First Slap Israel, Then the US

Remember those two incidents in Gaza when, unfortunately two British citizens, one a pacifist-protecting-terrorists and the other a journalist-covering-terrorists were killed by IDF fire?

The peace groups there in the UK and family demanded inquests and trials and what not. It is their right and not problems on that score.

But things move one and from Israel, the Brits hit on the States:-

The death of a UK soldier when a US pilot fired on his convoy in Iraq was unlawful, a coroner has ruled.

The "friendly fire" incident which killed Lance Corporal Matty Hull, 25, amounted to a criminal act, he said. Andrew Walker said the 2003 death was "entirely avoidable" and L/Cpl Hull's widow said the verdict was "right". The Ministry of Defence apologised for a delay in releasing film from the US A-10 plane. The US said its probe found the death was a "tragic accident".

In delivering his verdict, Mr Walker said: "The attack on the convoy amounted to an assault. "It was unlawful because there was no lawful reason for it and in that respect it was criminal." No American witnesses gave evidence at the inquest and the coroner was critical of the failure of the US authorities to co-operate.

The US pilots should have flown lower to confirm identities before opening fire, he added.

Seems the U.S. is not very responsive or, perhaps, they just don't care about bad publicity and all.

Er, anyone seen Allan Johnston lately?

The BBC is pleaing.