U.S. 'friendly fire' pilot avoids court martial

[CHIMO]

NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. pilot who bombed and killed four Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan struck a deal on Thursday to avoid a court martial.
Maj. Harry Schmidt will now face a non-judicial hearing by his unit's commanding officer, in which the worst outcome could be 30 days of house arrest.
In a court martial, he could have lost his flying privileges, could have been kicked out of the military, and could have faced prison.
http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/06/24/world/schmidt040624

[BadGimp]

1. War is hell ... but I hate to see a top flight soldier taken down

this way..

My thoughts got out to the victims of the incident, their families, and to the pilot, and his family.

War Sucks!

[GainesT1958]

2. To all our Canadian fellow DUers:

I'm very sorry and dissappointed to hear this.:-(

Personally, I think the fool deserved to be tried in Canada, but at the least he should have had a court-martial and been convicted of manslaughter.

I just hope a relative of one of those Canadian troops killed has the good fortune to run into him someday...then, at last, he WILL receive justice!:mad:

B-)

[FattyMcCraigs]

3. I'm not completely clear on how the military works...

...but isn't disobeying orders supposed to be an immediate courts martial?

*snip*
They thought it was directed at them and dropped a 225-kilogram laser-guided bomb, even though they had been ordered to hold their fire.
*snip*

and this is just adding insult to injury

*snip*
His hearing with his commanding general is scheduled for Canada Day.
*snip*

I'm curious as to what the outcome would be if they had bombed other Americans rather than a couple of us unimportant Canadians.

[Spazito]

4. No surprise from this Canadian...

it was a whitewash from the beginning, sadly.

Thanks to those who have expressed their sympathy, it is much appreciated.

[Nihil]

6. Not surprising but still sad

There are several British families who feel the same anger, frustration
and emptiness as a result of so-called "friendly fire" incidents from
our "Allies".

If only the decision makers could see that their double standards are
really hurting them - one law for Americans, one for everyone else.

[LibLabUK]

8. Yup...

Whatever happened to the A-10 pilot who made two strafing runs on a British APC?

The one branded "A fucking cowboy" by one of his victims?

[jeff30997]

5. A slap on the wrist !

What a surprise...

[SKKY]

7. Not as black and white as it seems...

As sad as these things always are, it wasn't the pilots fault exclusively. Many, many people have a piece of this thing from the AWACS above to the Intel folks to the Analysts shaping the battle space. This pilot was merely the finger of the hand that pulled the trigger, certainly not the brain. Having said that, if he didn't feel comfortable, he did have the right to pull up and not drop his package, which he obviously should have done. It's sad, but sending this guy to jail for life, or sending him to Canada for trial wouldn't solve anything. In war, these things happen. Sadly...