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I've spent enough time flying over bad guy land to know you are wrong. There is strict ROE. Self defense can trump the ROE, but only when it is an ongoing attack. These guys were not threatened. They had plenty of time. They didn't take it. I've met pilots like them, and on a couple of occassions as package commander ordered them to wait. I understand the fog of war - but this wasn't an unavoidable accident. It was a violation of flight discipline that result in 4 good guys dying. That is manslaughter.

>>I've spent enough time flying over bad guy land to know you are wrong.<<

Nice to be sure. I've flown my share over bad guy land as well and I think I am right.

>>There is strict ROE.<<<

Never heard of "strict ROE." Tell me exactly where "strict ROE" is defined. What is the offical difference between "strict ROE" and just plain 'ol "ROE."

Hint: ROE is ROE.

>>Self defense can trump the ROE, but only when it is an ongoing attack.<<

Kinda my point, as the pilots perceived themselves to be receiving fire, and no one, on either side of this issue, disputes the pilots were operating on this perception.

>>These guys were not threatened.<<

All peception to the contrary, as the pilots called they were receving fire. (And, of course, since you've flown over bad guy land you are aware that tracer rounds burn-out well below max ord, so you never know just how high the round may fly.)

>>They had plenty of time.<<

Right. Night, being shot at, target likely on the move. . .right, plenty of time.

>>I've met pilots like them, and on a couple of occassions as package commander ordered them to wait.<<

Completely different scenario/situation when you are actually flying with them in the same airspace, sharing the same threat, eyes on the situation. Quite a different story when you are talking with AWACS a hundred miles away (or more).

>>I understand the fog of war - but this wasn't an unavoidable accident.<<

ALL mishaps/accidents are avoidable--to some extent.

>>It was a violation of flight discipline that result in 4 good guys dying.<<

Disagree, and apparently a whole lot of other people, to include almost everyone flying over there right now, thinks this is a political deal, not a true examination on how to make the processes better.