Eaglesmack
Is it difficult to understand that many Canadians don't have a great deal of faith in the ability or facility of the U.S. military to follow its own rules.... to be able to investigate and adjudicate what may or may not be prudent in terms of what the military says or does about XY or Z?
I'm not keen on opening another door in this thread, but the instances of "friendly-fire" while a sad and difficult issue throughout armed conflicts...the American military has demonstrated (my opinion) a reticence to act on the culpability of pilots and members of the military community...
Given (fairly or not) that the perception is that the military of the United States says one thing then does something else...avoids holding itself or its upper-management..Joint Chiefs...Secretary of Defense..etc. accountable to any standard...why is it suprising to some that General Pace says anything that's controversial or otherwise? Everyone knows that commanders will say whatever they're instructed to say as the "policy" of the ruling junta in the Whitehouse...and principles or laws be damned...
Nothing I've ever heard out of the mouth of a uniform has suprised me....
I am laughing a little because you surely expanded this thread.
I am well aware that a lot of Canadians do not trust the US Military. Hey... it is what it is.
As far as friendly-fire is concerned I got the impression that Canada wanted these pilots heads on a pike instantaneously. However when a friendly fire incident between Canadian forces when a Canadian soldier accidently killed another Canadian soldier in Afghanistan last fall is sort of brushed under the rug by the Canadian military... lets just say I see a double standard.
An accident is an accident. Why is it that Canada wanted the US pilots drawn and quartered but said "Hey... lets go easy and be patient with our own soldiers."?
The people involved at Abu Ghraib have been punished and have been sent to prison. I do not remember their sentence but if memory serves me correctly they were all found guilty.
Now to say that the Top Dogs of the US Military are not held accountable is not correct. A few years ago the Chief of Naval Operations put a bullett in his own head when it came out he was wearing a medal that he did not rate. He had a Navy Achievment Medal and he added a "V" on it which denotes Valor in Combat. He actually rated the medal itself but he did not win it in combat nor was their VALOR involved. Wearing medals you do not rate is a NO NO in the military. I've seen Marines lose rank for wearing an Expert Shooting Badge when they don't rate it. Well the press was going to release the story that the USN's Top Admiral was doing the same so he avoided the red tape and killed himself. Why? Because he was screwed and he knew it. He was going to have to resign in disgrace and probably be charged like every other officer, sailor, or Marine who did the same.