A Ghost Still Not at Rest : Questions remain in ‘friendly fire’ tragedy, despite disciplining of 7 officers

The Air Force’s belated disciplining of seven officers, including two generals, in the downing of two U.S. helicopters over Iraq does little to allay suspicions of a whitewash or, even worse, a cover-up. More congressional investigation is needed, as is a review of the military code of justice.

Clearly the military system of inquiry and justice has fallen short. Earlier this month the House subcommittee on military personnel was prompted to hold a hearing. Two days before the hearing began, the civilian leadership at the Defense Department took the unusual step of directing the Air Force and the Army to undertake a review to ensure that all those responsible had been held accountable.

These are the facts: On April 14, 1994, in the no-fly zone over northern Iraq, two Air Force F-15 fighters shot down two U.S. Army helicopters after mistaking the Blackhawks for Soviet-made Iraqi aircraft. The accident, the worst U.S. case of “friendly fire” in recent years, left 26 dead--15 Americans and 11 foreign officials.

Despite a 21-volume investigation report citing a series of errors that led to the tragedy, initially only light reprimands were issued against most of those involved. (Several have received promotions or favorable assignments since the downing.) Capt. James Wang alone faced charges of dereliction of duty, and he was acquitted in a court-martial.

Now, after conducting the review ordered by the Defense Department, the Air Force has disciplined two brigadier generals, two fighter pilots and three members of a radar airplane crew in an action that is being called rare. Adverse letters of evaluation will be permanently attached to their files. The pilots will be grounded for three years. In the group was Wang, who was part of the radar plane crew. The punishment is severe and effectively ends their careers.

A question of credibility still looms over the military. Why did the shooting occur in the first place? How can a recurrence be prevented? Why was the case mishandled by the military? Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove), who chaired the House hearing, is now asking for a General Accounting Office inquiry, an impartial assessment that this case demands.