1. World problems
  2. Friendly fire

Friendly fire

  • Killed by own military forces
  • Allied fire

Nature

In principle, the term "friendly fire" denotes the accidental maiming or killing of allied troops in an attempt to disable or obliterate enemy forces. Some use the term with irony, as that which is later described as friendly fire may have been a result of extreme carelessness, indifference or even intent to kill supposed traitors or defectors.

Incidence

In 1993 the Pentagon reported that up to 10% of deaths in USA forces in Vietnam were inflicted by their own forces. According to a 1992 report, the Pentagon estimated 35 of 148 American combat deaths in the Gulf War were the result of allied fire. Unofficial estimates are that more than 50% of the four-day ground war casualties were from friendly fire. In 1994, 20 allied personnel were killed during helicopter surveillance flights over northern Iraq due to a misidentification by fighter planes of the airforce of the USA.

In 1997, the Pentagon revealed that it secretly knew for decades that thousands of American soldiers were killed and maimed by landmines made in the USA, notably during the wars in Korea and Vietnam. A former Marine Corps commandant is quoted in the report saying "We kill more Americans with our own mines that we do anything else." About 64,000 USA servicemen were killed or wounded by mines during the Vietnam war.

Claim

Friendly fire is a critical issue that cannot be overlooked. It represents a tragic failure in communication and coordination, leading to unnecessary loss of life among allies. This devastating phenomenon not only undermines trust within military operations but also inflicts deep psychological scars on survivors and families. Addressing friendly fire is essential for improving operational effectiveness and ensuring the safety of our troops. We must prioritize training, technology, and protocols to prevent these avoidable tragedies.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Counter-claim

Friendly fire, while tragic, is often overstated in its significance. In the grand scheme of military operations, the focus should be on strategic success and mission objectives rather than isolated incidents. The chaos of battle inevitably leads to mistakes, but these occurrences are a small fraction of overall engagements. Prioritizing friendly fire detracts from addressing larger issues like enemy tactics and operational efficiency, which are far more critical to achieving victory and ensuring the safety of troops.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Broader

War casualties
Presentable
Firearm accidents
Unpresentable

Narrower

Aggravates

Aggravated by

Related

Value

Unfriendliness
Yet to rate

SDG

Sustainable Development Goal #15: Life on LandSustainable Development Goal #16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions

Metadata

Database
World problems
Type
(D) Detailed problems
Biological classification
N/A
Subject
  • Defence » Military forces » Military forces
  • Social activity » Friendship
  • Societal problems » Destruction
  • Societal problems » Fire
  • Content quality
    Presentable
     Presentable
    Language
    English
    1A4N
    J4029
    DOCID
    12040290
    D7NID
    138852
    Last update
    Oct 4, 2020