US admits killing Egyptian with Suez Canal warning shots

[gary-ramey]

I always love the 20-20 hindsight. Its easy to sit back and pass judgement on the Navy from a computer chair safe and sound in your house. Put yourself on the deck of a ship with a small boat failing to yield or heed warnings, its a different ballgame altogether. Its sad when 1 guy dies because he failed to understand, hear or otherwise obey the warnings that were being given. It would be sadder still if the guy detonated a boat full of explosives killing hundreds in the canal.

 

[Tom Smedley]

It would be sadder still if the guy detonated a boat full of explosives killing hundreds in the canal.

Or in the case of a ship that size blocking access to the canal.

 

[DixieDolphin]

My heart goes out to the family of the man killed.

Unfortunately, this is the sort of thing that happens when you get a high concentration of military forces, fueled by growing paranoia, and place them in an area where there's a lot of civilian traffic. It's inevitable that you eventually end up with situations like this... or worse.. like the Iran Air incident in the '80s.

While I fully agree that military forces have the right to defend themselves against an approaching threat, I worry that folks may be getting a little too quick on the trigger finger at times.

Not saying they should let their guard down or compromise their own safety, but perhaps a little more discretion and a little less of the 'shoot first, ask questions later' mentality. Needless civilian deaths do nothing to improve our relations in the region.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Questions were asked, warnings given. They were ignored. Better one dead than scores of dead or more.

 

[fishb0y]

My heart goes out to the family of the man killed.

Unfortunately, this is the sort of thing that happens when you get a high concentration of military forces, fueled by growing paranoia, and place them in an area where there's a lot of civilian traffic. It's inevitable that you eventually end up with situations like this... or worse.. like the Iran Air incident in the '80s.

While I fully agree that military forces have the right to defend themselves against an approaching threat, I worry that folks may be getting a little too quick on the trigger finger at times.

Not saying they should let their guard down or compromise their own safety, but perhaps a little more discretion and a little less of the 'shoot first, ask questions later' mentality. Needless civilian deaths do nothing to improve our relations in the region.

Yup... Ignorance is bliss...