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Pilots Must ID Targets Before Striking
Wednesday, October 10, 2001
(12:00 AM PT)
By Steve Vogel / The Washington Post

"A lot of people perhaps just think we've put the knife in the teeth and go out there, and everybody wants to fling a bomb somewhere, but that's not the case."

ABOARD THE USS CARL VINSON IN THE ARABIAN SEA -- The Washington Post
Pilots launching attacks into Afghanistan from the deck of this aircraft carrier are being required to fly over and visually identify targets before they drop bombs, reflecting U.S. concern that many civilian casualties could damage world support for the American campaign against terrorism in Afghanistan.

On three occasions, pilots from the Vinson did not drop bombs on targets out of concern they might harm civilians in the area, the commander of the carrier's air wing said.

"We're not in the business of just murdering people," Capt. T.C. Bennett said. "We are in the business of blowing things up that are a threat to America."
(More: The Washington Post News Source)
2001 © The Seattle Times Company

Dan