unless you are a pilot you have NO clue what you are talking about! It was a tragic accident, accidents do happen, esp in times of war. I can guarantee you 100%, apart from the families, nobody feels worse than those pilots right now, and they will take this to their graves.

john, london, england

Stop this absurd war now please. Irak was so much better when Saddam was in power, how may people die everyday to the impunity of us all?

Juan rodriguez, london, uk

Its all very well for Defence Secretary, Des Browne to say that morale in our armed forces is good, but he fails to make any mention about the morale of the British population at large which has to front up with the pounds shillings and pence for our boys.
This sort of situation is going to happen again, and again, and again. There is no way that technology will prevent it.

Weaver, Hong Kong,

Mr. Parish has a solid point. Where is the RAF ???

Niwa Sofola, Atlanta, GA. USA

Anyone who has fought in Basra or Helmand knows how often we have relied on US close air support.Last year in Helmand it was this US air support that stopped our soldiers being close to overun,and broke many an attack on them,same detail in Iraq.
My sincere condolances to those lads who were killed and wounded in action and their families.However the full facts are not even clear yet.
As for Helmand the guys are making a massive headway against the Taliban,which is little reported of course,There has been a WAR being fought there for the last 16 months !

Steve, london, uk

notice how brits never do friendly fire on yanks? troops out now!

matt, berlin, germany

My sincere condolences to the families of those soldiers killed and wounded. I hope that our friends in the UK would know that we would never intentionally injure any of their people. We were attempting to help them against an enemy attack. My hope would be that in light of how many times we have come to the defense of our comrades in arms, that it would be recognized that these incidents actually are quite rare. War is a miserable, imprecise, dangerous endeavor at best and too many lives are lost purely by accident, despite the best technology available. Our pilots are professional, even the reserves, and close air support is just difficult and dangerous. Despite all of the politics involved we are grateful to the people and military of Great Britain for fighting with us in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Ian Turner, Austin, Texas, USA

Just how many more cases of so called friendly fire will there be? It doesn't seem too long ago that the Americans did everything possible to try and stop evidence coming out at another friendly fire case and only after much duress did it eventually emerge.

Never mind the enermy just watch out for the US in any theatre British troops find themselves in. British troops and air crew will always remain the very best and most professional. At this time though our thoughts must be to those who have lost their lives and their loved one's. God bless.

timothy egerton, keighley, uk

It sickens me to hear the cheap shots by the British. War is nasty and unforgiving. Many times the alternative to the air strike might be more devastating. The pilots, who will forever live with this heartache, may have very well been given the wrong information.

marcus trigg, st. Petersburg, Pinellas, State

The comments so far are: 1) no good reason to fight the Taliban, 2) U.S. combat pilots aren't well-trained, and 3) the war in Iraq is madness and we should therefore bring all the "boys" home from Afghanistan.

The insightful nature of the Times readership can be awe-inspiring.

Or maybe in modern war, when young men on the ground engaged in close-quarters fights for their lives direct other young men in the air, who fly incredibly fast airplanes and try to sort it all out in split-seconds (and try to put incredibly lethal weapons in exactly the right spot, and exactly NOT the wrong spot) sometimes they don't get it perfect.

And then some of our good men die. Even if the war is the right thing. Which this one is.

May God rest the souls of the fallen and comfort their families, and provide the strength needed by the wounded. And if whoever made the fatal mistake survived, may He also help that young man forgive himself.

Agim Zabeli, Hyderabad, India

How many times now have our American allies killed Brits? Quite frankly their training is not good enough, the only answer is for the Americans to be trained by the Europeans. The RAF and others Dutch etc have always out-performed them in 'Red Flag' exercises ( I know because my son was an RAF fighter pilot!) and speaking as an ex-London air traffic controller the US airline pilots were always worse than anyone else!

Brian Wildey, Fleurance, France

It been said , with such freinds " the Americans " who needs enemies. Please do not forget thousands and thousands of innocent Iraqies were killed on the hands of American" soldiers"

Mohamed Ahmed, London, UK

"I do not want us to get into a situation where we’re blaming each other, when, as a matter of fact, ****US air support has saved our people’s lives on many, many occasions,**** particularly over the last four months in that very theatre," he told Sky News. "

and that is the real truth

Jim, kabul, afghanistan

How comes we don't get loads of Americans being killed by friendly fire by other nations? Seems like killing thier alies is about the only thing that the US forces can do consistently!

G_Force, London,

Clearly a tragedy for the young men and their families. My own son has already served in Afghanistan and soon will be in Iraq. As a parent I can't help but feel for the families. Having also been in combat It is profoundly difficult to always prevent these tragedies from occurring. No doubt the no experience, arm chair generals will enlighten us with their wisdom.

Again my profound sympathies to the families....

Steve From Tucson, Tucson,

What a dreadful event!. This is just one more reason to get out of Iraq.

Kim Righetti, upland, Calif. USA

Another terrible screw up. From an American to my British friends, I apologize! Please remember that most Americans do not support this war and our government is defying us. I have never voted for Bush.

Kelly, Phoenix, AZ, USA

Why didn't they use their artillery? That is what it is there for, or haven't they got any?

m wilson, bidache, france

I think its time to pull out of iraq and Afghanistan. This is like the Roman empire. While poor British soldiers are fighting the real battle the US (modern Empire) bomb from the safety of the skies. It is time Britain stops acting like the US government's mercenary.

Britishmuslim, edinburgh,

During the Oman conflict in the 1970's British jets flew at very low altitudes, to maintain visual eye contact on ground troops and movements, this was done even when there was a dangerous threat of SAM and AA fire, this type of low level flying was paramount to prevent friendly fire and most importantly innocent civilian deaths, which prevents the winning of hearts and minds. Now with technology US jets fly at greater heights and greater speeds their reliance on their computer based imagery is all they have for visually identifying ground targets, the threat of SAM is still there, minimal it may be, but these pilots need to take the risks and fly lower and get their eyes on their targets as the men fighting on the ground are risking all, and that risk is increased when they call in some part-time cowboy pilot living his or hers Maverick dream. Pity the RAF does not have enough jets or money to support their own troops.

Michael M, Barcelona, Spain

With "friends" like the Yanks, who needs enemies!

Jenny Russell, Northallerton, UK

why are we even in this anyway? I have been to a Battle of Britian Museum today and saw what the war was like for the soliders. What i saw there is the same as what these men and women are going through. Minimal supplies of food, water, first aid equipment and weapons. The worst of all is losing their friends and brothers and sisters. This has already happened once to us all, why is it happening again? who put George Bush and Tony Blair in charge of this?
A friend of mine at college, he brother has gone to war. he has not heard anything from them since they left- adults with children as young as 3 years old are being sent away what will the parent say to the children when they find out there dad or mum have been killed by a bomb because some idiot who calls himself a president/prime minister has sent them away? We have no right to get involved in this business. There is enough killing and bloodshed in our and America already. Why are we making more?

Vicki, Canterbury,

As long they are not Americans all others are collateral damage. It can be safely predicted that early 2008 will also see a major so called terrorist attack on America. Just like Bin Laden video before 2004 elections. The force of evil which control America do not want this war to end.

Ghulam Kibria, Slough, UK

God bless and comfort the families of those lost and hurt in this accident. May He also help our soldiers avoid future incidents and protect those in harms way.

Jeff Dunham, Yacolt, USA/ WA

6500 reasons why we are in Afghanistan, tons that is of Heroin the greatest social divider and driviing force behind the criminal justice systems of western democracies. Dont believe it, then do some research I did. Or ask your Local MP.

Mark, Gateshead, Tyne Wear

Shoot first, ask questions later is their motto, have no doubts about that. Due to the huge level of firepower at their disposal they are often genuinely more dangerous than the enemy. Just ask John Simpson or UK troops who served in Desert Storm and since. Some are desperate to get "blooded" and let go their weapons; others are just scared and lack discipline.

Ripstop, Shanghai, China

To Scot, Glasgow, UK: Ans: The Taleban and Al-Qaeda had turned Afghanistan into a training ground and base from which to launch attacks on the west. The Twin Towers did not fall down on their own, killing about 4000 people. The Taleban are out to keep Afghanistan in the pre-medieval state. As well as combating Al Qaeda we are trying to give the people of Afghanistan a chance, by helping them to bootstrap themselves to a better life. Talk to those involved. If you haven't the understanding of this, then you need to take a reality check. Have you ever travelled out of Scotland? Or the UK?

Keith Dixon, Calgary, Canada

Don't bother to waste time and money on a full enquiry. The Us personnel involved will not be found culpable.

R.D.I. Simpson, Ruislip, Middx

The Royal Anglians are a great regiment having a difficult tour.

RIP Vikings

Dave St Peters, London,

Isn't it strange that just a few days ago we were hearing of American dissatisfaction with British forces with regards to the ongoing plan to hand over security to locals in Iraq?

Bert, London, England

The Americans are useless at war. They shoot first and ask questions later. The american govt should stop training troops using computer games.

vik, london,

I can remember my father telling me, that during world war two, many British soldiers would rather have the Germans or the Japanese in front of them, than the Americans behind or above them.
Perhaps if our troops need air support, it should be provided by our airmen.

tony, birmingham, uk

Though I appreciate the operational difficulties faced, this is totally unacceptable!
In this day and age of advanced technology and given the history in such matters is beggars belief that yet again the US have got it wrong.
The pilots should be court martialled for murder. No ifs no buts.

Marios Patrinos, Reading, UK

I did always wonder why it was called "friendly fire", anyone?

Gaz, Maidstone, UK

Years ago I interviewed a Kiwi war veteran who'd witnessed dozen's of his mate's killed in a misdirected B-17 attack on an Italian town. My grandfather also served alongside the American's in the Pacific and used to remark that they were as much a danger to their own people and allies as to the Japanese through their inclination to shoot first, ask questions later. It is sad that for all their technology and supposed pre-fire checks that the so called fog of war still manages to impede judgement. The result is that too often they kill those whose military support they so badly need. Worse - the arrogance of the US military/political administration in refusing true liability will prevent any true form of compensation ever being received by the families of those poor soldiers.

Guy, London, United Kingdom

in this day and age it must be possible to issue ground forces with a badge/small size digital IFF (as used in aircraft) with a system of coding as per IFF.

grimshaw brown, bedford, uk

Absolutely dreadful...My heart goes out to the families of the British soldiers..and I'm sure the American pilot must be feeling totally sick.
Not a time to make glib comments.

kirk, Rotherham, UK

We should stop talking about this stuff. It happens in war. And young men are dead and scarred -- inside and out -- for life. This is why war has to be waged for very, very good reason and with very, very clear goals and ambitions.

Which, as we ALL know, is not the case in Iraq or, any longer, in Afghanistan.

Bring 'em home. Bring 'em home NOW!

JimBob, Encino, CA, USA

A lot of the front line US pilots are reserves, with civilian jobs (Airline pilots etc) You sometimes wonder about the level of training that these guys get, compared with full time pilots. The same applies to certain elements of the National Guard.

Nicholas Kieft, Fort Myers, USA

Why are these young lives being sacrificed? Why are we going on with this madness and in Iraq. Bring them all home - we see now the madness of Iraq - let us stop this madness now.

Scot, Glasgow, UK

Why do we always have to rely on the USAF. Where are our own more professional RAF??

Lee Parish, Kent,

Yet again the Americans get wrong, and yet again British lives lost as a consequence, Will we ever learn ?

darren , manchester,