Re: CIA Discloses Korean Spy Records

[Ed Evanhoe <ede@oio.net>]

>Alex,

> >>It has never been good military policy to prosecute soldiers
>responsible for "friendly-fire" incidents because 1) it was an
>accident, not intentional, and 2) you would have to prosecute 10% or
>more of your military.<<

I agree with your "1)" but I can't let "2)" pass unchallenged since
"10% or more of your military" would be just about everyone who
ever saw actual combat.  This said, "Friendly Fire" incidents do
happen far more often than ever reported.  There is a study I've
read (done by Johns Hopkins Operations Research Office for
the U. S. military in the 1950s) dealing with friendly fire incidents
during the Korean War.  I don't remember the exact number they
said took place but it was over a thousand which resulted in
injury or death.  There findings were the majority these incidents were
due to defective artillery ammunition.

Ed
Ed Evanhoe, PO Box 916, Antlers, OK, 74523
Author:  DARKMOON: Eighth Army Special Operations in the Korean War
Co-list owner, KOREAN-WAR-L (listproc@ukans.edu)
Web Site:  http://www.korean-war.com