Militants have been running Musa Qala since last year's controversial peace deal between local elders and Afghan government officials, supported by British troops in the province. The deal effectively turned over Musa Qala town and surrounding areas to Taliban control.

The joint force fought back, targeting militants who were using several compounds and trenches for cover, the statement said. It said about a dozen militants were killed in the clash.

Where are the Brits planes to save their fellow Brits? Why are the Brit officers makeing these consessions to the enemy? If you make deals with the locals should you be able to come back without haveing to shoot your way in?

Brian Puetz, North Augusta, USA

most of these comments are bang on. I lived in the US for years and the average cop and soldier there is just plain thick. Not only thick but unwilling to listen or reason making them dangerous and thick. Stick this mentality with minimal education (especially on world affairs) and a gun in their hand (in this case planes and bombs) and you have a recipie for disaster. You ask how many of reservists? About 50%. 50% of them over in Iraq and Afganistan are cooks, teachers, truckers etc. in the normal lives! How do you expect them to function with the quality of the British army? Hearts and Minds is what the Brit army has been trained on for years (N.Ireland, Oman, Malaya, Bosnia etc.). The yanks have no clue about this with Vietnam (which also created Cambodia genocide), Somalia and now Iraq to prove it. The 'problem' is we need the yanks and their over-use of fire power due to NATA and EU having no mettle. If we had a decent NATA the yanks could be side lined into a minor player........

Graham, London,

There have been British friendly fire incidents but they always seem to get played down.

Simon Boddington, Borchester, UK

Perhaps the answer is to increase RAF cover for British troops, who are often too busy guarding Taliban poppy fields instead of burning 'em. The sad facts are not one member of coalition forces deserves to be in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Duke, Ontario, Canada

As an American, I find this incident both tragic and unfortunate. I make no excuses for it. But Americans believe that a person is innocent until proven guilty. I am surprised that so many people here are finding fault before a full investigation has taken place. It seems possible that the British soldiers who called in air support might have given erroneous information regarding their position. I'm not saying that this is what happened, nor am I saying that the Americans were not at fault. I am only suggesting that no one should be placing blame until all the facts are known. Also, no matter what they may have done wrong, it seems to me that one must give the Americans some credit. After all, they put themselves in harms way in order to help a friend. I notice it was the US Air Force that was called in, not Armée de l'Air.

Jack, Idyllwild, CA, USA

GIven the level of training and professionalism of the average American soldier, it is entirely possible that many of them do now know that the Brits are actually on the same side as them.

Martin Evans, Newmarket, Suffolk

This is a sad incident. But what is really funny is what the British soldiers are saying and how their 'informal' statements are getting media attention.
I do not remember any major incident where the Brits complained of Amercians' firing first and thinking later and where dozens (or perhaps) hundreds of innocent civilians were killed. If they were conscientituous enough to complain then, the media nonethelss opted not to report it.
That said, I would not blame anyone in the situation. After all, in such a non-sensical saga of killing, it is very difficult to hold anyone responsbile.
May God bless the departed.

Ahmad Ashton, Lahore, Pakistan

God Bless America! and help the rest of us!!

Michael, Wuhan, P R China

Sir,
"We're in jail dude!"
Remember that incident that the US tried to cover up, such allies & what a professional attitude displayed by the pilots?

SC, London, United Kingdom

It is`nt anything new apparently. In WW2 during the Italian campaign it was said that when British planes appeared the Germans ducked,when German planes appeared the British ducked but when American planes came over everyone ducked. Its the way they do things,very enthusiastically.

jerym, caerphilly, uk

Fire first and think later!?? The British soldiers REQUESTED the air strikes. If they truely didn't trust the American fighter pilots, then why did they ask for close air support? You can't request help from an ally, then lambast that ally when an innocent mistake is made. In the future, don't request US air strikes if Americans just want to "kill as many people as possible."

This incident was nothing more than a horrible consequence of war. Stop playing to the stereotypes that Americans are just blood-thirsty killers.

Hailee Mohawee, Cleveland, USA/ OHIO

First and foremost, let me express my deepest sympathy for the families of the fallen soldiers.

As to the comments expressed in the article, if the British military feels so strongly that American tactics are dangerous, why ask for American air support? Is the RAF not able to provide support? Or, as I suspect has the British military been so downsized that it cannot provide all the support an army in the field needs on a modern battlefiled. Really there are two choices - rely on American support or do it yourselves.,

Liz, Miami, USA

Perhaps talking in Northern Ireland where most folks have respect for the lives of others was a good tactic for the British. But, In Iraq where there is a disdain for life and a silent tolerance by the public of the 'bad guys"from fear or perhaps support, pulling back gets you killed or let's the "bad guys" get away to attck another day.

R, Brewster, Daytona Beach, Florida

My condolences to the bereaved families.

What wars have the 'Merkins won since WWII, except against piddling little countries? They don't do war well and basically that is because they employ cowardly and counterproductive methods. Late for WWII, they now like to throw their own parties.

Brian, Oakham,

Brian Stewart, long beach, USA sums up the results of Blair and Bush's policies, now coming home

K Urban, London, UK

The American Airforce did it in Korea . The Brits advanced after the Americans retreated and re captured a hill. Then the US jets came screaming in and took off the top of the hill killing dozens of good British soldiers.
They never learn.
The American Serviceman cannot think for himself. In his training he is reduced from a normal person to a mindless grunt who is then lead by stupid Officers.
My two sons have done two and three tours of Iraq and Afghanistan and worked alongside US troops, They say , "The US soldiers are incredibly brave but are very poorly lead by stupid Officers.".

Charles Sloan , Farnworth , UK

If we are not prepared to accept American air support then we should provide our own. We don't because this and past governments will not provide sufficient support to our armed forces, even in times of war. War costs money.

R. K, Reading, UK

As an American, I find this incident both tragic and unfortunate. I make no excuses for it. But Americans believe that a person is innocent until proven guilty. I am surprised that so many people here are finding fault before a full investigation has taken place. It seems possible that the British soldiers who called in air support might have given erroneous information regarding their position. I'm not saying that this is what happened, nor am I saying that the Americans were not at fault. I am only suggesting that no one should be placing blame until all the facts are known. Also, no matter what they may have done wrong, it seems to me that one must give the Americans some credit. After all, they put themselves in harms way in order to help a friend. I notice it was the US Air Force that was called in, not Armée de l'Air.

Jack, Idyllwild, CA, USA

I can't even imagine an American Soldier not placing an equal reagard for the safety of a British Soldier. So put your hostilities and fears away and understand that Americans truly are allies...Long LIve the Falkland Islands.

Mark, Kona, Hawaii

Was not Lyme Regis bombed by our "allies" in 1943?

Peter, Georgetown,

1982 HMS Cardiff shoots down AAC Gazelle (UK) in the Falklands Islands. 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, British Army (UK) Companies A and C engage each other in an hour-long firefight in the Falkland Islands involving heavy weapons and artillery strikes. At least 8 UK casualties. United Kingdom UK Special Boat Service Commando killed in firefight with UK Special Air Service Commandos. Falkland Islands. 2003 British Royal Marine Christopher Maddison killed when his river patrol boat was hit by missiles after being wrongly identified as an enemy vessel approaching a Royal Engineers checkpoint on the Al-Faw Peninsula, Iraq.[6] British Challenger 2 tank came under fire from another British tank in a nighttime firefight, blowing off the turret and killing two crew members, Corporal Stephen John Allbutt and Trooper David Jeffrey Clarke [12]

Dusty Selway, St. Anthony, USA

Unfortunately, the "shoot first and ask questions later" approach extends to our police here as well. Once, a policeman couldn't fire until fired upon. Now, police routeenly open fire at the slightest hint of trouble. Five innocent people were killed in a single year in Aurora, Colorado. One was in bed with a can of pop in his hand. Another was a 17 year-old girl with a butter knife! Our police and soldiers are so afraid of casualties, that they would rather kill innocents than take the risk.

Karl Schulze, Aurora, Colorado, U. S. A.

God Bless America .. and save the rest of us!

Michael, Wuhan, P R China

The war in afganistan is absolutly necessary but why are there so many friendly fire incidents especially by the us army? Its a hostile act to stab your friend in the back n expect him not to question why you did it. If the shoe was on the other foot, the pentagon wld demand the heads of the culprits. so why shldnt we ask why our soldiers have been blown to bits by our suposed ally? Rob in pittsburg, usa, we are the only allies youv got. I dare you and your so called patriotic country men to come up with another ally who will putup with the crap u guys dishout. I some times think you guys are ignorant and think you live on a different planet to the rest of us. Its time you ownup n shut up with all this patriotic rubbish which says 'ask no questions', 'die first n ask later if you survive', 'to question is unpatriotic even though you have free speech'. im sure this is how hitler got a hold on his ppl. my heart goes out to all the victims of these incompetent gunslingin cowboys.

adegbola, London, UK

They think it's Hollwood! Keep the US forces in front of you and keep one eye over your shoulder.
Better still, pull out of Afghanistan. What are we doing there anyway?

Douglas, Crawley, UK

Imagine Mr. Osama bin Laden (presupposing he's still alive…doubtful) must be ticking another item on his Achievement List.
"Degrade special relationship between US and UK from government down to individual citizen level."
Already the US is the most hated nation in the world, with its economic, political, moral and military capability very much damaged. So what’s next, oh yes; "US devolvement into several separate, independent countries". Does seem more than a tad unrealistic, but considering OBL’s achievements to date, wouldn't entirely rule it out.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Kanagawa

I don't believe the Americans "fire first and think later". As with the loss of Matty Horse, there was a prolonged dialogue between the Forward Air Controllers on the ground and the pilots in the aircraft. The very point of this was to ascertain IFF (identify friend or foe) but the media cut this dialogue out and only included cockpit cameras of the A-10 strafing the British convoy. I'm sure a similar dialogue between the ground and aircraft took place in Afghanistan but unfortunatly the fog of war decended. This is a war and sadly this does happen. There is not a sole comms system that covers operations, various elements of different forces are on different comms, operating on different channels. As a pilot to absorb minute details and information and respond to it accurately and with urgency at speeds reaching the sound barrier is quite a challenge I imagine. Let's not play the blame game, we're on the same team. The sad loss of British life was a combination of flaws.

KB, London,

I suppose the answer is to supply our own ground attack support; just one question - where from? Perhaps all the Yank bashers could take time to answer that one.

ex-Pat, Saulieu,

“They just seem to have no idea how to fight a counterinsurgency, we have a history but they have no reference points” said one soldier

Really, and where were these successes ? Northern Ireland, sorry a defeat, Bosnia ? Sorry the Yanks had to bomb the Serbs to end that one. Did pulling back and assessing the situation work in Basra ? Dont think so. Still waiting for this answer. Also, if the British military is so excellent then where is there Close Support Ground Attack capability ? Answer, it doesnt exist which is why you have to rely on the Yanks. Our military is skint and has 30 year old technology. Anyone who hasnt flown a close support live combat mission or called in an airstrike "danger close" should just hold their tounge and cease the armchair general stuff.

Mike, Edinburgh,

Those Americans posting here and mocking this tragic incident are a disgrace to their country. The treatment of Britain during the development of the joint fighter program spelt out very clearly just how little regard the U.S. has for it's 'friends'. We can expect nothing from this arrogant and ham fisted buffoon of a nation.

Paul, Vancouver, Canada

To Brian of Long Beach,

"...I dread leaving the house anymore..."
Don't they have a name for this illness? I think you need some serious help, my friend.

To Rosario of New Hampshire,

The reason why they don't have only RAF planes providing support for British troops is because the RAF doesn't have anywhere near enough planes in that region. Only America, with its aircraft carriers and large air fields, has this capability. And the number of British lives saved by Yanks is probably incalculable because it has happened so many times; but you'll never hear about it in British papers. "Americans Kill Brits!!" sells a lot more papers than "Americans Provide CAS."

Alex, Seattle, USA

The incident itself is tragic, but until the findings from the investigation are released it is hard to lay blame. It is possible to accidentally call your own grid up to aircraft, especially if you are not JTAC qualified and under fire. Be thankful some countries will release munitions on your behalf, most won't (France inparticular) they just fly overhead and pop flares while get we fired up on the ground. I am thankful my comrades will make a decision and accept responsiblity.
My sincerest condolences to the familes from someone who knows and is still here in Helmand.

JTAC, Norfolk,

If British counterinsurgency is so amazing and the American is so terrible, why have the Brits booked up all the EasyJet flights out of Basra for the next two months?? Malaya, Oman and the Mau Mau campaigns were impressive, but please, don't try to compare them with Iraq.

William, Silver Springs, MD

Britain have a history of fighting until the last American standing - so please do not bash the Americans too much, you may just need them (again)! He He!

dimwit, oxford,

Fact is that air-support is dangerous. 20,000 feet is a heck of a place to be firing from, and communications, targeting, and the like are human endeavors subject to human error. Why is it always Americans accidentally hitting our allies? Because Americans are always the ones called to provide air-support to our allies. I doubt the RAF friendly-fire rate would be lower, and wouldn't be surprised if it were a sight higher.

Christopher Engel, Dayton, OH/USA

American kill-happy jet jockies have a long history of this kind of brutal behavior.

If this is what they do to allies, just imagine the care they extend to locals on the ground?

No wonder the Afghan PM, in fact America's man, complains about mass killing after mass killing from the air.

One can be absolutely sure they are not 'winning hearts and minds."

Just as one can be sure they have lost this pointless war, making a lot of enemies in the effort.

JOHN CHUCKMAN, Toronto, Canada

The Yanks have always been rather lax over dropping bombs, after all they are usually dropped on the ''enemy'', and if a mistake occurs, they can always cover it up with a bit of PR,

Unless it turns out to be friendly fire.

We don't belong in Afghanistan anyway, it's not our country, and no number of pronouncements from Bush will convince us otherwise. And certainy not comparisons with Vietnam.

K Urban, London, UK

Stop whinging get warfighting.
The reports of the last few months state that the RAF can't support the ground war because of their poor attitude and underfunded training. So be happy the yanks are there.
Show me a sing soldier that has never made a mistake from Tom to General. No such creature!
You signed the dotted line got paid the money now take the chances.
The whole modern Brit mil attitude is poor. Why? Because they have been forced into a PC system that is made to reflect the weak civilian society that we live in. It's becoming as unfit for purpose as the Home Office.
Sad but very true. Come to Basra where they can't stop thieving from their own camps.
GET A GRIP!!

Keith, Nwecastle,

typical yanks, most of the troops are from the middle of the country where education is barely priority, if they had half the know-how of the british troops they would probably have Iraq safe by now and even a tourist destination.

wayne, Sydney, Australia

Why is it that always british troops are killed by the americans? why never vice versa?

Tony Foster, Leeds,

Kage Tora makes a big deal that out of 135 killed in the Gulf War, 35 were killed by friendly fire- and the firendly fire percentage is too high.

I'd argue that if you removed the American air support, the death toll of the troops in the ground would increase to the very high levels of previous wars.

Compare the sorties the American air force hits the enemy to the sortie where the hit allied troops. Out of hundreds of sorties one mistake is made ... and you can NEVER eliminate the problem of human error!

Douglas Newell, Saltcoats, UK

Friendly fire incidences are nothing new, they are accepted as having been common during World War II. The difference between then and now is two-fold: media conflict involvement is more pronounced, whilst American incompetence supports a gonzo-liberal press agenda against the US.

Stuart Sigston, London, UK

Friendly fire has been an aspect of warfare since warfare began. It's not very appetising but what we have to realise is that it happens, sure it's not particularly savoury but it's reality.

I'm sure that there were plenty of 'friendly fire' incidents in WW2 for example, but now with the media on top of the war zone and civilian reporters (not trained to deal with the gore of the battlefield) embedded with units, we gain a harsh picture of the reality of the warzone.

Come on folks war is not nice and people do die, 'friendly fire' does happen. If our government backed our troops with adequate resources or the French and the Germans decided to do some real soldiering, then we wouldnt need the yanks to bale us out and then when a 'friendly fire' incident occurs we wouldnt be blaming them.

Peter, Arundel, UK

Perhaps the Brits should work on their own CAS training? Crying about the Americans but refusing to put up the money for your own planes and training is hypocritical.

Tony van Dyke, Taipei, Taiwan

I don't understand why the obvious and simple solution has not been adopted. Have only RAF planes fly Close-Air-Support for British troops and only USAF planes fly CAS for Yank troops.

Despite the best of intentions you have troops from two different countries that although training together have different traditions, equipment , doctrine and tactics and yes, even language differences. With differences come the opportunities for errors. If each nation provided it's own CAS the potential for "Friendly -Fire" errors would be lessened.

I wonder what the number of friendly fire incidents per CAS sorties have occurred; Brits supporting Yanks vs. Yanks supporting Brits. I am also curious about the number of British lives, if any, that were saved by Yank CAS.

Rosario, Exeter, New Hampshire

Whilst there have been friendly fire incidents involving US aircraft and UK soldiers in the Korean was, Gulf War 1 and now Iraq and Afghanistan, what angers me most is the lack of any responsibility taken by those involved. The Americans just do their worst and then calmly walk away from the mess they have created.

Peter, Brisbane, Australia

Reading these posts I have to say this is also my experience living in Southern California which is anything but laid back. Its a very aggessive, testosterone, narcissistic place and the police here have a zero tolerance mentality and when entering any situation believe they have the right to total control, no questions asked or answered and everything you say is used as evidence. They are quick to taser you over any disagreement. Many of the soldjiers in Iraq end up in our police forces upon their return and they are into total domination of every situation and act like an occupying army. Even they get arrested if they use discretion and fail to follow zero tolerance polices. This country has changed so much people are as afraid and submissive to the government now as I have ever seen. Its just gone completely over the edge and frankly I dread leaving the house anymore because of all the hassles facing me the second I get on "their" territory.

Brian Stewart, long beach, USA

Why do you think armies used to wear brightly coloured uniforms? Fifty per cent 'friendly fire' casualties were once considered normal - just the reality of war.

The fact that accidental deaths are now reduced to single percentage points is absolutely stunning - but of course reporting the true picture doesn't follow the news agenda.

Shock, horror is what broadcasters want - media terrorism is the order of the day.

Pete Mallinson, Bristol,

The views expressed by the British soldiers on the ground reflect those made by my Father who fought in the 2nd world war - he said that he and his comrades were more frightened of the Americans than the Germans when things " got hot ">
Obviously the US tactics have not changed ?

peter standen, ho chi minh city, vietnam

Can someone please explain what was "friendly" about this or any other bomb which is designed solely for the purpose of death and destruction?

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

US military, all the gear and no idea. I can imagine the meetings taking place at the pentagon, must be like Dr. Strangelove.... !!! Of course my comments will upset the Yanks however our forces had dealt with domestic terror for years over in Northern Ireland. Combat on the ground in a built up area is a specialty of the british army. I think it should either be our boys getting on with it on their own or let the americans finish what they started. The oil is flowing freely through the trans siberian pipe courtesy of Rummy and Chainey why not leave now ??
Also give all soldiers currently serving a 60% pay rise just like our politicians gave themselves last year.

A politician: someone who will lay down your life for his country

Ron burgandy, sals, UK

Rob from Pittsburgh says "Britain's record on counterinsurgency is terrible". Yes, I suppose that's why we lost in Vietnam and the US won in Malaya.

American forces may, hypothetically, be fine at fighting conventional wars, but for any conflict that requires intelligence, understanding and finesse - in other words, for any counter-insurgency conflict - the armed forces of the United States are probably the worst in the developed world.

The short-sightedness, arrogance and borderline xenophobia promoted by US culture makes them useless in any guerrilla conflict and perpetually dangerous to their so-called allies (largely because of the American attitude that any foreigner, even an ally, is expendable). In Afghanistan, US incompetence has driven a population that welcomed NATO as liberators into the arms of the Taleban.

AHM, Glasgow,

Watching Bloomberg TV report on this British tragedy here is a precis of how this was reported;

In Afghanistan 3 British soldiers have been killed. According to reports the British came under fire and requested air support. American aircraft arrived on the scene, offloaded one bomb killing 3 British soldiers and an unnamed number of Taliban fighters. END OF REPORT

So that's ok then ! George Bush and his military can justify these unlawful killings by the fact that "terrorists" have been killed.

Since Gulf 1 the number of times that US military have caused British casualties due to friendly fire is innumerable. Once I can recall a British tank firing on another British tank but never British firing on Americans.

I used to be a big fan of Americans and have travelled extensively in '80's in the shadow of Kerouac and in '90's done business with many US investment banks but nowadays I cannot tolerate their general arrogance.

Richard Hoblyn FSI, Limoges, FRANCE

As an American, I find this incident both tragic and unfortunate. I make no excuses for it. But Americans believe that a person is innocent until proven guilty. I am surprised that so many people here are finding fault before a full investigation has taken place. It seems possible that the British soldiers who called in air support might have given erroneous information regarding their position. I'm not saying that this is what happened, nor am I saying that the Americans were not at fault. I am only suggesting that no one should be placing blame until all the facts are known. Also, no matter what they may have done wrong, it seems to me that one must give the Americans some credit. After all, they put themselves in harms way in order to help a friend. I notice it was the US Air Force that was called in, not Armée de l'Air.

Jack, Idyllwild, CA, USA

Before everyone starts slagging off all American forces can we please know how many of these pilots are regulars and how many are Reservists or National Guard. I have a feeling that thereby may be the problem.

Dinoz, Brisbane, Australia

Tom

Agree 100%. Criticize the Americans and it is as though you were at he controls of one of the 9/11 planes.

The Yanks should try and realise that it is not just the Brits who regard them as gung ho but the world in general.

US Vice Admiral Timothy Keating on board USS Constellation on eve of war, to strains of Queen's We Will Rock You: "Make no mistake, when the president says go - look out, it's hammer time."

Says it all really!

A Thorn, london,

It’s really sad this had to happen, and it’s very depressing to think we send our troops to war without giving them adequate cover.
However, I sense a wee bit of anti-Americanism in the comments posted here so far.
Unfortunately these things happen, and while it’s easy to criticize the yanks for this mistake, what about the countless times when they bail out our troops from certain death? Do they get the good press they deserve? It’s a real shame that’s it’s only the negatives that our ‘esteemed’ press corps tend to cover.

Godwin Mukoro, London,

"Britain's record on counterinsurgency is terrible" ?

Says Rob of Pittsburg..

Just where would that be?

Perhaps any critical comments concerning the American military elicits a "patriotic response"..(i.e.. No evidence just jingoism.)

The American military DO have a "record" of blundering about and killing allies.

Alan Henderson, Whitley Bay, England

To all those America-HATERS in Europe:

It always amazes me how you selectively pick out small misperceptions of American society and try to push these as facts. This whole notion that America is a nation of blood-thirsty idiots is just ridiculous. You conviniently forget that America is home to some of the greatest scientists on Earth, not to mention some of the world's greatest institutes of higher learning (Harvard, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Caltech etc. etc...). You overlook all the great inventions that have come, and continue to come, from America (the computer you are using now, internet, TV, telephone, the recently covered Aerogel, etc...) Also, you tend to forget that two of the bloodiest wars every fought were started not by Americans, but by Europeans. So stop with these stereotypes because they seem to confirm to Americans a stereotype of our own: That Europeans are prejudicial, hypocritical, snobbish cowards.
P.S. Condolences to the families of the brave diseased.

Alex, Seattle, USA

As a former US Marine and as an American any news of casualties amongst allies is a sting to read. I work for a multi-national company headquartered in France and I work with a lot of Brits and the French. In private I am often told, usually after a few glasses of wine, that Americans don't seem to be the cowboys and individualists often portrayed in the European press. This can be particularly painful given American's affinity for their European brothers. Britain and France hold a special place in American history as parts parents of our country and having been in the American military I can say firsthand that at least wherever I trained we looked to any of our allies with respect and would as soon give our lives in their defense as one of our own.

Matthew Jones, California, USA

The constant rants about how Americans "shoot first, ask questions later" is so cliched and stupid that it demeans this whole discussion. The British troops on the ground CALLED IN this airstrike. Who's to say that they didn't radio the wrong set of coordinates to the pilots? I just love how everyone jumps to conclusions. I find it interesting that no Brit-on-Brit friendly fire incidents ever get this sort of coverage in the UK. At the start of the Iraq war, a Challenger crew traversed their main gun around and blew off the top of a fellow Challenger at close visual range. None of you seemed outraged about that. Frankly, what you should really do is get you OWN damned air support if you really want to keep pretending to be a first rate military power.

James N., Boston, USA

I would be very interested to see an intelligent study compiled on friendly fire incidents and fatalities.

I suspect that it would show exactly what the squaddie on the ground says again and again, that the Americans are generally less trained, less disciplined, trigger happy and badly briefed by their own intelligence services.

This of course poorly reflects on the many brave young American men who serve their country (and ours) with the best of intentions. Once again the current US administration has a lot to answer for.

Maximus, Ostuni, Italy

Britain's spectacular historical successes at counterinsurgency - oh, wait. Britain's record on counterinsurgency is terrible. If this is the attitude of Britain's soldiers maybe it's time America rethinks our alliance


- Get your facts straight mate, Britain has the most succesful record of any country in the world at Counterinsurgency. I give the Mau Mau vs Vietnam if you would like to compare examples

Rich, Sydney, Australia

It was the MOD who scapped the Jaguar2 ground attack aircraft to save money NOT the Americans! It was the MOD who ration the use of the British heicopter gunships again to save money! The RAF could even have used their 2nd line Hawk trainer/ground attack planes but again they didnt to save money!
British soldiers are dying because the MOD will not or cannot spend money to provide its own air support! For Gods sake the British Armed forces are one of the best forces in the world so why do they have to beg,steal and borrow from the Americans?
The MOD/government are killing British troops to save money! that is the tragedy and that is the crime!
Stop pointing the finger of blame on the USA because its the MOD/government cheapskates who can find £167 BILLION to fund their army of gravytrain nonjobs BUT cannot find the money to equip our forces to fight and win without begging for foriegn assistance!

Stephanie clague, Larnaca, Cyprus

Could we have a list of US military errors over the past ten years. It could include airliners, embassies and submarines as well as all the Canadians, Rusians, Friendly Iraqis and Afghans, Red Coat Brits etc. It would also be instructive to have a list of alleged civilian casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. This could include wedding parties, road blocks, housing compounds etc which seem to be a speciality. No need to detail incidents of murder, torture and rape as these are well known. Thank you.

Phil, Hong Kong,

You should all thank your lucky stars for American troops. Shall we count how many good things America troops have done for Europe???? It makes me sick to my stomach to hear such insulting and anti-american talk. Perhaps Europe would like to see an isolationist America that pulls all of our "murderer" troops out of Europe. There really is no such thing as true friends in IR is there?

BH, United States,

Rob, from the intellectual Mecca known as Pittsburgh, stammered in a testosterone high from watching a John Wayne movie:

"Britain's spectacular historical successes at counterinsurgency - oh, wait. Britain's record on counterinsurgency is terrible. If this is the attitude of Britain's soldiers maybe it's time America rethinks our alliance."

This brilliant, well thought out assessment comes from a citizen of a country that has failed in every counterinsurgency campaign it has waged since it "won" the Philippine Insurgency against guerrillas armed with spears by slaughtering a sizeable percentage of the population. The British, on the other hand, actually have won counter-insurgency wars, even since World War II.

If the Decider-in-Chief does decide to "re-evaluate" the alliance with Britain (and thus with NATO as a whole), it can only be to the benefit of Britain, for all the British Army is doing is providing cannon fodder for Dubya's personal experiments.

John Deterick, Hagerstown, Maryland

To Tom of Reading,

I agree that some of the comments from Americans have been a little ridiculous. But how about the comments from your countrymen and other Europeans??! "Crackhead yanks."
"I'm surprised they know how to think." Cowboys." Gung ho."

Is all of this America-bashing really necessary? It was a friendly-fire incident; those types of things tend to happen during war. America flies literally hundreds of thousands of sorties every year. Out of all of those missions, there have only been a handful of such tragedies. Sometimes, I really get the feeling that Europeans just itch to take shots at America, no matter what the facts are. Come on guys, you're better than that.

Solo, Columbus, USA/ OHIO

An adage from the Korean Conflict "One wants the Americans on one's side, but not right beside".

GY, Ottawa,

The Americans call it "force protection". Their generals have given every US soldier the right to kill innocent civilians without worrying about prosecution. I call it cowardice.

Extrooper, Crawford, USA

Inevitably accidents happen. What is infuriating, what is indefensible, however, are some of the views expressed by Americans here. Consistantly some Americans will lurch into an aggressive nationalistic defence of their country and armed forces suggesting that Americans value the reputations of potentially guilty and incompetent US soldiers far more than they value the lives of innocent UK servicemen. If British people seek answers as to why their soldiers have been killed we can expect nothing more than a brick wall of protectionist patriotism.

Tom, Reading, United Kingdom

Meh, when any other nation in the coalition flys the number of sorties the USAF does and has the responsibility for as many engagements or close air support, perhaps they'll find their own blue on blue rates rise too.
I'm sure no mention is made to the countless times close air support has been called and that support being critical to saving lives or winning an engagement.

JD, London,

As they say... history repeats itself. It happened before. It will happen again. Our guys must be running for cover whenever they here the yanks are coming in. What a bloody mess. My deepest sympathies to all who have been left without loved ones due to these two operations. Fighting against the was on peace eh? A bit of a paradox, methinks...

Dodger, Perth, Scotland

Hmm the Americans...sound like a bunch of shooter blasters...I always had more faith in British troops. but I never been in a war..except when I worked in kirkland high school.. Anyway why not give them a pay rise say 50,000 year at least when in battle. I mean how many city bankers would go out there and fight the taleban?

jm, dundee,

Oops. LOL! leave Af-your-so-gone-anyway-istan as well...No worries old cousins.

BigEagle, Parris Island, SC/USA

“We have methods in place to stop this, but they are not fail-safe.”

They do not need to be fail-safe but fool-proof. RIP the innocent victims of yet more wasted lives in this far-off land where our lads are neither wanted nor advisedly placed.

To this novice observer it appears that tens if not hundreds of thousands of innocent lives have been lost, British or foreign it matters not. What gives us the right to interfere with the internal affairs of a sovereign nation? I can see no winners in this escapade which has been hugely expensive on so many more ways that cash.

Tyke, Sheffield, GB

Canada also has had the `friendly fire ' experience.

I think the British view that Americans fire first and think after is a very apt description of American cultural behaviour overall.

Patricia Beurteaux, Elliot Lake,

The Yanks have a history of friendly (?) fire but they do it to their own as well as their allies.

Iain, Manila,

Murderers.

Questioner, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

The Yanks have a first-class pedigree in friendly fire and poor warfare practices, it goes back to their birth as a (white) nation.

It's beyond comprehension why any civilised nation would wish to be alongside them for any reason whatsoever.

Barri de Bechi, Westgate-on-Sea, UK

Having servrd in the Fleet Air Arm through the '50s and'60s and cross-operated with them and exercised against them, they still leave me baffled. They have the latest state-of-the-art equipment, there are hordes of them, but I always had the distinct impression that tha=ey are poorly trrained, do not know how to use their equipment to its optimum and are more interested in showing off as to how wonderful they like to think they are. With allies like this, who needs any more enemies?

Dave Rowland, Hartland, Bideford, N Devon

Bring our troops home NOW from both the hell holes that they have been sent to!

E Burnett, Edinburgh, Scotland

Britain's spectacular historical successes at counterinsurgency - oh, wait. Britain's record on counterinsurgency is terrible. If this is the attitude of Britain's soldiers maybe it's time America rethinks our alliance.

Rob, Pittsburgh, USA

I am surprised they actually know how to think!

Deirdre and Ian, Bazoches sur Hoesne,

It seems to me that the British forces here are under supplied with there own protective team ie RAF. The cowboys will never do it better. They never have.
Fighting the Taliban is enough without having to worry about what the crackhead yanks are going to do next.

Jim Bentley-Ball, Dordogne, France

"shoot first and think later" - yep, that's America!

Andy Adams, Daytona Beach, FLA

The American Forces are well known for their willingness to resort to pure firepower rather than brain power. I (ex-squaddie) always said that I would not be happy fighting in the same area as US soldiers; I have worked with them and trained with them. The British soldiers are better trained and disciplined and this comes through in both a fire-fight and in the general approach to "hearts-and-minds" operations. Blair got us into this mess - let Brown end it ASP.

Roger Bingham, Lauzun, France

Whoaaaa!!!
White people now cannot recognize other white people and are shooting at each other. When will this white on white crime end.

BiggieSmalls, Overland Park, KS

Fou should have seen the yanks at Greenham Common. In the 80's. We ,2nd bn Grenadier Gds were stood to, a number of times, REAL stood to,
involving Nuclear wpns,
No ,its just a drill. They are different to us, friendly ...........but the yanks need British trainers. For ever. Plus we kicked their arses at rugby, british ull dogs, errrrr any kind of real sport.

tim hartley, evesham, worcs

You have experience with counter-insurgents only because you practiced shooting the Irish for decades. This incident was AN ACCIDENT; they happen in war. Get over your looser's grudge!

LU , Amherst , New York, USA

If I was caught in an ambush I would shoot my way out too, not run away with my tail between my legs. Tell those British soldiers to stop whining and start trying to work together. Look at the beam in your own eye before attacking the splinter in anothers. US could just leave and let you deal all the rest of the problems... Then we would have just come back and bail you out...again.

e, vienna, va

I remember talking to a polish chap a few years ago, and he said he didn’t mind the RAF flying over, It was the USAF that they where worried about, they used to drop their bombs anywhere. Nothing has changed over the last fifty years there then.

Stephen, Ashford, Kent

"They try and shoot their way through it and kill as many people as possible".

That's what soldiers are supposed to do!

Allan, Bellevue, WA, USA

'They fire first and think later,' say British soldiers

That is flat out not true

Jim, kabul, afghanistan

lets face it when you invade a foreign country you expect the natives to attack you but not your allies. we should get out and leave the afghans alone, after all it is their country.

ken moody, sheffield, yorkshire

i am an american and i agree that we have a gung ho approach militarily to situations. believe me when i say the american people arent too happy with our goverment or the way it conducts military affairs and foriegn policy affairs. just hang in there , Bush will be out of office soon. Too bad we dont really have any good options anyway though

dan, houston, usa

This friendly fire thing is getting out of hand. The army politely says they are rare eventsand that not many servicemen and women have been killed or injured in such incidents, but if we look at the figures as a percentage of total war casualties (in the Gulf War, 35 US troops were killed by friendly fire, out of a total of 140 dead) and the problem becomes evident.

Not only that, how long do we, as supposed allies of the US, have to put up with this? If we were any other country, we would have done something about it at the first incidence.

Kage Tora, Liverpool, UK