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posted by
n1
on Thursday October 08 2015, @06:44PM
from the known-unknowns-of-collateral-damage dept.
from the known-unknowns-of-collateral-damage dept.
A Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) hospital was bombed by the US. Result, 12 dead staff members and 10 dead patients. The coordinates of the hospital had been communicated to the US forces before to avoid mistakes. The US admits the attack was a decision. MSF is now seeking an independent inquiry.
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Afghan Hospital Bombing: MSF Demands Investigation Under Geneva Conventions
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overcome.
-- Dr. Johnson
(Score: 2) by K_benzoate on Thursday October 08 2015, @07:49PM
I have no idea how the verification system actually works. For all we know MSF might just post the GPS coords on their Twitter account and think they're safe. But if I was responsible for creating such a system the direction of verification would flow the opposite direction. MSF tells us where their hospital is, and then we send someone from the Army/USAF to verify and conduct reconnaissance on the building. It could probably be done by drone these days, but we also have Forward Air Controllers who specialize in doing that. They're probably already there in Afghanistan.
Climate change is real and primarily caused by human activity.
(Score: 2) by BK on Thursday October 08 2015, @08:05PM
It sounds a lot like that is what was used here. This wasn't a missile from a ship 200 miles away. If either force has combatants in the compound or in the building or on the roof, then the place becomes a target. It isn't nice, but that's how things work in active combat zones.
...but you HAVE heard of me.
(Score: 2) by VLM on Thursday October 08 2015, @09:44PM
Some google terms to search are "Land Warrior" and "PM WIN-T" The wiki links are
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Warrior [wikipedia.org]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PM_WIN-T [wikipedia.org]
In the 70s computerized consumer billing ran public utilities and stuff thru their little "THE COMPUTER IS ALWAYS RIGHT" moment. This is likely an early computerized military analogy.