No Charges Vs. Pilot Who Bombed Canadians

[Kadie]

No Charges Vs. Pilot Who Bombed Canadians

8 minutes ago

By DOUG SIMPSON, Associated Press Writer

NEW ORLEANS - The Air Force announced Thursday that it will dismiss all criminal charges against a U.S. fighter pilot who accidentally dropped a 500-pound, laser-guided bomb that killed four Canadians in Afghanistan (news - web sites) in 2002.

Maj. Harry Schmidt, 37, has accepted an offer to face administrative punishment in exchange for dismissal of four counts of dereliction of duty, the Air Force said.

Schmidt originally was charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault. Military officials recommended the charges be dismissed and that Schmidt face possible administrative punishment instead.

Schmidt turned down the offer, saying he wanted to clear his name in a court-martial instead. He was ordered to be tried on the lesser charge of dereliction of duty.

more... http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040624/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/mistaken_bombing_2

[ZenLefty]

1. Ironically, they charged Todd Bertuzzi today

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=88820

Today isn't a good day to tell a Canadian that you're an American.

[daleo]

2. Write on the blackboard 100 times

I will not drop my bombload without looking.
I will not drop my bombload without looking.
I will not drop my bombload without looking.
I will not drop my bombload without looking.
I will not drop my bombload without looking.
I will not drop my bombload without looking.
I will not drop my bombload without looking.
I will not drop my bombload without looking.
I will not drop my bombload without looking.
I will not drop my bombload without looking....

[truthspeaker]

3. How about an investigation into the communications snafu

that kept Schmidt ignorant of the fact, known to the Air Force, that the Canadians were conducting live fire exercises in the area? Schmidt may well be innocent, but as usual with the US military the investigation stops with the person who actually pushed the button, and doesn't focus on mistakes that may have been made further up.

Sort of like the prison abuse thing, you know?

[Nihil]

4. While they're at it ...

... how about a mandatory drugs test on pilots (or AA ops or anyone in
charge of whichever particular "friendly fire" device had a problem that
day) followed by an independent investigation into the physiological,
emotional & mental conditioning that said pilots have been undergoing?

(Oops. That might incriminate not just the company level officers but
the entire chain. Never happen.)