an accident is eventually going to happen. So, no, in none of my posts was I attempting to divert attention from the fact that it was most likely friendly fire from a Canadian soldier...although, of course, nothing has been confirmed. I also look at the bombing of 4 Canadians which stirred up alot of anger and controversy as being an error that will happen in war time and of course it is unfortunate...but...it does happen...it's going to happen...it's not the first time...it won't be the last time...and that's just part of the whole deal.

 

[EagleSmack]

I said more legitimate than the rag tag coalition of the willing and since you agree that your country invaded another for no apparent reason what should the punishment be?

It could have spilled across the boarder, did you miss WWI?

We served under NATO with our allies to protect our allies.

We also had the sense to stay out of your imperialistic war of BS in Iraq.

The Kurds? Are you kidding? That was in 1988, where are these so called WMD's that were a threat to the U.S. national security? interesting how we called Saddam a monster for gassing the Kurds to maintain control but worshiped Sir Winston Churchill for doing the exact same thing.

No, of course you weren't crazy about the Iraq war, in fact, it's hard to find any con who supported it nowadays....interesting isn't it? Except for the odd screw ball that still thinks it was about the war on terror like some of those empty headed morons over at Fox News.

You better stick it out, you made the mess and made the threat of terror worse.

Way to go America. :roll:

You're trying to sugar coat this and you know it. What part of ILLEGAL don't you understand? If you rob a store, you rob a store... it is illegal. If you fight an illegal war... you are fighting an illegal war. Yugoslavia was totally illegal. Canada, Britain, the US, Germany etc. had no right to be there. They were butting in on a Civil War that had nothing to do with them. It was about money.

Do not even try to bring in the dynamics and politics that lead to WWI and compare them to the Yugoslavian Civil War of the 90's. The world was much different and the whole of Europe was less stable than it is today. It would not have spilled into Italy, Czechoslavakia, Greece, etc. That is just an excuse for nations like Canada to justify taking part in an Illegal War and think that they can freely bash the US for their war. Do as you say and not as you do... is that it?

A big problem I have with the invasion of Iraq is the reasons. WMD's should have been one of many reasons. The Bush Administration should never have hung their hats on that sole reason. There should have been a list of reasons starting with genocide, failure to comply with the UN, failure to obey conditions set after the first Gulf War. If they had a whole volume of why they were going to war people would not be going back to the one reason that has turned out to be false.

Did we make the terror worse? I don't think so. Nothing has happened since. Goverments in the Middle East know that if there is another major attack on the US and they are tied to it in any way they will suffer the same fate as Iraq. With all of the chest thumping Iran does I am sure they are very cautious of any terror group that they are involved with.

A Marine Officer said this to me after he got back from Iraq.

"I think we pulled the trigger too early on Iraq. But we also should have just kicked the door in, set their military back 10 years and left instead of nation building."

 

[EagleSmack]

Please don't think I'm saying that it probably wasn't a Canadian bullet that got into this guy. I have no clue, but, ya, from the sounds of things, there is a good chance that it was. What gun in came from exactly and under what circumstance however need to be explored. But, indeed, I mean, you know, I HAVEN'T been in war or anything like it, but, like I said earlier, just being around that many guns, and that many people, in that tense of a situation, and an accident is eventually going to happen. So, no, in none of my posts was I attempting to divert attention from the fact that it was most likely friendly fire from a Canadian soldier...although, of course, nothing has been confirmed. I also look at the bombing of 4 Canadians which stirred up alot of anger and controversy as being an error that will happen in war time and of course it is unfortunate...but...it does happen...it's going to happen...it's not the first time...it won't be the last time...and that's just part of the whole deal.

I think you are missing my point as well. This is an unfortunate incident and the guy who did it feels awful. I would never want to be in his boots and I am sure he wishes he could trade places with the victim.

My beef is with the reaction to the US making a mistake to the (possibly) Canadian soldier making a mistake. Whenever we have a Blue on Blue you hear

"Stupid Americans... they are so dumb."

When the USAF killed those four Canadians there was a national uproar to crucify these pilots before all of the facts were in. There was negligence involved and they never knew they were bombing Canadians. It was an accident. But Canada wanted their heads ASAP.

Now Canada is looking at their own Blue on Blue and they are going very slowly. They want to investigate it thouroughly. They want to make sure they have all of the facts.

Well, well, well... how about that.

 

[snfu73]

I think you are missing my point as well. This is an unfortunate incident and the guy who did it feels awful. I would never want to be in his boots and I am sure he wishes he could trade places with the victim.

My beef is with the reaction to the US making a mistake to the (possibly) Canadian soldier making a mistake. Whenever we have a Blue on Blue you hear

"Stupid Americans... they are so dumb."

When the USAF killed those four Canadians there was a national uproar to crucify these pilots before all of the facts were in. There was negligence involved and they never knew they were bombing Canadians. It was an accident. But Canada wanted their heads ASAP.

Now Canada is looking at their own Blue on Blue and they are going very slowly. They want to investigate it thouroughly. They want to make sure they have all of the facts.

Well, well, well... how about that.

Well...again though....I don't think it's all Canadians. I mean, I'm Canadian...I didn't want to see their heads roll. To me, it was more like my reaction to this incident..."Odds are that something like this will happen".

I don't think any country or army is immune to friendly fire incidents. I don't think Canada's is either. And I am sure that, ya, whosever gun the bullet came from feels like crap. But, I also think that it is going to take time to sort things out and stuff. And who knows...the bullet might not have come from a canadian. The evidence so far seems to suggest that it is a good possibility...but...who knows.

 

[Avro]

You're trying to sugar coat this and you know it. What part of ILLEGAL don't you understand? If you rob a store, you rob a store... it is illegal. If you fight an illegal war... you are fighting an illegal war. Yugoslavia was totally illegal. Canada, Britain, the US, Germany etc. had no right to be there. They were butting in on a Civil War that had nothing to do with them. It was about money.

No, I'm simply stating it was more legitimate than your war in Iraq. Why? Because there were actual reasons for it.

Do not even try to bring in the dynamics and politics that lead to WWI and compare them to the Yugoslavian Civil War of the 90's. The world was much different and the whole of Europe was less stable than it is today. It would not have spilled into Italy, Czechoslavakia, Greece, etc. That is just an excuse for nations like Canada to justify taking part in an Illegal War and think that they can freely bash the US for their war. Do as you say and not as you do... is that it?

Yes, I believe it could have threatened the neighboring countries and economics is part of that.

A big problem I have with the invasion of Iraq is the reasons. WMD's should have been one of many reasons. The Bush Administration should never have hung their hats on that sole reason. There should have been a list of reasons starting with genocide, failure to comply with the UN, failure to obey conditions set after the first Gulf War. If they had a whole volume of why they were going to war people would not be going back to the one reason that has turned out to be false.

No, in fact WMD's should not have been part of the reasons neither should have any of the other crap presented to the UN by Colin Powel. The threat of terror was used to justify this conflict to the American public, a conflict that was in no way necessary and you know it. Iraq was contained and harmless what was the big rush?

Did we make the terror worse? I don't think so. Nothing has happened since. Governments in the Middle East know that if there is another major attack on the US and they are tied to it in any way they will suffer the same fate as Iraq. With all of the chest thumping Iran does I am sure they are very cautious of any terror group that they are involved with.

Recruitment lines of terror groups are longer than they have ever been and Taliban are training in Iraq to fight NATO troops in Afghanistan. You have no idea what sort of powder keg you've uncorked do you?

I think we pulled the trigger too early on Iraq. But we also should have just kicked the door in, set their military back 10 years and left instead of nation building.

We did that in 1991. So is that a whoops, oh dear we made a boo boo and got thousands of U.S. soldiers killed a maimed....oh well.....better luck next time I guess.

 

[EagleSmack]

No, I'm simply stating it was more legitimate than your war in Iraq. Why? Because there were actual reasons for it.

By whose standards? Those set by Canada? NATO? Your ILLEGAL WAR is more important than ours? Yeah Eagle... I robbed a store but I had better reasons. There were plenty of reasons to go into Iraq. First off he was flipping off the whole UN. He was taunting them. Hussein knew that the UN was weak and it is very weak. He was right.

Yes, I believe it could have threatened the neighboring countries and economics is part of that.

What possible evidence do you have that it was spilling over into bordering countries? It was contained. It was a Yugoslavian problem and both sides were committing atrocities. But it was no threat to Canada that is for sure. Canada was in no shape or form threatened by the Serbians. But you went to war with them... ILLEGALLY. It was all ABOUT money. The war was affecting the European Economy and that is the only reason why.

No, in fact WMD's should not have been part of the reasons neither should have any of the other crap presented to the UN by Colin Powel. The threat of terror was used to justify this conflict to the American public, a conflict that was in no way necessary and you know it. Iraq was contained and harmless what was the big rush?

It went beyond the Collin Powell presentation. It was Iraq violating every condition that they agreed to. but the UN is so weak and has NO TEETH. Then come to find out select people in the UN were becoming very rich of the Food for Oil Scam. No wonder why they were against it.

Recruitment lines of terror groups are longer than they have ever been and Taliban are training in Iraq to fight NATO troops in Afghanistan. You have no idea what sort of powder keg you've uncorked do you?

Once again, this is false. How can you possibly say that lines are longer? There is a resurgence but the Taliban at one time controlled the country. Now they have been pushed to the border and into Pakistan. I would like to see evidence that Taliban is training in Iraq. Al Queda is in Iraq so please don't confuse the two. The US has the guts to stand up to these people at the risk to it's citizens. Like a Marine said to me... "We can't afford anymore Home Games." if you know what I mean.

We did that in 1991. So is that a whoops, oh dear we made a boo boo and got thousands of U.S. soldiers killed a maimed....oh well.....better luck next time I guess.

I would like to comment but this seems childish... a bit.

 

[Avro]

As simple "I give up...you win" would do.:evil3:

Have a good weekend smack.:wave:

 

[#juan]

When a young man goes off to war, nobody expects his life to be wasted by some stupid bloody mistake, od act of carelessness. It's a shame.

 

[snfu73]

When a young man goes off to war, nobody expects his life to be wasted by some stupid bloody mistake, od act of carelessness. It's a shame.

Well...noone expects it...but the odds are pretty good that it might happen. It's a warzone...things happen.

No one expects to walk into the street and get hit by a bus...but it happens.