What do you think of friendly fire, and why do you think it is covered up?

Question

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/03/AR2005050301502.html

Answer 1

They're inevitable. No matter what systems are put in place to limit them, there will still be such incidents. Likewise, there's never a simple, straightforward answer. The Swiss-cheese theory of accidents applies. There usually are multiple systems each with holes in it that keep an error from happening. Usually, the holes aren't aligned, and what gets through one level gets stopped at the next. But sometimes the holes line up. We want quick answers and somebody to blame, and both of those desires tend to restrain actually fixing the problem. Sometimes cover-ups are even useful as delaying tactics to allow a good examination of the systems and circumstances.

Answer 2

Friendly fire has happened since projectile weapons started being used in wars.

The instances are always tragic.

Covered up? People don't want to take responsibility for their actions. Even if the errors took place under the trying and stressful circumstances of combat there is always a lot of guilty feelings.

Answer 3

New systems are being supplied to forces in Iraq such as the Blue Force Tracker--the most modern version of the IFF--and futuristic technologies are being developed which could give weapon sights a "shoot, no-shoot" signal or even disable the weapon if it is pointed at blue forces. But the U.S. military is still a long way from getting the problem licked.

Well at least they're trying to fix it.