A US Marine helicopter went down in the middle of a war with some of their UK comrades aboard and they all died.
To attempt to insinuate some sort of foul play or hidden agenda in the aftermath is absolutely f*cking beyond despicable. Ever seen an aircraft crash victims remains? Sound like a good thing for a family member to view? Ever seen a closed coffin funeral? Think there may be at least a bit of a reason why the authorities don't want pics or videos of totally destroyed family members shown?
The UK press seems to have a hard-on about US investigation procedures and protocols these days, fine. Let me remind them of a few of the UK's own.
I'll not hold my breath to see the DETAILED coroners report (the one conducted in the UK of course) on the RM deaths after being bombed by the RN in the Suez action, nor the inquest/court martial findings regarding the RN pilots who killed them.
The next time the UK press seeks blood over such perhaps they should look there to find their grist. Meanwhile, Royal Marines were dead by the hand of their own country.... and nobody said a goddamned thing apparently.
Perhaps the idea of the "Coroner's Inquest" wasn't quite as appealing back then nor the "Law" as clear as some today suggest?
Perhaps the Coroner's files on the crews of HMS Oxley, HMS Britomart and HMS Hussar would be more illuminating? All sunk by the RN/RAF. Are those Coroner investigations still going on? Or did they ever start?
It would be interesting as well to discuss other combat incidents over the years where the UK has killed more of their own than have died in combat by any cause since 2001. We can start with the Falklands since most of those witnesses and even some of the trigger pullers are still about. Shoot down of a friendly helo? Firefight between friendly units? Perhaps we can find out if the coroner was as enthusiastic about investigating those?
Or perhaps the Coroner's inclination to investigate is a more recent and even more exclusive one? Focused on making political stements?
Anybody seen the Coroner's Inquest report posted from the Iraq action where one UK tank killed another, and 2 of it's crew? Or a demand for it? Gee, go figure.
Cheers
Last edited by StbdD; 17th Apr 2007 at 10:06.