My prayers and condolences to the families of the servicemembers that died that day, and all others since. However, this isn't the first time this has happened, to both US and Coalition servicemembers . . . and this wont be the last. They pilot, the forward air controller, and the individual giving the bomb coordinates all share the blame, and I am sure that they are not happy with their actions . . . and will be reprimanded for their actions . . . but chances are coordinates were given, someone along the chain of information gave the coordinates of the coalition forces as the target, rather then as information for the pilot to be careful for . . . and thus the event which occured.
Regardless of whether it was a coalition or a US aircraft which made the bomb run, doesn't matter, in the end someone made a mistake, and will have to live the rest of their lives with that regret, and probably sometime of that life at a Brig or at Fort Levenworth.
This is why it's important to have slow moving, heavily armored CAS designed aircraft to do these type of missions rather then high speed, lightly armored fast movers . . . gives more time for the pilots to have eyes on the ground to assess the situation . . . to provide the support . . . and to more accuratly put the munitions on the target. And an F-16 is not a slow moving, CAS designed aircraft, by any stretch of the information.
Furthermore, the end of the A-10 era will, if steps are not taken now, will remove a valuable CAS/COIN asset from the commanders on the ground. Unless Armed Helicopters take up that role, I dare say more events like this will occur at a higher rate then experienced now.
Thus, bring back aircraft with the same mission specifications as the OV-10 . . . and continue the service life of the A-10 . . . speed doesn't always mean life . . . sometimes taking your time, means saving a life below you.
