Here we go again..................That was inappropriate, not in accordance with the LOAC, and just a stupid waste of a TOW.
Here we go again..................That was inappropriate, not in accordance with the LOAC, and just a stupid waste of a TOW.
There is a strong movement towards adding to the LOAC so as to address alot of the concerns/problems unique to the GWOT. Until then, shoot'em if you got'emI think the Fog (of War) is settling in...so an AC-130 dealing with "squirters" would be likely inappropriate? It's almost like a JAG has to be embedded everywhere. Sorry, I just think bad guys with hostile intent need to go away pronto, period. If you can bag them, great. I'm sure theyre laughing their asses off at our collective hang-wringing. Do you think they try to judge appropriateness of weapon used...quite the opposite! I like what the ATO used to say in Desert Storm: Best Weapon
There is nothing in the Laws of Armed conflict that precludes dropping 155mm artilery, a MK82, a fechette rocket etc etc etc on one guy with an AK if that is what it takes to accomplish your mission. Proportionality is mentioned if the enemy is using cultral, religous or historic sites. Overkill is not out of the box, sometimes it is tactically not the right answer but it is legal.
If the ROE permits, never send a Marine somewhere you can send a bullet first.
I think the Fog (of War) is settling in...so an AC-130 dealing with "squirters" would be likely inappropriate? It's almost like a JAG has to be embedded everywhere. Sorry, I just think bad guys with hostile intent need to go away pronto, period. If you can bag them, great. I'm sure theyre laughing their asses off at our collective hang-wringing. Do you think they try to judge appropriateness of weapon used...quite the opposite! I like what the ATO used to say in Desert Storm: Best Weapon
It seems we are crossing the streams a bit. Proportionality is a nice to have and a byproduct of the current conflicts we find ourselves in and the touchy feely direction our society has taken.
There is nothing in the Laws of Armed conflict that precludes dropping 155mm artilery, a MK82, a fechette rocket etc etc etc on one guy with an AK if that is what it takes to accomplish your mission. Proportionality is mentioned if the enemy is using cultral, religous or historic sites. Overkill is not out of the box, sometimes it is tactically not the right answer but it is legal.
If the ROE permits, never send a Marine somewhere you can send a bullet first.
There was a story from Panama about a guy who hit a dude on a bike with a TOW. He was an enemy combatant, was armed, and had somehow got himself engaged with some US forces. They could have just shot him, but basically just thought "When am I going to get another chance to schwack sombody with a TOW again? This will be cool". That was inappropriate, not in accordance with the LOAC, and just a stupid waste of a TOW. .
Wasn't that Grenada? Or have two poor bicyclists been whacked by Cobras with TOW missiles?
I'm actually kind of surprised a human body, or bicycle, sets off the warhead.
My Battalion had a negligent discharge with a TOW in Iraq. Just wanted to say that, and yes - it's true...
My Battalion had a negligent discharge with a TOW in Iraq. Just wanted to say that, and yes - it's true...
That would have made for a better story. One of the "TOW Gurus" from Weapons Company was giving a hip pocket class to some of the Marines and next thing you know... One guy had to be casevac'd because of the back blast.Lemme guess.........
Some poor LCpl to Battalion CO: "Sir, the FAC said he just wanted to look through the sights for a minute and the next thing we know......WWWWHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
Is that about how it happenned?