Flap62, I absolutely agree with the points made in your post.
As an aside to the debate on the use of US reserve pilots, the Daily Telegraph claims that the pilots were senior ranks (lieutenant colonel,and a major) but had little or no combat experience.
The DT reporting also makes the point that I made yesterday:
"It wasn't the grainy video images that shocked, but the radio traffic between the pilots and their command. It reveals that the decision to attack the British convoy was taken with frightening casualness, even though the airmen appeared far from certain there were no "friendlies" in the area".
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/m.../07/dl0701.xml